Glacier Basin Trailhead — Attraction in Enumclaw

The incline on this hike was a bit more intense than the ranger told us it would be. That’s especially true of the first mile or so. He made it sound like we’d practically be walking on flat ground. It’s not too bad though. Just be prepared for it. Anyway, your sweat will have a big payoff. There are stunning viewpoints on this trail and its offshoots. You’ll have a crumby experience on a cloudy day (in terms of sightseeing, anyway), but on clear, sunny days, this trail is hard to beat. If you visit Mt. Rainier National Park when Sunrise and Paradise are closed (a large percentage of the year), this is where you should go.

We saw a snake on this trail. We weren’t expecting that.

There’s also a neat water fountain that looks like a pile of rocks close to where the trail...

The total hike was about 8 miles. We went to Edmonds Marine Trail and then a bit further to see the beautiful glacier lake. It was awesome to see the snowy mountain peaks in the distance. Along the way, we saw lots of wildflowers, deer, marmots, and even a few frogs. Overall, it was a pretty good hike—though not quite as spectacular as I’d hoped. I also felt a bit off today; it was the first time I’ve had such low energy on a hike. Still, the scenery and wildlife made it a worthwhile experience.

When we left the park around 1 PM, there were miles of cars waiting to get in....

I did the loop from Sunrise up to Fremont Tower then to burroughs and then down to the Glacier Basin. it's a beautiful hike- lots of wonderful views -also saw some mountain goats and marmots. however to White River camp is 10 miles and then there's 3 MORE MILES to get back to Sunrise - and that's almost straight up over the mountain ⛰- making the last three miles the most difficult & strenuous part of the hike and 13 miles total - more than I realized - so I just want to warn you if you do this loop - be prepared for a difficult...