This is an outstanding place to see the sunrise on Mount Rainier. This trail was wiped out in 2006 by floods. WTA rerouted the main Glacier Basin trail about 5 years ago and I believe last year they were able to finally resurrect the Emmons Moraine side trail. A big thank you to WTA!
I was staying at the Packwood Lodge a couple nights as a base for doing some hikes in the Southwest WA interior that are bit too far to drive for dayhikes coming from Bellevue. After hiking almost every weekend for the past 22 years I have to travel a bit further to find trails that I've never done before. The Emmons Moraine trail was a nice easy stroll on my return trip home after a couple days of more intense hiking. I set the alarm for 4:30am to catch the 5:43 sunrise. Ms Maddy looked at me like I had lost my mind. Fortunately for her, dogs are not allowed in the national park so she got to stay in the car and catch up on some much needed sleep while I hiked.
As the sun was rising it was a very comfortable 60 degrees. The first good views of Rainier are at 1 mi and just before the turn off to the Emmons Moraine trail. The trail builders were able to salvage the old bridge that crosses the White River which I thought was pretty cool. A couple of switchbacks up a steep crumbling moraine and immediately you are treated with outstanding views of Emmons Glacier, Rainier and Little Tahoma. I'm sure that this short section of trail will need to be reworked every year to keep it from crumbling away. I wish that I had gotten there about a half an hour earlier to actually watch the sunrise unfold.
The trail continues on for about a half a mile along the top of the moraine. The views don't actually improve but the walk is wonderful. I went a little beyond the sign that says "end of maintained trail" to kind of a high point on the ridge. One the way back I ventured down a rude crumbling path to small lake to catch some reflection photos.
This hike has a lot of bang for your buck. It would be a great place to take visitors who aren't accustomed to hiking. I was amazed that I didn't see another person on this hike, especially given that there must be a hundred people camped right at the trailhead.
RT 3.8 mi and 750 ft elevation gain.
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