As early as mid-September, the high-elevation mountain slopes and meadows in Mount Rainier National Park begin showing vibrant fall colors.
Although there are no expansive broadleaf forests here, Mount Rainier has enough deciduous vegetation to make it one of my favorite national parks for fall foliage.
Despite the lack of huge oaks, maples, and chestnuts that characterize the eastern parks—such as Cuyahoga Valley, Acadia, and Shenandoah—Mount Rainier has its fair share of vine maples, huckleberries, succulents, and even stands of larches (tamarack).
In fact, come October, it’s those huckleberries and other bushes that display a sparkling palette of brilliant fall colors in Mount Rainier National Park.
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Best Fall Hikes in Mount Rainier National Park
12. Summerland Trail
From the trailhead, “the trail ascends gradually through mature forest for several miles before entering the upper valley of Fryingpan Creek where hikers find good views of Mount Rainier,” according to the National Park Service.
“Shortly after crossing the creek at a small cascade, the trail climbs steeply for another .5 mile before reaching the open subalpine meadows of Summerland.”
In summer, these meadows feature a spectacular display of wildflowers, while fall brings vibrant fall colors to this area of Mount Rainier National Park.
Even in September, and particularly on weekends, the Summerland Trail remains one of the park’s most popular trails, though, so I recommend arriving at the trailhead early in the morning (or in the afternoon).
- Distance: 8.4 miles (out and back)
- Duration: 5 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Area: Sunrise
- Trailhead: Small parking lot just past the bridge across Fryingpan Creek on Sunrise Road
11. Spray Park Trail
The only reason the Spray Park Trail didn’t make it into the top 10 is its location at Mowich Lake, in the remote northwestern corner of the park. This makes it very difficult to combine it with some other fall hikes in Mount Rainier National Park.
However, this is such a spectacular trail, it’s worth doing on its own—as a day trip.
From the trailhead, you’ll wander through forests, across a creek, past a view of Mount Rainier and Spray Falls, and eventually into the glorious subalpine meadows of Spray Park.
It’s about 2.5 miles to the first meadow area. The most expansive Spray Park meadows are another 0.5 miles and are the final destination of this autumn day hike at Mount Rainier.
The meadows of Spray Park is breathtaking in summer, covered in wildflowers. Fall, on the other hand, comes with absolutely stunning foliage.
Although it’s pretty remote, requiring a long drive on a gravel road and a 3-mile one-way hike, Spray Park is one of the true subalpine gems of Mount Rainier National Park.
- Distance: 6 miles (out and back)
- Duration: 4 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Area: Mowich Lake
- Trailhead: southeast shore of Mowich Lake
Top 10 Fall Hikes in Mount Rainier National Park
As varied as the park itself, the trails below will take you through fragrant pine forests, to waterfalls, around shimmering lakes, across breathtaking meadows, to mountain summits, and into an Arctic tundra-like environment.
So, whatever kind of Mount Rainier fall hikes you’re after—easy, short, long, difficult, woodsy, mountainous,…—I’ve got the perfect one for you here.
10. Deadhorse Creek and Moraine Trails to Glacier Vista
An often-overlooked trail at Paradise, the Deadhorse Creek Trail does provide some phenomenal fall views at Mount Rainier.
Starting from the northwest end of the lower parking lot, it roughly parallels the ultra-popular—and for good reason—Skyline Trail. It runs up the Glacier Vista, where you can overlook the giant Nisqually Glacier.
On the way, you can also take a short detour on the Moraine Trail. Both the Deadhorse Creek Trail and Moraine Trail run across the famed meadows of Paradise, a true autumn wonderland. Loop back to the Paradise Inn and parking lot via the Skyline Trail.
- Distance: 2.5 miles (lollipop)
- Duration: 1.5 hours
- Difficulty: Easy/moderate
- Area: Paradise
- Trailhead: Northwest end of the lower parking lot at Paradise
9. Alta Vista Trail
Another trail that makes up the dense network of trails at Paradise, the Alta Vista Trail is a short yet incredibly scenic fall hike on the south slope of Mount Rainier.
Combined with the first short section of the Skyline Trail—which is the best fall hike in the park, see below—it’s a delightful lollipop-shaped loop through the glorious meadows of Paradise.
