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.