Features: This is a world class hike that begins on a gated road that used to take travelers deep into the Mt. Rainier National Park. Recent flood damage closed the road to all but Park personnel.

Even though you hike the first 1.2 miles on the old roadbed, this hike is so worth it. Also, because of the flood damage to the trail itself, the Park Service does not maintain the trail. However, others do, so the trail is very hikeable.

Just after you actually begin hiking on the trail, it wanders out onto the flood plain of the Tahoma River. This part of the trail can be very difficult to follow in that seasonal flooding can remove any evidence of just where the trail is suppose to be.

Those good folks who are choosing to keep this trail alive and viable, do a great job of marking the path as early in the season as possible, so you should not have much difficulty in following the trail.

For the first 2.1 miles of the actual trail, it follows along the north side of the river until it connects with the Wonderland Trail. Be aware, however, that there are two significant challenges along this stretch of the trail. In two places the river has cut so deep into the riverbank that the trail has collapsed completely, and the only way around these areas is to follow the user trails up the extremely steep hillside, over the washout area, and back down very steep inclines to the original trail.

After you come to the junction with the Wonderland trail, just bear right and a hundred feet you will come to one of the most amazing bridges you may have ever seen. A relatively new suspension bridge offers you a way across the canyon of the Tahoma River. The bridge is 206 feet long and you will be suspended about a hundred feet above the river.

It is after you cross the bridge that the trail begins to climb. And it climbs very steeply for next 1.2 miles, and you will gain over a 1000 feet in elevation. It is as you near the ridgeline that you begin to get your best views of Mt. Rainier.

When you reach the junction of the Wonderland trail and the trail to the Mirror Lakes area, I recommend that you continue uphill on the Wonderland for about a half mile where you will come to an amazing log cabin. It is used by the Park Service in the summer. Just to the right of the cabin is a fine little pond worth the short walk.

Then after investaging the cabin area, return to the junction of the Wonderland trail and the Mirror Lakes trail, and head on over to the lakes. The lakes in themselves are not spectacular, however the views of Mt. Rainier are. If you continue on the trail, which leads to Pyramid Peak, you will come to your best views of the mountain.

This hike would be best enjoyed during the wildflower bloom, which is in late July through mid-August. However, this hike is not for faint hearted. It is long. Take plenty of water, and rest often.

Hanging bridge crossing Tahoma Creek
on the Mirror Lakes trail