Date Hiked: 9/2024
Rating: 10
Distance: 5.5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Best Season: Summer-Fall
The Skyline Loop in the Paradise area of Mount Rainier National Park is a contender for best day hike in the park, and it definitely lived up to the hype. Of course we were blessed with a glorious, crystal clear early fall day, virtually ideal conditions. And we only realized that the next day when the park was socked in by clouds and rain and visibility was at a minimum. But regardless mountain hikes don’t get much better than this.
The beginning of the hike was a little bit confusing with lots of trails winding around the Paradise area, but it’s well signed and the direction is basically up. It was also very crowded (true for much of the trail but especially down low). But you’re walking through abundant mountain heather with great views of the mountain above, and there were even a couple deer resting right nest to the trail, so there’s a lot to distract you from all the humanity. We decided to do the route clockwise, which I’d heard was the better way to go, and you’ll get no argument from me.
This is one of those hikes where it keeps getting better the higher you go and the closer you get to the mountain. Watch for mountain goats (we saw two close to the trail and a bunch more far off in the distance), grouse, and hoary marmots. And eventually you’ll be walking with the Nisqually Glacier down to the left, where there was a waterfall pouring off a cliff (unfortunately deep in shadow so hard to photograph when we were there). I’d love to come back earlier in the season to see the wildflower display through this section.
Another thing you’ll be doing a lot as you climb (or at least you should be) is turning around to look behind you. The day we were there was ridiculously clear and we had great views of Mt. Adams, Mt. St. Helens, and even Mt. Hood, along with the Goat Rocks. Plus the view down the Nisqually River canyon is fantastic. Fortunately the relentless climb gives you a good excuse to stop and look around.
I’m not getting to into the details of the trail, because frankly I don’t remember the various trails or side jaunts possible. But eventually you’ll get up to Panorama Point, as high as you’ll go on the Skyline trail. And it lives up to its name, the views are tremendous of both the mountain above and the mountains down below. And you’ll see that the trail keeps going even higher for the true mountaineers tackling the summit.
The trail is just as dramatic as you descend, with lots of views and beautiful meadows everywhere. Again, keep your eyes out for wildlife both near and far, as it was on the descent that we saw the most mountain goats.
There was a nice waterfall along the route that was difficult to get a good shot of. But one thing I regret is that we missed a different waterfall on the descent back near the trailhead, because we took an alternate route that would take us closer to the road where our car was parked. So don’t do that, stay on the Skyline Loop until the bitter end even if it means more of a road walk at the end. But at least this left us something to look forward to the next time we do this stellar hike.
