Summerland
Last modified
Oct 26, 2009 08:43 AM
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Big Pants Trekkers
Meadow near Summerland, by Stephen Cobert, August 2002
Head up the cushy Wonderland Trail, where old growth, a roaring river and snow capped peaks will keep ones interest for the first three miles. You’ll then begin to switchback a time or two and gain elevation steadily until you reach Summerland Camp after 4.3 miles of hiking, which depending on the season, may be covered in snow or wildflowers. More adventurous types may wish to climb easy slopes 2,300' higher to Meany Crest, which features a gorgeous bivy site, large enough for 6-8, sheltered from the winds, and offering amazing views of Little Tahoma, Rainier and the Cowlitz Chimneys area and a look at the Stuart range, Glacier, Baker and a hundred others in the distance. You may see mountain goats grazing in Summerland meadows. Gaze up at Tahoma’s FryingPan Glacier and enjoy your time in this high meadow. Recent Trip Reports
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Summerland
— Oct 24, 2009
— CDub
Day hike
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A beautiful day up in Summerland, with great views of the mountain. I didn't make it to Panhandle Gap, but...
A beautiful day up in Summerland, with great views of the mountain. I didn't make it to Panhandle Gap, but it appeared to have some snow up there. Trail is in good condition, and no snow except on the tallest peaks. Come and get it while you still can, and maybe there will be a couple more good weeks before the White River road closes.
Day hike
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Snow on trail
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With shorter days, darker dawns, and a definite chill in the morning air, I opted to hike to Summerland in...
With shorter days, darker dawns, and a definite chill in the morning air, I opted to hike to Summerland in the warmer afternoon sunshine of autumn. Only 5 cars at the trailhead when I arrived at 11:30 am. This easy-to-moderate graded trail that gains 1500 ft in 4.2 miles (most of it in the final mile up to Summerland) is in excellent condition, but once you cross the last log bridge spanning Fryingpan Creek, be wary of the dusting of frozen snow glazing the trail in shaded areas. I'd advise good tread on your hiking shoes and poles to keep you balanced, as the frozen stuff was rather slick. Fall colors are modest but haven't peaked. Ran into only 5 others on the trail. 2 hours in, 1.5 hours out.
Summerland
— Sep 27, 2009
— the lonely misanthrope
Day hike
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A very pleasant experience on the Wonderland Trail. Starts out nearly level along Fryingpan Creek for maybe a half mile,...
A very pleasant experience on the Wonderland Trail. Starts out nearly level along Fryingpan Creek for maybe a half mile, grand old trees. Climbs up to the creek in a slot gorge, switchbacks up onto a rib and goes through dark, quiet hemlock forest till crossing the creek at 3 miles. Then it turns tough and climbs a 1000' in less than a mile, but the switchbacks aren't too bad.
The best views at Summerland are the very first ones. Little Tahoma, K Spire, Emmons Glacier, Columbia Crest. Stunning. The higher you go, the less of the mountain you see because Meany Crest gets in the way. But, if you pretend Rainier isn't there, it's sublime in the moraines and tundra. Didn't make Panhandle Gap due to lazing about in the sun on a rock in the meadow for 90 minutes. Day hike
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A great, easy 4 miles on a wonderfully maintained trail to beautiful meadows under Mt. Rainier. Wildlife galore--there were bugling...
A great, easy 4 miles on a wonderfully maintained trail to beautiful meadows under Mt. Rainier. Wildlife galore--there were bugling elk, marmots posing for photos, and even a bear. The bear was nonplussed to meet us on the trail, and he kindly stepped aside before rejoining the trail behind us, using the log footbridge, and heading up the switchbacks on the other side. Everyone enjoys a well maintained trail! There is a bit of fall color right now but not much yet.
Day hike
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Today was hike #75 of 2009
My BFF has never done Summerland Trail and it's my favorite trail in the Sunrise...
Today was hike #75 of 2009
My BFF has never done Summerland Trail and it's my favorite trail in the Sunrise area. If you want to see Marmots this is the place to go! There are at least 3 families living here and they put on a show for me every single time. Today there was 5-6 sitting on the rocks being lazy and more in the meadows stocking up for winter. They like to eat around noon in the meadows fyi. I've got them figured out 3 years coming to this trail at least twice a year if not more. Annie and I went past summerland to the small tarns and took a dip. It was very cold but totally worth it. They seemed smaller than I remembered from last year. Another group was doing jumping in as we left, they had the right idea. We saw more marmots on the way down took a ton more photos and loved the red and yellow colors coming out right now, it was another wonderful trip. |
Driving Directions
From Enumclaw, take Highway 410 east 43 miles to the White River Entrance of Mt. Rainier National Park. Veer right on Sunride Road, follow this 4 miles to the trailhead near Fryingpan Creek. |
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