Eagle Peak Trail

This is a nice forest hike to a great view of Mount Rainier from a high saddle on the west end of the Tatoosh Range. The trail is wide and smooth with an easy grade. At about 3 miles in a meadow the nice smooth trail ends and the trail narrows for its climb up to 5,700-foot saddle. At the saddle, continue a short distance to the right for the best view of Mt. Rainier. East is the Tatoosh Range, west is down to Longmire and to the south rises Mt. Adams and St. Helens. The saddle is the essential turnaround point for hikers. The final 300-foot climb to the summit is not for novices who do not know the route and are not comfortable with dangerous scrambles. Plus, the view from the summit is not much better.

From Longmire, drive past the Administration Building and residences. Cross the suspension bridge over the Nisqually River and in 200 feet park on the side of the roadway where there is room for 3 cars in front of the trailhead. If the bridge is closed, just park in Longmire and walk to the trailhead.