Although some stretches may be quiet steep, this is generally a pretty easy hike, ideal for families with small kids or visitors with limited time.
- Distance: 1.75 miles (lollipop)
- Duration: 1 hour
- Difficulty: Easy/moderate
- Area: Paradise
- Trailhead: Behind the Henry M Jackson Memorial Visitor Center
8. Indian Henry’s Hunting Ground
The hike to Indian Henry’s Hunting Ground is by far the longest of all the Mount Rainier fall hikes featured here. But it’s absolutely worth it!
You can start this phenomenal full-day hike at either Kautz Creek or Longmire. Whichever trailhead you choose, it’ll be a challenging hike of more than 11 miles, which will take you a minimum of six hours (but quite possibly more).
On the way, you’ll walk through beautiful forests and cross streams as you climb higher and higher toward the tranquil meadows of Indian Henry’s Hunting Ground.
The length and duration of this hike deter many hikers, but those who do invest time and effort will be rewarded by an unforgettable experience.
Along with the stunning fall scenery, the solitude offered by this hike is one of its main drawcards.
In fact, Indian Henry’s Hunting Ground is easily one of the greatest places to immerse yourself—in peace and quiet—in the stunning fall colors of Mount Rainier. Stay on the trail, though!
- Distance: 13 miles (via Wonderland Trail from Longmire) or 11.5 miles (via Kautz Creek Trail), out and back
- Duration: 8 hours (via Wonderland Trail from Longmire) or 6-7 hours (via Kautz Creek Trail)
- Difficulty: Strenuous
- Area: Longmire
- Trailhead: Longmire or Kautz Creek Trailhead
7. Pinnacle Peak Trail
The Pinnacle Peak Trail is perhaps one of the most underrated fall hikes in Mount Rainier National Park.
Rather steep but pretty short, it climbs to 5,920-foot Pinnacle Saddle, which sits just below Pinnacle Peak, the third-highest peak in the Tatoosh Range.
On the way, you’ll walk through areas of huckleberries and other shrubs that showcase incredibly vibrant fall foliage. At the saddle itself, the view is among the best in the entire national park.
Looking north, there’s an unobstructed view of majestic Mount Rainier itself, with Paradise sprawling across its south slope.
Additionally, Pinnacle Saddle also offers a superb panoramic view to the south, encompassing both Mount Adams and Mount St. Helens, as well as Mount Hood far in the distance in Oregon.
While you’ll certainly enjoy the beautiful fall colors along this trail, I also encourage you to look for wildlife here. It’s a great area to see marmots and pikas.
As elsewhere in the park with huckleberry bushes, keep an eye out for black bears in the fall, too.
- Distance: 2.6 miles (out and back)
- Duration: 2 hours
- Difficulty: Strenuous
- Area: Paradise
- Trailhead: Across the road from Reflection Lakes
6. Silver Falls Trail
The Silver Falls Trail doesn’t offer as many autumn colors as the other fall hikes at Mount Rainier in this list. However, it does make for a pleasant stroll underneath the old-growth trees along the Ohanapecosh River.
On a crisp October morning, a walk in these fragrant forests is absolutely delightful. On the this woodland walk, you can experience the bustling of life in Mount Rainier’s pristine forests.
Listen for the tapping of woodpeckers and the rustling of deer in the bushes. Enjoy the sounds of the crystal-clear water of the river as it tumbles down cascades and rapids.
The highlight of this wonderful fall hike is Silver Falls itself, a large 75-foot waterfall thundering down into a gorge, about 1.5 miles from the trailhead at the Ohanapecosh Campground. A scenic bridge crosses the gorge, making for a great photo location.
The Silver Falls Trail then runs back along the west side of the Ohanapecosh River.
- Distance: 3 miles (loop)
- Duration: 1.5 hours
- Difficulty: Easy
- Area: Ohanapecosh
- Trailhead: B Loop of the Ohanapecosh Campground
Top 5 Fall Hikes in Mount Rainier National Park
If you’re planning to visit this iconic Washington national park in autumn, I recommended doing at least one, but preferably all, of the following fall hikes in Mount Rainier National Park.
