Trip Report
Day Hike - Eagle Peak
Be aware of the grand views and avalanche lily explosion happening now.
Lisa Elliott
- Thu, Jul 3, 2025
- Day Hike - Eagle Peak
- Chutla, Eagle & Wahpenayo Peaks
- Day Hiking
- Successful
- Road suitable for all vehicles
-
Bluebird day above the lingering lowland clouds at Mt. Rainier today.
PARKING: Fast entry, clean restroom at Longmire, parking overall wonderful prior to 7:30 am. No car reservation needed, just your park pass or America the Beautiful pass for 2025.
TRIP: After parking we walked across the suspension bridge to continue to the Nisqually River where it meets the trailhead. The trail is a well-maintained, for slow warm-up, that gradually becomes steeper through the forest with multiple switchbacks, once I counted 41. This trail is appears lightly used and has a nice cushy forest tread of pine needles for most of the way.
The lowland areas are covered in moss and fragrant twin flowers. Continue uphill towards the saddle of Eagle Peak at 3 miles, the trail then opens to minor snow patches now that in a few days have exploded into avalanche lilies. Alpine wildflowers of lupine, sitka valarian, penstemon, tiger lilies, yellow mountain aster, mountain daisy and paintbrush are just starting at the avalanche chute area. Leave the micro spikes home.
A beautiful hike with views of cascade volcanoes, Rainier, Hood, Adams, St. Helens, as well as, Comet Falls, Narada Falls and Paradise.
Be aware there is just one small creek crossing but is a great place to get water. An all fours rocky 5 step climb to the saddle (not hazardous).
PHOTO SPOT: At the saddle you can continue a short bit but the best is at a nice spot where you can also eat lunch if you squeeze together.
8.5 miles, 3000' elevation gain ending at 5900'.