Camp Muir Hike

A hike to Camp Muir on Mount Rainier will take you through the flower-covered fields of Paradise Park, through rocky terrain, and over a large snowfield. Throughout you will enjoy spectacular views of glacier fields, wildlife such as marmots and deer, and mountain ranges in the distance. In total, you’ll gain nearly 5,000 feet of elevation over a 9-mile round trip that will take from 7 to 10 hours, depending on hiking speed and weather conditions.

The hike begins from Mount Rainier’s Paradise Park, where you will take the Skyline Trail 2.3 miles up to Pebble Creek. From there, the trail ends and the Muir Snowfield begins. For the next 2.2 miles you will hike over an unmarked route that involves ascending 2,900 feet of snowfield terrain. The Camp Muir destination is worth the effort, and your reward will be a panoramic view from an elevation of nearly 10,200 feet. At this elevation, Camp Muir serves as one of the primary high camps for Mount Rainier summit attempts.

Keep in mind that the hiking route is very exposed above Paradise Park. There is a good chance that you will encounter white-out conditions, and a GPS strongly encouraged. To check on real-time weather conditions, the National Park Service provides a Camp Muir web cam.  To access the area within Mount Rainier National Park, you will need to purchase a National Park Pass. Permits for the hike itself are not required, however, and there is no climbing register.