Mount Rainier National Park: Paul Peak Trail to Mowich River
Hike 6.5 miles on a lesser-traveled trail on the forested side of Paul Peak to the Wonderland Trail, then down to the banks of the Mowich River.
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INFO For information on permits, current trail and camp conditions, and wilderness guidelines, go to nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/wilderness-camping-and-hiking.htm.
PERMIT A wilderness permit is required for all overnight camping in the backcountry. Reservations requests accepted by fax or mail, starting on March 15th of each year ($20/reservation). Download form at nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/wilderness-reservation-information.htm.
CONTACT Mt. Rainier National Park, (360) 569-2211; nps.gov/mora
-Mapped by Alan Bauer, Alan Bauer Photography
Trail Facts
- Distance: 10.5
Waypoints
PPT001
Location: 46.934734, -121.907356
Newly improved trail drops 250 ft. from parking area to Meadow Creek where lush areas grow beargrass, devil’s club, yellow violets
PPT002
Location: 46.928398, -121.908218
Cross Meadow Creek. American dippers fly up and down creek corridor. Trail leads SW up a gentle grade through an old-growth forest
PPT003
Location: 46.920864, -121.911797
Just as the trail prepares to turn SE around a rib-line of Paul Peak, the forest thins out (good for spotting elk)
PPT004
Location: 46.919067, -121.905685
Catch a glimpse of Mt. Rainier through the foliage. Calypso orchids, wild ginger, and more yellow violets make this a prime spot for photographers and botanists
PPT005
Location: 46.919491, -121.900604
Drop down switchbacks
PPT006
Location: 46.918777, -121.900085
Some years ago, a strong wind leveled a portion of this forest. The damage was devastating, but it opened up new views of Mt. Rainier and the Mowich River
PPT007
Location: 46.918316, -121.899498
Reenter forest after a maze of downed trees
PPT008
Location: 46.917152, -121.892494
Turn R onto the Wonderland Trail, continuing downhill to the lowlands of the North and South Mowich Rivers
PPT009
Location: 46.916008, -121.894073
As the trail levels out near the first river, take note the massive old-growth Douglas firs and two giant Western red cedars
PPT010
Location: 46.914738, -121.892853
Emerge from forest and see where the Wonderland Trail just disappears into the massive rubble of rocks and logjams at the North Mowich River. Floods in November 2006 ripped down this river, taking out all the footbridges. Push on to South Mowich Camp, enjoy lunch, then head back uphill to car