Miles: 5.4+ miles RT (longer if your loop includes the Paradise parking lot)
Elevation Gain/Highest: 1150ft/5770ft
Map: Green Trails Mount Rainier East 270 or Paradise 270s, my GAIA
Favorite Eats After Hike: Farelli’s Wood Fire Grill, Cliff Droppers, White Pass Taqueria or just Pack A Cooler. You can learn more about these places in my Must Hike Must Eat Eating Out Guide.
Find out current conditions and as always, practice Leave No Trace. Pretty please.
Snowshoe details:
This snowshoe route offers a loop in the southeast corner of the Paradise area of Mount Rainier. Ramble through the forest past the cascading Paradise River, meander along snow covered roads, undulate on the meadow laden Mazama Ridge and gaze at the majestic Mount Rainier (when she is out to grace you with your presence). Side trips to Narada Falls, Faraway Rock and Reflection Lakes are possible. Part of the route can lay in avalanche terrain so be sure to check conditions before you go.
My trip report:
3/15/2021
When the gate opened at 9am today, tire chains were required but by the time I drove out around 3pm they were not. My original plan had been to start at the Narada Falls Trailhead, head over to Reflection Lakes, up to Faraway Rock and Mazama Ridge and then back down via Paradise to my car.
What actually happened was a start at Narada Falls, up past Washington Cascades and Ruby Falls, onto Stevens Canyon Road briefly then Paradise Valley Road briefly, a cut up to the Lower Lakes Trail, a turn up onto the High Lakes Trail and Mazama Ridge, a turn down onto the Skyline Trail and 4th Crossing, and a return on the Paradise Valley Road (rather than passing the Paradise parking lot) because the avy risk was yellow.
When I arrived at the trailhead at, I was the only car. Having not snowshoed here before, despite the GPS track I had downloaded, I was not entirely sure where to start as the snow berm in the parking lot was about 15 feet high and there were tracks both up and down from the lot. After using the comfort station, another car joined me in the lot and I asked the two women, Carol and Mingrey, if they had snowshoed here before and where the snow route to Reflection Lakes started.
Seeing I was by myself, they insisted I join them as they were going that way and “one should not go out in places like this by themselves” I just smiled and said I would love to join them, thinking to myself I would simply continue with my plan once we arrived at Reflection Lakes.
The trail took off on some steps cut into the berm between the comfort station and the maintenance shed and then it was up and along Paradise River which flowed quietly below all the snow. There were lightly covered tracks to follow and orange poles. We chatted and got to know each other a little, one of the party had hiked this route more than a few times and I was happy to defer. We stopped briefly at Ruby Falls a little less than half mile into our trek, gazing down at the lower half as the snow was piled high below the bridge of Stevens Canyon.
Turning right on Stevens Canyon at a sign marked for Paradise/Reflection Lakes/Inspiration Point, we traversed about a quarter mile towards Inspiration Point before tracks dwindled and the slope was a bit too steep for our comfortable level due to slides. We retraced our steps and went a bit to the left on Stevens Canyon and then cut up close to the hairpin turn in Paradise Valley Road and then cut again to reach Lower Lakes Trail roughly 3/4 mile from the car. The snow in the forest was good for snowshoes, not too powdery so you could get a good step in as you went.
It was about here that I realized I did not have my charging cord for my phone. I am still holding on to a 6s as long as I can which means the battery is worthless, even more so in the winter air. I was running one but there was no way I would have enough for the route I had planned. Even with the map and compass in my pack, my desire to make the large loop waned. The further we went out, the fewer the tracks and the more snow dumped on open areas. With the dismal weather, it was like walking in a white out in spots. No mountain to use a navigation point! Plus, I was enjoying my conversation with new friends.
From here, we slowly made our way to the right and then curved back again to reach the High Lakes Trail at a little over a mile. There was a brief conversation where I mentioned my original plan and no charging cord and my new friend who had been here often said they didn’t mind going up to Mazama Ridge since it wasn’t like there would be much to see at the lakes.
There were faint tracks to follow as we turned up onto the ridge, covered with last nights snowfall. We were still hopeful that we maybe get to see the “partly sunny” forecast for the mountain but for the most part it was a lovely walk in white vested trees.
From here it was the long approach up onto Mazama Ridge staying on the left but away from the valley edge. Elegant milky meadows laid out on our right and we imagined the wildflowers that would decorate it come summer.
About half way along our Mazama Ridge traverse, we stopped for lunch in the clouds around noon. The sun continued to look as it would break through but never did. We had yet to see anyone. By this point, both Carol and Mingrey realized I probably would have been fine without their guide support as we had lots of trail stories to share.
From here, we continued to the junction with the Skyline Trail marked by another orange pole and tracks that dropped down over the side of the ridge 2.7 miles in. We zigzagged on our descent, our snowshoes cutting nicely into the snow. We kept to the left of Paradise River which simply made a dark cleft in the terrain. As we approached Paradise Valley Road, we saw our first glimpse of other snowshoers coming down from Paradise.
Here, we decided with the avy forecast that it was reasonable to turn left and take the Paradise Valley Road back down to where we had intersected it in the beginning of our trip. For the most part the trail was wide and we had a view back up at the Paradise Inn. There were a few places where slides had come down before making the trail narrow and more angled, but nothing that was hard to navigate.
We took the road all the way down, cutting the hairpin and dropping down to Stevens Canyon Road and then down on the Narada Falls Trail for a little over 5 miles of a loop. We passes a few more snowshoers but most of the people we saw were in the parking lot roaming between Narada Falls and the parking lot. Even though I didn’t get my original loop in, it was a lovely day with new friends!
Directions: From Tacoma, head south on SR 7 towards Elbe then keep left onto SR 706 towards the small town of Ashford. Continue east on 706 through the Nisqually Entrance of Mount Rainier National Park and proceed up the road past the Longmire Wilderness information Center and lodge. During the winter months the Longmire gate opens and closes during the day, check here for closures and if traction devices are required. You can park at the Narada Falls parking lot 14.5 miles from the entrance or continue another mile or so up to Paradise and park in the large lot next to the Inn. You will need a National Park or America The Beautiful Pass.
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