Trip Report
CHS 1 Hike - Wonderland Trail: Longmire to Narada Falls
Labor Day weekend fun on the Wonderland Trail! Cool morning turned into hot afternoon in a hurry.
Steven Payne
- Sun, Aug 31, 2025
- CHS 1 Hike - Wonderland Trail: Longmire, Reflection Lakes & Box Canyon
- Wonderland Trail: Longmire, Reflection Lakes & Box Canyon
- Day Hiking
- Successful
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- Road suitable for all vehicles
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Most of the hike was on the Wonderland Trail, so the route is well-traveled and well-maintained. A couple of downed trees easy to step over. There's a sturdy log bridge in place over the Nisqually River but we still took our time and crossed one at a time, with sternum straps and hip belts undone.
Our SEA CHS group of seven met up at the Longmire parking lot and made our way across the Nisqually and up to Carter, Madcap and Narada Falls. I had planned to continue onto Paradise, but that stretch is roughly 1,000' of gain over a shy mile and the mid-day temperatures were increasing. I suggested that we have lunch at Narada Falls and turn around, and the hikers were quick to agree!
We enjoyed excellent Himalayan fare at Wild Berry before heading home.
Tip: I'm not aware of any cell service anywhere within the park, but two of the hikers alerted me that there's free wifi available near the trailhead, between the Museum and the Wilderness Information Center. This was useful as we were texting with several late arrivals who got caught up in backups in Elbe and the park entrance.