Parked at Longmire and started the Rampart Ridge loop going clockwise.    Just when the trail turns to face Kautz Creek, there is a patch of vine maple in all their orange, red, and yellow fall colors.   

We descended down the Wonderland Trail towards Pyramid Creek camp.   By Kautz Creek there is a great view of Rainier.  The Kautz Creek river crossing was easy - just rock hopping.   After crossing the creek, we went to the right, following rock cairns, logs, and boot prints to find the path on the opposite side of the creek.    

Headed back up and completed the Rampart Ridge loop.    Next time I would do the loop counter clockwise to save my knees some wear and tear.    It was a fun day hike in the shade of 8.3 miles and 1,746 elevation gain.

There's nothing like being on the Wonderland Trail.

We side-skirted up to Rampart Ridge, took a gander at TumTum Peak and the valley below. No wildflowers quite yet across the ridge and bog. After meeting up to the Wonderland Trail we decided to head to Pyramid Creek Camp.

Crossing the Kautz River there was no footbridge but we rocked hopped without a problem. Discovered the footbridge upstream from years before when the river had a different course.

Pyramid Creek CG is snow free and a sweet little camp, a good sign for our upcoming 14 day backpack around the mountain.

Head to the park early on weekends. The entrance was backed up about 5 miles at 2 pm as we left the park.

9.3 miles total. Takeout available at NP Inn. General Store and restroom open. Remember your face covering or bandana. In general everyone had one and/or social distanced.

VIDEO HERE

Hiked in for an overnight at Pyramid Creek on Sunday night. Great trail conditions, no snow, and very few other hikers encountered. (no other people 5:30 pm to 10:00 am next day). 

Do be cautious of the rerouted section through the Kautz Creek Riverbed. There are cairns that guide parts of the route, but it is easy to lose them. Don't be afraid to go back for safety to the previous cairn and try again. This section definitely adds a bit of time to the route.

We hiked to Pyramid Creek Camp for a one-nighter, hoping to get to Indian Henry's. Trail is snow free to Pyramid Creek, great lunch/dinner spot at Kautz Creek. The trail at Kautz Creek is difficult to locate - the trail is washed out going down the bank of the creek and appears to shoot downstream (south). The trail continues on the other side of Kautz 100-200 hundred feet upstream (north), so head that direction and you'll find some mildly helpful small cairns marking where the trail picks up. 

After dropping our packs at camp we continued on to see how far we could get before getting to snow. We hit a couple extended patches of snow crossing Hornpipe Creek and Devils Dream Creek but were able to pick up the trail. Nearing Devils Dream Camp we didn't see the trail again and called it quits. 

30 hours, 27 miles, ~5,000' elevation gain, riotous wildflower displays, and jaw-dropping views made for a wonderful weekend indeed! We hiked from Longmire to Pyramid Creek Camp Friday, day hiked from there to Indian Henry's Hunting Ground. Saturday we broke camp and hiked to Van Trump Park and Mildred Point from the junction off the Wonderland Trail above Longmire. Trail conditions below by trail. Lots of pics of all at the link below. The wildflowers are AT PEAK! I'd list them, but there's not enough space in this box. :)

Longmire to Indian Henry's Hunting Ground: Trail is in great shape. There is one sketchy corner dropping down to Kautz Creek due to a washout. If you camp at Pyramid Creek, I suggest you get water not from the creek (pretty silty) but just beyond at a crystal clear, ice-cold brook. There are a couple small, easy snow patches after Devil's Dream Camp, but things are mostly just melted out, which means obscenely beautiful displays of avalanche lily.

Wonderland Trail to Van Trump Park: Note: This is not from the trail that goes to Christine and Comet Falls. This trail is longer and less popular. This description is from the junction hiking up from Longmire, just below the junction where Rampart Ridge Trail joins Wonderland Trail. The trail starts  steeply with some wooden steps. It flattens out for quite a while with bear grass and other lovely flowers to brighten the way. On this hot day, it was nice to hike in the shady woods. After a mile (?ish), there is one tree down, about 24" in diameter but not difficult to get over. After that downed tree, the trail needs brushing, especially on the switchbacks (oh, yeah; it gets steep again) on through the flowers after you break out of the woods. In many spots the brush pushes you to the outside edge of the trail. There's pretty significant tread creep here that should be addressed soon. I noted a few drainage issues (now dry), too, that will cause serious trenching if left unattended for another few seasons. The trail dropping down and out of Van Trump Creek is fine but needs careful going. On the far side of the creek, use the trail that goes left instead of the scramble going straight up from the bridge, which is steep enough to cause bad erosion with use. Van Trump Park was still under snow when we were there, but it's very close to melted flowering.

Mildred Point: The sign at the spur to Mildred Point (.5 miles) proclaims, "end maintained trail", and it's not kidding. It's fine at first but gives way to water, bad trenching, and this time of year a few snowfields to cross (poles or traction helpful but not necessary). Mostly, it's just steep! That said, it's also well worth it. The view is spectacular! On the way up, when you're stopping to breathe, turn around to see St. Helen's and Adams. A huge field of glacier lilies lies just below the first snow field. The trail reappears to the left above the snow, then straight across more snow and up the last hitch to your rich reward.

All these trails are beautiful right now!