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Camp Muir - Winter

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.
  • Mountain views
  • Dogs not allowed

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 routefinding skills and proper equipment, including traction devices, GPS devices, a map, and other supplies to stay safe. Continue reading

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Hiking Camp Muir - Winter

Because of the presence of deep snow on Mount Rainier in the winter, accessing Camp Muir in winter requires routefinding skills and proper equipment, including traction devices, GPS devices, a map, and other supplies to stay safe.

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 neverending.

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 two miles to the Paradise Visitors Center.

** Note that Paradise in the winter requires chains in all vehicles, regardless of AWD or 4WD **

More Hike Details

Trailhead

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise

Mount Rainier National Park

Guidebooks & Maps

Green Trails Mount Rainier East No. 270

Green Trails Mount Rainier Paradise No. 270S

Buy the Green Trails Paradise No. 270S map

Buy the Green Trails Mt Rainier East No. 270 map

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Camp Muir - Winter

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