Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
When To Go: Wonderland Trail
Enter the early-access wilderness lottery in February–March for a mid-July to mid-September thru-hike, when the snow is gone and the meadows are in bloom.
Early-access lottery in February, with reservations opening in March; walk-up permits released daily
Results: March, in assigned time slots
Mid-July through mid-September
lottery — Mount Rainier wilderness camping permit (itinerary-based)
Recreation.gov — Mount Rainier wilderness permitsMonth by month at Wonderland Trail
- JanuaryClosed
Deep snow.
- FebruaryClosed
Lottery month; trail is buried.
- MarchClosed
Snowpack near peak.
- AprilClosed
Snow travel only.
- MayTough
Low-elevation sections melting; high traverses buried.
- JuneTough
Snow, high creeks, closed roads.
- JulyPrime
Melt-out finishes mid-month; wildflowers begin.
- AugustPrime
Peak wildflowers, warmest and driest.
- SeptemberPrime
Fall color in the heather, fewer bugs, cooler hiking.
- OctoberTough
First real storms; camps and roads begin to close.
- NovemberClosed
Winter.
- DecemberClosed
Winter.
Crowds
93 miles and roughly 22,000 feet of gain over 9–12 days. Popular camps like Indian Bar and Summerland are the bottleneck in any itinerary.
Weather
Snow lingers in the high traverses into July. Late September brings the first serious storms; the mountain makes its own weather year-round.
What actually decides the trip
- Plan food caches at Longmire, White River, and Mowich Lake — it changes your pack weight dramatically.
- Build two alternate itineraries before your lottery slot; the popular camps go instantly.
- River crossings on suspension and log bridges can wash out; check the park's conditions page.
- Expect to be rained on. A genuinely waterproof shell is not optional here.
Activities: Backpacking · Photography
Size it yourself
Free Wild10 calculators for this kit — no signup, formulas published.