Mount Rainier National Park Palisades Lakes Trail

Trail Description Distance, round-trip: 7 miles Elevation gain: 1200 feet Hiking time, round-trip: 4 hours Wilderness camps: Yes After a steep .5 mile descent along a slope which holds snow into late July, hikers have the choice of taking a short spur trail to Sunrise Lake or continuing on the mail trail toward the Palisades Lakes. The main trail goes up and down for the rest of its length, passing Clover Lake 1.5 miles from the trailhead. It continues past Tom, Dick and Harry Lakes and at 2.7 miles, a spur trail leads to Hidden Lake, one of the prettiest lakes in the park. No camping is permitted at Hidden Lake. The main trail ends at Upper Palisades Lake, one mile beyond this junction. This trail was named for an interesting rock formation called "The Palisades" which towers over the lakes near the trail's end.

Along the Trail Although the Sourdough Mountains successfully block any view of Mount Rainier from this trail, hikers can easily spend all day enjoying the array of lakes, wildflowers or huckleberries in season. Look for pikas and marmots in the talus slopes. Elk can often be heard bugling during the rutting season of early autumn and can sometimes be seen in abundance along the trail. Trailhead Location Drive 10.5 miles beyond the White River Entrance to the parking area at Sunrise Point. Find the trailhead at the point's east end. Backpacking Camps are located at Dick Lake and Upper Palisades Lake. Both are popular and fill early. Permits are required for camping. Permits and current trail conditions are available park-wide from Wilderness Information Centers, Ranger Stations, and Visitor Centers. Treat water before drinking. Fires are prohibited. No pets on trails.