Crystal Peak (Mount Rainier)

Trip

Day Hike - Crystal Peak (Mount Rainier)

Seattle Naturalists Conifer Trip. This hike has 13 different native conifers close to the trail.

  • Strenuous
  • Moderate
  • Mileage: 8.0 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 3,300 ft

Meet at Crystal Peak trailhead, on east side of Mount Rainier National Park just north (downhill) of the White River entrance road.

9:00 AM

Driving time from North Seattle is a tad less than 2 hours.

NO Forest Service or Mount Rainier permit required. We are inside Mount Rainier National Park, but outside the fee area.

Help me identify the conifers on this trip.  It will be a group effort.

This trail does gain 3,100 ft in 4 miles but the grade is moderate, the trail is smooth, and ascends underneath a canopy of trees for the first 3 miles.

CONIFERS

Trailhead:  Douglas firs, hemlocks, cedars, Yew.

4600': Yew,  red cedar, western hemlock, silver fir, Douglas fir, western white pine, subalpine fir

4730': Engelmann spruce, Alaska cedar

5190': Noble fir and a lot of mountain hemlock in the area.  Binoculars would be useful for viewing the distinctive Noble fir cones.

5200': Ponderosa pine, grand fir (if we can spot it)

Near/At summit: Western White Pine, Whitebark pine, & a grand fir.

Route/Place

Crystal Peak (Mount Rainier)


Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

The Ten Essentials

  1. Navigation
  2. Sun protection
  3. Insulation (extra clothing)
  4. Illumination
  5. First aid supplies
  6. Fire
  7. Repair kit and tools, including knife
  8. Nutrition (extra food)
  9. Hydration (extra water)
  10. Emergency shelter
Trip Reports