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Wonderland Trail

Wonderland Trail — the trail guide

The Wonderland Trail is a 137.5 km trek in United States, typically walked in 9–13 days, with 7869 m of total ascent. It rates Hard on our published rubric (57 m of gain per km, topping out at 2064 m).

The Wonderland Trail is a 93-mile (137 km) loop that completely encircles Mount Rainier in Washington State, staying inside the national park the whole way. It climbs and drops thousands of feet again and again as it crosses ridge after ridge, linking old-growth forest, alpine meadows, and glacier-fed river valleys with near-constant views of the peak. Backpackers walk it over 9 to 13 days, self-supported, on a competitive wilderness permit, often staging resupply caches at park ranger stations.

Quick facts

Distance137.5 km
Total ascent7869 m
Typical duration9–13 days
Difficulty (computed)Hard
Steepness57 m gain per km
High point2064 m
CountryUnited States
RegionUnited States

Difficulty is computed from gain-per-km and maximum altitude on a published rubric, identically for every trail in the catalogue — so an "Hard" here means the same thing everywhere on DirtbagMaps.

Elevation profile

Low point 769 m · high point 2064 m · 7869 m total ascent over 137.5 km.

Historical climate normals — month by month

ERA5 reanalysis averages (2015–2024) for the trail area, referenced to approximately 876 m elevation. These are gridded historical estimates, not observations from every stage and not a forecast. They cannot show current snowpack, river levels, fire restrictions, closures or whether a pass is safe.

MonthAvg highAvg lowAvg precip
Jan-1°348 mm
Feb-2°305 mm
Mar-1°226 mm
Apr181 mm
May14°100 mm
Jun18°91 mm
Jul23°12°23 mm
Aug24°13°27 mm
Sep19°96 mm
Oct13°244 mm
Nov340 mm
Dec-2°374 mm

Planning notes

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Wonderland Trail?

The Wonderland Trail is 137.5 km, and most hikers complete it in 9–13 days. Total elevation gain is 7869 m.

How difficult is the Wonderland Trail?

It rates Hard on DirtbagMaps' computed rubric: 57 m of climbing per km walked with a high point of 2064 m. The rubric classifies every trail from gain-per-km and maximum altitude, so ratings are comparable across the whole catalogue.

Can this climate table tell me when the Wonderland Trail is open or safe?

No. The table contains historical ERA5 averages, not a forecast or a report of snow, flooding, fire, closures or route condition. Check the responsible land manager and a current local forecast before departure.

Where is the Wonderland Trail?

In United States. The route starts near 46.752, -121.811 — the interactive 3D map above shows the full line, and the planner splits it into daily stages.

Can I get the GPX and plan daily stages?

Yes. Open the trail in the DirtbagMaps planner to drag the elevation profile into daily stages, see huts and accommodation along the corridor, and export a per-day GPX for your watch or GPS.

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