Summerland Trail - 8.4 Miles Round-Trip

Summerland Camp (5,928') is located 4.2 miles from the Fryingpan Creek Trailhead in Mount Rainier National Park. This venerable section of the Wonderland Trail, variously referred to as the Summerland Trail, rises through impressive old growth into idyllic meadows at the base of Mount Rainier (14,410') and Little Tahoma Peak (11,138'). 

Trail Map | Photo Gallery

It continues 1.5 miles to Panhandle Gap (6,752'), the highest point on the Wonderland Trail.

Subalpine parklands ring Mount Rainier from 5,000' - 7,000'. This airy ecosystem, characterized by clustered tree stands and herbaceous meadows, spans the transition from treeline to alpine tundra.

Elk, goat and bear are drawn to this fecund habitat. Lush meadows, which may be snow-covered through late June, have short growing seasons that can trigger spectacular all-at-once blooms.

Summerland typifies the parkland - subalpine meadow ecosystem at Mount Rainier. This attractive destination sees heavy use throughout the summer, especially on weekends. Arrive early to secure parking and avoid crowds:

The trail heads south along Fryingpan Creek under a tall old growth canopy. Grades increase past 1.25 miles (4,100') on a steady, winding climb that levels across an open bank with a look at waterfalls pouring from the south valley wall (2.5 miles : 4,790').

The trail steepens over a gorge to a wide, cobbled channel along Fryingpan Creek. You can divert upstream to view its source at Fryingpan Glacier. An elevated bridge crosses a narrow braid (3.3 miles : 5,190') into patchy meadows with views of Rainier, Little Tahoma and Goat Island Mountain.

It steepens away from the creek onto winding switchbacks for a .7 mile, 600' push to Summerland Camp (4.2 miles : 5,928'). The trail continues through the meadows on steep intervals into an alpine zone below Fryingpan Glacier. Perennial snow covers much of the trail between Summerland and Panhadle Gap, but it's generally well-tracked and easy to follow.

It runs past the base of Meany Crest into a vast sprawl of tarns, gravel mounds, scattered boulders, streams, snowfields and waterfalls. The trail curls up a steep wall to Panhandle Gap (5.5 miles : 6,752'), a long thin saddle between the Fryingpan and Ohanapecosh River headwaters.

Views are simply stunning from this point. Note that steep, snow-covered sections between Summerland and Panhandle may require crampons and ice axes to safely scale and descend. Only prepared hikers should attempt this traverse.