Rampart Ridge Loop — Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015

Mount Rainier Area > SW - Longmire/Paradise

We hiked the Rampart Ridge loop with snowshoes on - maybe didn't need to for the going up part (perhaps a good pair of yak trax or other good traction would do) but were thankful for them going down. The trail is nicely packed and has been well travelled. The views were amazing (not a cloud to be seen) and there were only about 5 trees down on the trail. The road conditions for Rainier change by the day so check their Twitter feed before going. We didn't need chains going into the park but we're thankful for the 4WD in certain slippery parts. Watch for falling snow, bring a snack and enjoy this lovely day hike. I normally skip Longmire for Paradise's higher elevation and views but this is a nice option if you want to go to the park, go up high and get a good view of the Mountain on the far side of the ridge.