Additionally, all of these top five best fall hikes in Mount Rainier National Park are loops. No need to backtrack the way you came, but new scenery and sights all along the trail!
5. Bench and Snow Lakes Trail
One of the greatest—and perhaps most underrated—fall hikes in Mount Rainier National Park is the Bench and Snow Lakes Trail.
The trailhead is a few minutes’ drive east of popular Reflection Lakes, far enough removed from the busy Paradise area that it sees significantly fewer visitors.
The Bench and Snow Lakes are an exceptional fall hike nonetheless, a moderate trail that gradually climbs and dips across a series of small ridges, and through beautiful meadows.
Both Bench and Snow Lake are beautiful, but I, along with many other hikers, prefer the scenery at Snow Lakes, which is the ultimate destination of this hike. (Bench Lake is 0.75 miles from the trailhead; Snow Lake is another 0.5 miles.)
The scenery at Snow Lake is nothing less than glorious, with both the trail and lakeshore lined with vibrant foliage, mostly huckleberries and mountain ash.
- Distance: 2.5 miles (out and back)
- Duration: 1.5 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Area: Stevens Canyon Road
- Trailhead: 1.5 miles east of the Reflection Lakes Parking Area
4. Reflection Lakes Loop
A fun circuit around one of Mount Rainier’s top attractions, the 2.8-mile Reflection Lakes Loop starts at the large Reflection Lakes parking area. For the best views, I recommend hiking this in a clockwise direction.
The first short section is on the Wonderland Trail, incidentally one of the best long-distance trails in America’s national parks. Then, the loop turns right onto the Lower Lakes Trail and the High Lakes Trail, followed by the Mazama Ridge Trail back down.
This is one of the best Mount Rainier fall hikes if you’re looking to spend a couple of hours soaking up the park’s diverse scenery. On the way, you’ll enjoy beautiful mountain views, fall colors and occasional wildlife sightings.
And of course, the stars of the show are the Reflection Lakes themselves, perfectly mirroring Rainier in their still waters. In October, there are fall colors all around these beautiful lakes.
- Distance: 2.8 miles (loop)
- Duration: 2 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Area: Paradise
- Trailhead: Reflection Lakes Parking Area
3. Burroughs Mountain Trail
For up-close views of mighty Mount Rainier itself, few trails are better than the Burroughs Mountain Trail. Starting at the Sunrise Visitor Center, this strenuous trail is a great early-fall hike for two reasons.
One, the lower elevations and meadows boast beautiful fall colors, and two, the higher elevations—an Arctic tundra environment—are free of snow this time of year.
When hiked in a counterclockwise direction, the first part of this fantastic hike, one of my all-time favorite Mount Rainier National Park hikes, is along the Sourdough Ridge Trail. Once you arrive at Frozen Lake, follow the Burroughs Mountain Trail to the top of First Burroughs Mountain.
Although the views are pretty amazing there, I encourage you to continue to Second Burroughs Mountain summit, where Rainier is breathtakingly close.
Enjoy spectacular views of the gigantic Emmons Glacier, the largest glacier in the contiguous United States, and the White River.
Watch for mountain goats, which are quite common here. We saw a large group of them on a slope in the distance. (These are the binoculars I use.)
Make this a 6-mile circuit hike by taking the Sunrise Rim Trail back to the parking lot at Sunrise. On the way back, Mount Rainier will accompany you on your right side, while beautiful meadows display vibrant fall colors all around.
- Distance: 4.8 miles to First Burroughs Mountain; 6 miles to Second Burroughs Mountain (loop)
- Duration: 3 hours
- Difficulty: Strenuous
- Area: Sunrise
- Trailhead: Behind the Sunrise Visitor Center
2. Naches Peak Loop
One of the most family-friendly fall hikes in Mount Rainier National Park is the Naches Peak Loop. A 3.5-mile circuit around Naches Peak and Tipsoo Lake, this hike is nothing short of glorious in the fall.
Thanks to an abundance of huckleberries and other shrubs, Tipsoo Lake is one of the best places to enjoy the fall colors at Mount Rainier.
