A great hike from the Sunrise Visitor Center in Mount Rainier National Park, the Mount Fremont Lookout Trail takes you a two-story frame cabin built in 1934. The cabin – sitting atop a 7,181-foot rocky knob – was originally to house the watchmen who stayed here looking out for wildfires. Today, it is one of the four remaining fire lookouts in Mount Rainier National Park. Here’s what you need to know to hike the Mount Fremont Lookout Trail, as well as information on several other fantastic trails accessible from the Sunrise area.
Exploring the Sunrise Area of Mount Rainier National Park
Sunrise is the highest point you can reach by vehicle in Mount Rainier National Park. The Sunrise Road opens in late June or early July and closes in late September or early October. It’s a gorgeous drive in the summer, thanks to wildflower-strewn meadows and glacier views. From Sunrise Point, you’ll have a nearly 360-degree view of Mount Rainier and other Cascade Range volcanoes, including Mount Adams. Stop for a bit in the Sunrise Visitor Center, open early July to early September, to find exhibits, guided interpretive programs, books and maps. The day lodge offers food service and a gift shop. The closest campground in this section of the park is the White River Campground and picnic area, 12 miles away.
How to Get to the Mount Fremont Lookout Trail?
From Enumclaw, Washington, take SR 410 east for 43 miles to Sunrise Park Road/White River Road. Take a slight right at the fork. Follow the road for 5 miles. The road starts to switchback and becomes Sunrise River Road. Drive for 10 miles to the road’s end at the Sunrise Visitor Center and the parking lot.
What Is the Mount Fremont Lookout Trail Like?
Start from the Sunrise Visitor Center. Head west on the Sourdough Ridge Trail to the Frozen Lake junction. From here, you’ll see massive Mount Rainier and the three Burroughs, as well as expansive Yakima Park, full of green lawns, deer and marmots and once the hunting and gathering grounds of the Yakama people. Look to the east to see Crystal Mountain and Nelson Ridge.
At the Frozen Lake junction, the trail leads right and uphill past Frozen Lake. Hike 1.3 miles from the junction to the lookout and gain 481 feet of elevation. There is very little shade – pack plenty of sunscreen and water. This steep section of trail has a series of steps to aid in your hike. You’ll see barren alpine tundra start to surround you, as well as Burroughs Mountain to the south and Skyscraper Peak, with Mount Rainier above them.
Once you’re at the lookout, you’ll be able to see Grand Park, Redstone Peak, Skyscraper Mountain and Berkeley Park. If you look toward Grand Park with binoculars, you may spot mountain goats and black bears.
A longer, quieter option is to take the Sunrise Rim Trail to the Wonderland Trail. Wind your way through meadows to Shadow Lake, then cross Sunrise Camp and head up the gully to the Frozen Lake junction.
What Other Hikes Are in the Sunrise Area?
Naches Peak Loop Trail
This loop hike is resplendent in its subalpine wildflower meadows, breathtaking Mount Rainier views and, in late summer and fall, delicious huckleberries directly off the trail. Half of the hike is located along the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail. For the best Mount Rainier views, hike the Naches Peak Loop Trail in a clockwise direction.
To get to the Naches Peak Loop Trail, park at Tipsoo Lake, 0.5 mile west of Chinook Pass on SR 410. Start from the Tipsoo Lake parking lot and climb to Chinook Pass. You’ll join the Pacific Crest Trail, then cross a historic footbridge over SR 410. Traverse the northeast side of Naches Peak, drinking in views of high ponds, subalpine forest and northern peaks. When you reach a junction, continue back toward Tipsoo Lake, traveling west along the southern and then western slopes of Naches Peak.
Glacier Basin Trail
This hiking route follows an old mining road that was rehabilitated for hiking use. There was much effort toward mining copper ore here in the late 1800s, but nothing of value was ever extracted.
To get to the trailhead, enter Mount Rainier National Park at the White River Entrance Station. Continue 5 miles to the White River Campground. The trailhead is at the upper end of the campground.
The hike ascends gradually at first, then more steeply before entering Glacier Basin. After 1 mile you’ll reach a junction with the Emmons Moraine Trail. Take this 1-mile roundtrip spur trail is you want a view of the Emmons Glacier, the largest glacier in the 48 contiguous United States. Once you reach Glacier Basin, look for mountain goats in the distance, as well as climbers on the Inter Glacier to Steamboat Prow.
Summerland Trail
To get to the Summerland Trail, enter the park at the White River Entrance Station. Drive 3 miles to a parking lot near the Fryingpan Creek bridge. Cross the road to the trailhead. Climb gradually through mature forest, then enter the upper valley of Fryingpan Creek. Cross the creek and climb steeply for 0.5 mile until reaching the gorgeous subalpine meadow of Summerland.
Burroughs Mountain Trail
Several different trails lead into the Burroughs Mountains. For the Sunrise Rim trail, head to the south side of the Sunrise Visitor Center parking area. Hike clockwise past Shadow Lake, then climb to an overlook on the White River and Emmons Glacier. Keep going up to the plateau of First Burroughs Mountain. At this point, you can make a loop by turning right and hiking east to the Frozen Lake junction, then continue on the Sourdough Ridge Trail 1.4 miles east to the Sunrise parking lot. Or, you can continue from First Burroughs an additional 0.7 mile to Second Burroughs Mountain for even better views of Mount Rainier and Emmons.