Trip
Day Hike - Crystal Peak (Mount Rainier)
Seattle Naturalists Conifer Trip. This hike has 13 different native conifers close to the trail.
- Sat, Aug 25, 2018
- Seattle Naturalists Committee
- Naturalist, Day Hiking
- Adults
- Strenuous
- Moderate
- Mileage: 8.0 mi
- Elevation Gain: 3,300 ft
- FULL, 1 on waitlist (7 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
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.
Crystal Peak (Mount Rainier)
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Green Trails Mount Rainier Wonderland No. 269SX
USGS White River Park - See full route/place details.
Required Equipment
- Navigation
- Sun protection
- Insulation (extra clothing)
- Illumination
- First aid supplies
- Fire
- Repair kit and tools, including knife
- Nutrition (extra food)
- Hydration (extra water)
- Emergency shelter