It features spectacular national park views with Rainier towering in the distance, as well as regular animal sightings and a fun, not-too-difficult hiking experience.
Consider hiking the Naches Peak Loop in a clockwise direction for the greatest views of Mount Rainier.
Start at the Tipsoo Lake picnic area and follow the trail up to Chinook Pass and the Pacific Crest Trail (part of this hike is outside of Mount Rainier National Park). Loop back on the other side of Naches Peak via the Naches Peak Loop Trail.
Alternative fall hike: If you’ve just picnicked at Tipsoo Lake and don’t feel like a 3.5-mile hike, you can also explore Tipsoo Lake instead. A short and virtually flat trail runs around this almost-impossibly photogenic lake, allowing you to enjoy the huckleberry foliage and fall scenery from up close.
- Distance: 3.5 miles (loop)
- Duration: 2 hours
- Difficulty: Easy
- Area: Tipsoo Lake
- Trailhead: Tipsoo Lake Picnic Area or Chinook Pass
1. Skyline Trail
If I had to pick the single best fall hike in Mount Rainier National Park, I wouldn’t hesitate a second. Nothing beats the sensational Skyline Trail—this trail is so spectacular we hiked it twice!
The trailhead is directly behind the Jackson Visitor Center and historic Paradise Inn at Paradise.
In summer, this is one of the best places to see alpine wildflowers, while in October, its fall colors are absolutely glorious. After he visited Paradise at Mount Rainier, the legendary conservationist John Muir called it:
“…the most luxuriant and the most extravagantly beautiful of all the alpine gardens I ever beheld in all my mountain-top wanderings”
– John Muir, 1889
On this 5.5-mile loop, you’ll walk through gorgeous patches of huckleberries, across lush alpine meadows and past panoramic viewpoints.
Highlights include the huge Nisqually Glacier and Panorama Point, which offers a view that includes the Tatoosh Range and other Cascade volcanoes like Mount Adams, Mount St. Helens and Mt. Hood.
Hike the Skyline Trail in a clockwise direction to save the best for last: picturesque Edith Creek and Myrtle Falls with Rainier rising up in the background.
- Distance: 5.5 miles (loop)
- Duration: 4 hours
- Difficulty: Strenuous
- Area: Paradise
- Trailhead: Behind the Henry M Jackson Memorial Visitor Center
Note: When we hiked the Skyline Trail in early-October, we saw six (!) black bears. This is fall foliage season for humans and berry-eating season for the bears. They’re foraging all throughout the berry patches, meadows and forest clearings. Keep your eyes peeled and carry bear spray, just in case. None of our encounters or sightings were threatening, though. All parties involved kept to themselves and minded their own business, as it should be!
Recommended Mount Rainier Hiking Guide
Falcon Guides’ Hiking Mount Rainier National Park is filled with the best hikes you can do at Mount Rainier in the fall, summer and spring. This handy book features no fewer than 60 hikes for all skill levels and ages.
More About Mount Rainier National Park
- Park Website
- Travel Guide
- Topographic Map
- Best Mount Rainier Hikes
- Top Things To Do in Mount Rainier National Park
- What to Do at Paradise (Mount Rainier)
- Best Mount Rainier Sunset Spots
- Best Views of Mount Rainier
- Mount Rainier Wildflower Guide
- Accommodation
Wildlife Safety While Fall Hiking in Mount Rainier National Park
Wildlife abounds in Mount Rainier National Park. Especially in the fall, you have an excellent chance of seeing animals like deer, birds, black bears and mountain goats.
As I mentioned just above, black bears fill up on berries—and basically anything else nutritious they come across—this time of year, eating as much they can before they retreat to their den for winter.
Be aware of their presence when hiking at Mount Rainier in the fall. Carry bear spray.
Mountain goats are also often seen grazing on higher slopes in the fall. We saw one on the Skyline Trail and a herd of them on the Burroughs Mountain Trail. While these herbivores may seem passive and gentle, they can, in fact, be dangerous. Keep your distance when you see one on the trail.
Additionally, mountain lions are also present in Mount Rainier National Park, although rarely seen.
Read the wildlife safety guides below for more tips to stay safe around wildlife on your Mount Rainier fall hiking trip.
