This 3.3-mile loop near Mount Rainier crosses onto the Pacific Crest Trail, and half of it isn’t even inside the park
Some of the best views of Mount Rainier don’t actually come from inside Mount Rainier National Park. Naches Peak Loop starts at Tipsoo Lake, right off SR 410 at Chinook Pass, and roughly half the trail sits in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest instead — no entrance station, no fee booth, just a pullout and a trailhead sign.
That’s the surprising part. The rest of it is exactly what you’d expect from one of the most photographed short hikes in the Cascades: alpine tarns, wide-open wildflower meadows, and Rainier close enough to fill the frame without a zoom lens.
Psst — we made you a West Coast Adventure Map. Nearly 1,900 of our favorite spots, already pinned, ready to load into Google Maps in two clicks — grab it here.
The full loop runs about 3.3 miles with roughly 640 feet of elevation gain — easy by Cascades standards, though “easy” here still means real trail, not a paved path. Give yourself two to three hours if you’re stopping for photos, and you will be stopping for photos.
Go clockwise from the parking area. You’ll cross SR 410 near the pass onto the Pacific Crest Trail — yes, the same PCT that runs from Mexico to Canada, right here on an afternoon loop — and follow it along the east side of Naches Peak, where a viewpoint looks straight down about 600 feet to Dewey Lake. From there the trail swings onto the Naches Peak Trail for the return, saving the best Rainier views for last.
Late July through August is peak wildflower season on this stretch — lupine, paintbrush, and avalanche lilies fill in the meadows once the snow finally clears. Go too early in summer and you’ll still hit snow patches on the shaded sections; go too late and the color’s already faded.
One honest note: this isn’t a hidden gem. It’s one of the most popular day hikes off Chinook Pass, and the Tipsoo Lake lot fills fast on summer weekends. Get there before 9 a.m. or plan on a walk in from overflow parking.
SR 410 typically reopens for the season in late May and stays open into fall, so the window’s wide open right now. Mountain weather flips fast up here, though — pack a layer even if it’s warm in the parking lot.
Trip tips: grab a rental car to get out here, or lock in your hotel the night before so you’re not driving Chinook Pass before sunrise.
Rules and fees change — always confirm current requirements before you go.
