Palisades Trail Loop

If you are looking for some good trail miles in any weather condition, this loop trip has a bit of everything. The loop involves 3 trails, the Palisades Trail, Ranger Creek Trail and the White River Trail. The loop is an excellent option if Mount Rainier National Park is closed for the season. This trail will often be snow free in late fall when higher trails are starting to load snow. Along the way are several nice viewpoints including North and South Snoquera Points. A highlight can be a very short off trail jaunt up to Little Ranger Peak with its register anchored to the rocks. A small section on the Ranger Creek portion was burned during the 2017 Norse Peak Fire, a major contrast to the lush forest for most of the hike. The bottom section is easy forested walking along the White River Trail for several miles just above the busy highway.

Highpoint Elevation: 5,080 feet at Little Ranger Peak
Hiking Distance: 15 miles
Elevation Gain: 3,000 feet
Access: Paved

From Enumclaw, take Highway 410 toward Mt. Rainier for roughly 11 miles. Because it is a loop, you could access from any of the 4 trailheads down on Highway 410. The most official is the Camp Sheppard Trailhead while the other 3 are just wide pullouts along the highway. The ones on the highway are free of charge.

Castle Peak and Norse Peak

Cliffs above Dalles Creek

The base of Mount Rainier coming out

From Little Ranger Peak looking down at the Buck Creek Airstrip

Volcanic pillar in the burn area

Norse Peak area from Little Ranger Peak

Burn area at the intersection of Palisades Trail and Ranger Creek Trails

Big Rock on the White River Trail

View from the first viewpoint