Trail of the Shadows

The Trail of the Shadows is a self-guiding nature walk past mineral springs, a cabin built in 1888, and through a nice cool forest. The loop goes around the big marshy meadow visible on the left as you drive through Longmire. There are dozens of mineral springs, some heated to 85 degrees. These were discovered by James Longmire on a trip to Paradise to climb the mountain when he was 63. On the return trip from the summit, James found that the horses had wandered away. He located the horses in a meadow and found the mineral and hot springs. Upon returning home, he told his family that he had found his fortune. Longmire and his sons cleared a rough trail through virgin timber from their home in Yelm, 60 miles away to this meadow. Here in 1884, at the end of the trail, he staked a mineral claim and established a hotel. The existing cabin on the trail today was built by his eldest son Elcaine Longmire in 1888 on the homestead claim. Len Longmire, the son of Elcaine helped built the cabin and used it during his lifetime as a summer respite. It is the last remaining relic of the Longmire family homestead. Interpretive displays also show where the Longmire Medical Springs Resort was located. Opened in 1890, it was established before there was a park, before the road to Paradise, when people came via horseback through the wilderness. Guests paid eight dollars per week for board and treatment at the springs. They soaked in the springs or took a sulphur plunge bath. The property was sold in 1920 and the original outdated hotel was demolished and burned. Mount Rainier National Park was established in 1899.