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Trip Report    

Day Hike - High Hut, Mt Tahoma Trails

Check out this cool ski-to-ski trail system in the heat of summer. Epic views seen here.

Lisa Elliott Lisa Elliott
July 21, 2025
  • Road suitable for all vehicles

  • A perfect hike to socialize, Tacoma Mountaineers Lookouts & High Places trods on through the month of July. A favorite local secret in Ashford, High Hut, is just outside Mt. Rainier National Park and fairly easy to get to.

    After meeting at Eatonville Visitor Center, we shuffled cars to Eatonville Elementary then carpooled to the trailhead collecting a lot of dust over a few easy miles of mountain turns. 

    From Eatonville take Hwy 7 east through Elbe towards the town of Ashford. At the Faith Baptist Church turn right and follow the road to across the bridge at the Nisqually and left at the T onto Rd. 1

    PARKING: can be tight on the weekends in the upper lot. I was super happy our group of 12 carpooled and consolidated to 4 cars.

    You will need a Discover Pass for a summer day hike at this winter location. 

TRIP: During the hike we socialized along the wide road that led to the hut. This hike is steep to begin but levels out slightly with 1800' gain over the 3 miles to the top. Here, you'll see plenty of peaks on a sunny day for photography.

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INFORMATION: High Hut is a part of the Mt. Tahoma Trails System, a ski-to-ski hut system. During the winter you can snowshoe and BXC Ski/XC Ski to the huts. If you want to stay over winter or summer in a charming rustic hut, the cost is $15 per bunk. 

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Staffed by volunteers, the hut also has work parties once a month in the summer and a volunteer ski patrol during the winter.

HAZARDS: The summer hike is hazard free except this year in particular there is a water shortage. Rainwater is collected during the summer to filter and snow is used during the winter. We weren't asked but brought all our water for this day since we wanted to leave what they had there but it is just a suggestion. 

6.5 miles 1800' elevation gain