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Wonderland Trail

Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

Hard
Distance
149.7 km
Elev. gain
7,652 m
Start
Longmire
Finish
Longmire

Reviewed by a Far curator on July 26, 2026

The real route, north at the top. The distance is the published figure, not the length of this drawing.

Elevation along the route

0 km755–2,065 m above sea level135 km

Ground elevation sampled along the mapped route.

About this distance

The 149.7 km shown is the National Park Service's own figure for this loop (93 miles). The route line drawn here comes from OpenStreetMap and traces about 137.5 km — roughly 8% shorter, because parts of this long backcountry loop are not fully mapped. Plan against the official distance; the drawn line will not match it until mappers fill those gaps.

Along the way

Summits & passes

  • Meany Crest
  • Aurora Peak
  • Skyscraper Mountain

Campsites

  • Indian Bar Trail Shelter
  • Maple Creek Camp
  • Pyramid Creek Camp
  • Devil's Dream Camp
  • Golden Lakes Camp
  • South Mowich River Camp
  • Mowich Lake Campground
  • Carbon River Camp
  • Sunrise Camp

Water sources

  • Bench Lake

Recorded hazards

  • Caution

    Wilderness permit required, book early

    All overnight camping requires a wilderness permit; high summer demand makes an advance reservation strongly recommended

    Source: National Park Service — Mount Rainier

  • Information

    Not snow-free until mid-to-late July

    Applies Oct–Jul

    Hiking earlier requires winter travel skills: navigation, ice-axe self-arrest, and fording dangerous glaciated rivers

    Source: National Park Service — Mount Rainier

These are documented hazards, not a current conditions report. Check with the land manager before you go.

Common questions

How long is the Wonderland Trail?
The Wonderland Trail is 149.7 km (93 miles).
How much elevation gain does the Wonderland Trail have?
The Wonderland Trail has about 7,652 m (25,105 ft) of total climbing, measured along Far's route for the trail.
How hard is the Wonderland Trail?
Far rates the Wonderland Trail as hard. How hard it feels also depends on your fitness, pack weight and conditions on the day.
Where does the Wonderland Trail start and finish?
The Wonderland Trail starts and finishes at Longmire.
Is there water on the Wonderland Trail?
Far's catalog records 1 mapped water source along the Wonderland Trail, including Bench Lake. Seasonal flow varies and mapped sources can run dry — check current conditions with the land manager before relying on any of them.
Why do other sources list a different distance for the Wonderland Trail?
The 149.7 km shown is the National Park Service's own figure for this loop (93 miles). The route line drawn here comes from OpenStreetMap and traces about 137.5 km — roughly 8% shorter, because parts of this long backcountry loop are not fully mapped. Plan against the official distance; the drawn line will not match it until mappers fill those gaps.
What hazards are recorded on the Wonderland Trail?
Far records 2 sourced hazards on the Wonderland Trail: Wilderness permit required, book early and Not snow-free until mid-to-late July. Each is cited to the source that published it. Conditions change — this is not a current conditions report.

Sources

Route geometry from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Trail conditions, permits and hazards change: check before you go.

Plan this trip