We hiked from Sunrise VC to Dege Peak and other various trails in the area Saturday evening looking for some good sunset spots.  The trail is in great shape and the 360 degree views from the peak are amazing.  

Sunrise Visitor Center to Sunrise Point:

We began our hike at the Sunrise Visitor Center and made our way to Sunrise Point. The trail was a delight from start to finish, wildflowers are in full bloom right now, adding vibrant color to the landscape. The views, especially of Mt. Rainier and the surrounding meadows, are absolutely breathtaking.

Along the way, you'll spot a few lakes, with Sunrise Lake being the closest and easily visible. This trail is noticeably less crowded than others nearby, making for a peaceful and experience. The trail itself is in excellent condition, well-maintained and easy to follow.

Highly recommended if you're looking for an easy stunning scenery without the crowds!

Trail: Dege Peak
Date: Saturday, July 26, 2025
Distance: ~4 miles round trip
Conditions: Clear and cool 
Trailhead: Sunrise, Mount Rainier National Park
Elevation Gain: ~600 feet

I started my hike from the main parking lot near the Sunrise Visitor Center around 6:30 AM. It was just under 50°F—cool, clear, and peaceful. Visibility was excellent throughout the morning, with sweeping alpine views and blue skies. I started the hike with this gorgeous early morning light. By late morning, clouds began to roll in and wrap the ridge in soft light, muting the scenery but adding a different kind of beauty.  

The trail is in great shape—dry, snow-free, no blowdowns, and minimal bugs. I had one persistent insect trail me for a few minutes, but bug spray kept the rest at bay. No need for a head net. There wasn’t much wind, and the trail was dust-free—no need for sunglasses either.

Surprisingly, I saw fewer than a dozen other hikers. On a Saturday in July, that felt like solitude.

This was a redemption hike for me. Years ago, as a rookie hiker with a fear of heights, I turned back at a section of trail that overwhelmed my nerves and inexperience. The drop-offs felt intimidating, and I didn’t trust my footing. This time, I recognized those same sections but moved through them with steady steps and a calm mind. My heart still raced as I neared the summit, but I kept going—and made it. A fellow hiker snapped a photo of me at the top, arms raised and grinning. It felt like a full-circle moment, and a personal high point in more ways than one.

Wildflowers: Paintbrush, pasqueflower seedheads, bistort, arnica, sitka valerian, lupine, phlox, red columbine, asters, bracted lousewort, mountain heather, bluebells, yarrow, and penstemon. A spectacular wildflower day.

Wildlife: a serenade from a Clark’s Nutcracker and one Townsend’s Chipmunk scampering around at the top.

Dege Peak offers big rewards for a modest effort—and for me, the added satisfaction of overcoming a past hesitation. Highly recommended.

We hiked to Dege Peak from Sunrise parking lot rather than Sunrise Point. It was our first time actually using a timed entry permit for 7am instead of trying to arrive before 7, and it went smoothly with only a very short line of cars. It probably helped that we went on a Friday instead of a weekend day. We reached the Sunrise parking lot just before 7:30am, and while there were already plenty of cars, there were also plenty of available parking spots. The trail to Dege Peak is in good condition, and a fairly easy hike with the steepest elevation gain occurring right before the summit. Mt Adams was visible along the way, and at the summit. To our surprise, we only noticed 2 mosquitoes the entire hike. We also saw chipmunks, ground squirrels, a pika, and a flock of Clark's nutcrackers. There are still tons of wildflowers blooming. On our way up we only saw 2 other groups of people. On our way back down we saw several more, but far fewer than we have previously encountered on other trails out of that parking lot. Overall, it was a nice hike with minimal effort.

Arrived at White River entrance a few minutes before our 11am reservation, line wasn’t too bad to get in. Paved parking was full but there were some spots available in the overflow gravel area. Hiked up to Mt Fremont Lookout, not too crowded and lots of room for everyone to sit and lunch at the top! Afterwards I headed across Sourdough ridge to Dege Peak, which was scenic and extremely uncrowded. Mountain was in and out of cloud cover all afternoon as expected. Watch recorded 9.37 miles and just over 2,000 ft of elevation in about 3 hours.