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Mount Rainier Hiking Summerland:
Video And Tips For
Your Best Rainier Dayhike

By Diane Spicer

This Mount Rainier hiking Summerland day hike description gives you photos, words and a video so you can formulate a complete understanding of why this place is worth your while!

Mount Rainier Summerland
trailhead

Use the White River Entrance to Mount Rainier National Park, off Highway 410.

Once you pay your fee at the official entrance, several twisty turny miles from the turnoff, drive three more miles toward Sunrise.

Keep an eye out for a very limited parking area on your right, just over Fryingpan Creek.

• It comes up fast, and there's no place to turn around if you overshoot it.
  

The trailhead is on the southwest (left) side of the road.

As with many other Rainier hikes, parking is severely limited.

The trailhead takes off right from the Paradise road, and rangers frown upon those who take it upon themselves to park outside of the designated spots.

You need to arrive by 7A to be completely sure you'll have a parking spot, so if you're traveling from the Seattle area, set your alarm clock for way early.

Mount Rainier Summerland
length and elevation gain

These figures are approximate.

Round trip: 8.4 miles.

Elevation gain to Summerland: 2100 feet

You want to budget in plenty of time for appreciating the beauty of this special place, so if you luck out and get a parking space later in the day, keep track of the time needed to reach the trailhead in daylight.

Mount Rainier Summerland
trail description

The trail begins as if in a dream:

• The first mile and a half are mostly flat and wide, making for easy cruising.
• The grade steepens slightly at the two mile mark, but nothing extreme.
  

You're mostly in dense forest, with limited views.

• Black bears have been spotted along these first miles, so keep your eyes open for fresh scat on the trail.

Once you cross Fryingpan Creek on a roughly hewn log at the three mile mark (and revel in your first good view of Mount Rainier - see photo above), you'll want to tighten up your boots.

• The trail gets down to business with 800 feet of elevation gain in less than a mile.

Because this is a national park, expect a well graded trail with switchbacks that sashay up the hill.

Once you gain the high point (~6000 feet) at Summerland Camp (a backcountry camping area by reservation only), here's what you'll see.

Mount Rainier Summerland
trail cautions

Snow can linger through July and into August on the last mile of this trail, making it difficult for some hikers to navigate both the steepness and the uncertain footing.

• Time your visit for August through September if this is a concern.

You will encounter a lot of people on this trail (but no dogs, as it's a National Park). If you were expecting solitude, reset your expectations so you don't get cranky.

• You can push on past Summerland toward, or to, Panhandle Gap for a chance at fewer people.
• Read that trip description here.

Mount Rainier Summerland
trail trivia

Summerland was well named by Edward Sturgis Ingraham, who summited Rainier 13 times before his death in 1926.

Several hundred hikers a day use this trail in high summer.

Why hike it?

Here's what keeps me coming back again and again:

• the wildflower show, which changes every few weeks
  

More reasons for Rainier hiking Summerland hours:

• Panoramic views of Rainier and Little Tahoma
• Mountain goats are frequently spotted
• Marmots whistle as you pass by

Mount Rainier day hikes don't get any better than this one.

Rainier hiking Summerland:
any questions?

This hike is straightforward and follows a well established trail, but if you have any concerns or questions, contact me and I'll give you the scoop.

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Mount Rainier Hiking Summerland