Mount Rainier National Park · Washington

Shriner Peak Trail

4.0 mi of trail, end to end · Hike to Shriner Peak Fire Lookout: 8 mi round trip in the Service's write-up · about 3,400 ft of climbing · 2,437 ft–5,826 ft · native surface · trail class Developed · hiking

HistoryBackcountry camps

3,562 ft 5,826 ft · 2.6 mi high 5,826 ft

Along the way Shriner Peak backcountry campsites Shriner Peak Lookout

Trailhead Shriner Peak Trailhead 2,431 ft Drive there

Hike to Shriner Peak Fire Lookout 8 mi round trip · the Park Service's write-up

5-6 Hours · no dogs · Spring, Summer, Fall · season <p>The road to access Shriner Peak Trailhead, SR 123, closes in the winter from the north via SR 410 at Chinook Pass to the south at the junction of SR 123 and Stevens Canyon Road.</p>

Start Shriner Peak Trailhead

View of Mount Rainier from Shriner Peak Fire Lookout
View of Mount Rainier from Shriner Peak Fire Lookout, June 24, 2023. Photo: NPS Photo

Panoramic views make Shriner Peak Trail worth the strenuous hike to the Shriner Peak Fire Lookout . The view from the top offers commanding views of Mount Rainier, Ohanapecosh Valley, and the Cascade Range. Along the trail, you’ll find brilliant fall foliage, colorful summer wildflowers, and wild strawberries in the fire-exposed meadows. At 2.5 miles in, there is a view of Mount Rainier's east side.

Although this trail begins in the forest, it soon climbs into an old burn area that is open and shadeless. The trail climbs steeply through open burn areas that offer little shade from the summer sun. Be sure to bring plenty of water and start your hike early in the day to avoid the hottest afternoon hours.

For 2.5 miles the trail continues its steep ascent to the top of the ridge. Still no shade, but a slight breeze sometimes makes the hike more bearable from here on. After a 0.5 mile walk along the ridge top, the route becomes a series of steep switchbacks for the final climb to the lookout.

The trail continues south of the fire lookout to Shriner Peak Camp, a wilderness camping area with two individual campsites (with a capacity of five people each) at an elevation of 5,355 feet. Wilderness permits are required for all overnight stays in the backcountry.

Trail Statistics

Distance: 8 miles roundtrip

Elevation gain: 3,434 feet

Hiking time: ~5 hours

Difficulty Level: Strenuous

Wilderness Camp: Shriner Peak

Rules & Regulations

Pets are not allowed on trails

No campfires (backcountry stoves are okay)

No bicycles on trails

Pack out trash

Do not feed or disturb wildlife

Do not disturb any natural, cultural, or archeological features

Permits are required for all overnight wilderness use in the park, and for travel on glaciers above 10,000 feet

Accessibility The Shriner Peak Trail is a steep, narrow dirt path with several switchbacks.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

All 88 trails in Mount Rainier National ParkFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.