Choosing between the John Muir Trail and the Wonderland Trail last summer

I had to pick one for my big trip, and I went with the Wonderland Trail around Mount Rainier. It was a tough call, but I only had ten days free. The loop was incredible, but the river crossings in early August were way higher than I expected. Anyone have a favorite late-season alternative for that area?

3 comments

3 Comments

dylan_rodriguez1mo agoMost Upvoted

The Wonderland was a solid choice for that time frame. Late season, the Northern Loop is a great backup with fewer river issues. It connects to parts of the Wonderland but the crossings are more manageable after the melt. You still get those crazy Rainier views without the same hassle.

miab1615d ago

Did you actually get stuck on any of the crossings yourself, or just hear about them being rough? I'm curious if the Northern Loop still has that one spot near Yellowstone Cliffs that's basically a scramble when wet, or if they've added trail work there. The Wonderland's Westside Road crossing always gave me pause, but knowing the backups you mentioned makes it easier to pivot without rerouting the whole trip.

quinn5821mo ago

Oh man, that's such a good point about the river crossings. I did the Wonderland in early August one year and forded a couple sketchy spots that would've been way easier just a few weeks later. The Northern Loop is a genius backup plan.