Camp Muir - Winter

Name: Camp Muir - Winter
Rating: 3.5

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise

46.7862, -121.7354 Map & Directions

Length: 8.0 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 4,400 feet
Highest Point: 10,080 feet
Calculated Difficulty About Calculated Difficulty: Hard

Camp Muir in the winter is gorgeous but a very challenging hike. Photo by Eric Jain.

Dogs not allowed
Mountain views

Parking Pass/Entry Fee

National Park Pass

Saved to My Backpack

Because of the presence of deep snow on Mount Rainier in the winter, accessing Camp Muir in winter requires route-finding skills and proper equipment, including traction devices, GPS devices, a map and other supplies (including mountaineering gear) to stay safe. Continue reading

Rating

3.50 out of 5

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Hiking Camp Muir - Winter

Beginning from the Paradise parking area, the route is typically under snow for its entire length until at least midsummer. From behind the visitors center, follow the route of the Skyline Trail up towards where the Camp Muir trail splits off near Pebble Creek.

The snowfield undulates steeply, then the terrain flattens out slightly above 8,000 feet. However, as the air grows thinner up here, the moderating grade is hardly a relief. You may begin to see glimpses of Camp Muir around 9,000 feet, though the last 250 vertical feet of the climb feel never-ending.

WTA Pro Tip: In bad weather, it can be easy to lose your way — the natural tendency is to follow the slope of the hill to the right and onto the heavily crevassed Nisqually Glacier. Bring a GPS device or download compass bearings from the park website as a backup.

Toilet Information

Toilet at trailhead
Accessible toilet
Toilet has running water

More information about toilets

Camp Muir - Winter

Map & Directions

Trailhead

Co-ordinates: 46.7862, -121.7354 Open in Google Maps

Before You Go

See weather forecast

Parking Pass/Entry Fee

National Park Pass

WTA Pro Tip: Save a copy of our directions before you leave! App-based driving directions aren't always accurate and data connections may be unreliable as you drive to the trailhead.

Getting There

From the west, drive Highway 706 (National Park Highway) to the Nisqually Entrance to Mount Rainier National Park. Follow Paradise Road East approximately 17.5 miles to Paradise.

From the east, take Highway 123 to Stevens Canyon Road (Note that this road is closed in the winter). 19 miles from the turnoff, turn right onto Paradise Road East. Continue 2 miles to the Paradise Visitors Center.

Note: Paradise in the winter requires chains in all vehicles, regardless of whether your car has AWD or 4WD.