Willis Wall

It’s only a road for official park vehicles, for the rest of us it’s a trail open to foot traffic and bikes.

Represented as a dashed line on the Green Trails map, this unmaintained trail is frequently washed out by Tahoma Creek but is a good alternative for reaching Indian Henry’s and Emerald Ridge from the West Side Road.

Just .6 miles off the Wonderland at Indian Henry’s Hunting Ground, the unmaintained portion continues on to Pyramid Peak.

Basically an extension of the Round Pass Trail. the trail to Gobblers Knob also passes Lake George and continues to the park boundary and on to Goat Lake.

The Round Pass Trail allows foot traffic to bypass a longer stretch of the West Side Road.

Also connecting the West Side Road with the Wonderland, this 1.6 mile trail takes the hiker past spectacular examples of columnar basalt.

A short loop on the other side of the road from the St. Andrews Creek trail head, featuring Denman Falls of course.

Annotated on the Green Trails map as a dashed line, this trail ends on a small hummock to the left of the lake coming from the Wonderland.

Decades ago this was the end of the West Side Road, but was abandoned to trail status, connecting the West Side Road at Klapatche Point to the Wonderland.

It’s just a dashed line on the Green Trails map, but this offshoot trail continues into Sunset Park towards The Colonnade.

This trail connects the Wonderland to the Mowich Lake Road.

Also passing Eunice Lake, the Tolmie Peak Trail ends at the lookout, but one can continue on to the actual Tolmie Peak.

This trail is also listed as an alternate route for the Wonderland, going the higher route between Mowich Lake and the Carbon River.

This is just the lower part of the falls: the upper section is massive and well worth the few hundred foot jaunt to the viewing site.

A five mile section of the now closed to vehicular traffic old road.

Arguably the best part of this trail is Ranger Falls….other times I have been here Green Lake has been covered by snow.

A short spur off the Ipsut Creek Trail that crosses the Carbon River via a series of log bridges.

The Yellowstone Cliffs make an appearance on the approach to Windy Gap on the Northern Loop Trail from the west.

This .9 mile trail is a spur from the Northern Loop Trail near Windy Gap, with views towards Lakes James and Ethel below.

The actual highlight of this trail is transiting Grand Park, the anomalous flat mesa.

The 1.3 mile Mt Fremont Lookout trail offers breathtaking views in all directions

Annotated on the Green Trails map as a dashed line, the Third Burroughs Trail connects to Second Burroughs and offers outstanding views.

A trail by itself from the Wonderland and part of the Burroughs Loop Trail.

This 9 mile trail heads north out of the Sunrise area and exits the park at FS 73.

Part of the trail complexes around Sunrise, Shadow Lake is the water source for Sunrise Camp.

The Sourdough Ridge Trail travels above the road to Sunrise and accesses peaks like Dege and Antler.

This trail parallels the road to Sunrise below, sporting excellent views of the mountain.

A spur trail from the Sourdough Ridge Trail leads to the summit of Dege Peak.

The Palisades Trail ventures past a number of lakes and terminates at Upper Palisades Lake. This shot was taken atop Palisades featuring these andesite columns.

A spur trail from the Palisades Trail deposits one at Hidden Lake with access to Green Park saddle and The Palisades.

Views open up as one climbs up the Glacier Basin Trail.

My daughter and I used this trail to continue cross country to Mt. Ruth.

This photo taken from the trail section that leads out of the Glacier Basin Trail, looking back towards Mt. Ruth and Rainier

Noted on the Green Trails map as a dashed line, this trail leads out of Glacier Basin towards St. Elmo Pass and the Inter Glacier.

The Crystal Mountain Trail dips inside the boundary of Mt. Rainier National Park between the Summit House and Sand Flats Horse Camp.

The Crystal Peak trail climbs 3300 feet to the summit, overlooking Crystal Lakes (accessed from the same trail head). This frame grab from video was taken on June 10, 2018 during a snow squall.

Upper Crystal Lake , photographed from the connector trail to the PCT

Located at Chinook Pass on highway 410, the parking for Tipsoo Lake leads to a short loop trail and the Naches Loop trail.

Accessed from Chinook Pass, the Naches Loop Trail also utilizes the PCT on the northern section to complete the loop. Although the PCT is outside the park boundary, the southern trail is within.

One of the many water delights along the old growth splendor of the Eastside Trail.

This trail is part of the Eastern Loop Trail, connecting the Wonderland with the Eastside Trail.

Lonely on the east side of the park, this isolated trail climbs 3500 feet to the lookout.

Passing the eastern border of the park, the PCT actually dips in and out of the park boundary from Two Lakes to Chinook Pass.

A wonderful stroll climbing through old growth forest and eventually meeting up with the PCT after climbing 3400 feet.

Starting at the Ohanapecosh campground visitor center, this 2.7 mile loop features wonderful old growth forest and of course, Silver Falls.

This .8 mile trail connects from near Box Canyon to the Wonderland.

Pinnacle Peak Trail can be used to access peaks on the Tatoosh Range, but is a wonderful trail in and of itself with views towards Paradise and the mountain.

Part of the Paradise trail complex, this view from Faraway Rock peers down on Louise Lake.

The Paradise area trails complex warrants a “side B” on the Green Trails map. This misty shot was taken on the Skyline Trail.

Although not a trail per se, this extension of the Pebble Creek Trail is so well traveled that it is regularly wanded by the park service and takes one over the Muir snowfield to Camp Muir at 10,188 feet.

One can continue past the falls to Van Trump Park and/or Mildred Point.

Mildred Point can be accessed either by the Van Trump Park Trail or via Comet Falls.

Van Trump Park is one of the closest alpine areas reached from the Nisqually entrance of the park.

This trail makes a nice loop out of Longmire, along with the Wonderland.

A 3100 foot climb that can be used to access peaks in the Tatoosh Range.

Near the Nisqually entrance, this short loop trail offers excellent examples of classic old growth firs.

This trail connects the Wonderland at Indian Henry’s to the trail head at Kautz Creek and is a great alternative to the Wonderland.

This riot of avalanche lilies was shot on Emerald Ridge, part of the 93 mile loop that takes the hiker through every ecozone in the park.