Features:

This is a very popular hike in the Mt. Rainier National Park because of its easy access and its modest dimensions. Actually, this presentation is about two possible hikes, both of which can be accomplished at the same time.

Because of the lower elevation, this hike is snow free early in the summer and yet provides occasional snow melt ponds along the way. This could increase your likelihood of encountering mosquitos.

The trail climbs very gently out of the campground area but it gets steeper as you hike up the Inter Fork valley. The trail is almost completely within the forest for the first mile, where you will come to the junction for the trail that crosses the Inter Fork and follows the Emmons Glacier moraine to the overlook where the maintained trail ends.

If you choose to return to the campground from this point, you will still have encountered an absolutely awesome sight. The Emmons Glacier is the largest glacier in the lower 48 states and it created the very ground that you will be standing on as its moraine.

If you include this hike to the Emmons Glacier overlook, and continue on to Glacier Basin, then you will add only one additional mile to your activity. The trail begins to climb much more steeply from this point on. Several small streams cross the trail and most are bound by rocks which chanel the water across the trail in a way to avoid erosion.

In about a mile from the intersection to the Emmons Glacier overlook, it will become obvious to you that this portion of the trail was once a road. The trail is car wide in several stretches and you climb up out of the valley. From time to time you will walk past old mining equipment that was abandoned nearly a century ago when the mining company endeavor was not profitable and their land was acquired by the national park service.

At approximately 2.5 miles from the White River campground, you intersect a trail that leads up Burroughs Mountain and eventrually the Sunrise Visitor Center. Then in the next mile, the trail climbs steeply to the Glacier Basin camp area. There is a restroom facility near the camp area and a sign points to its location. I recommend that you take the trail to the restroom because after passing the facility, you will come to a small tarn which reflects Mount Rainier and Mount Ruth in from of it.

Crossing the Inter Fork in order to climb up Mount Ruth ridge, can be a real challenge. Of course, the time of year that you need to cross the river will depend on just how difficult it can be. I didn't feel that my life would be in danger, trying to the cross the rapidly flowing stream, but I was concerned about slipping and injuring myself.... an ankle, or a leg.

So, if you decide to climb Mount Ruth or just hike up the ridge for a world class view of Mt. Rainier and the Emmons Glacier, use extreme caution and good sense.

Mt. Rainier from Mount Ruth ridge