Glacier Basin Trail (Mount Rainier) Hiking Guide
Glacier Basin Trail follows an old mining road up the Inter Fork of the White River to a meadow basin beneath Mount Rainier's northeast face. A short spur on the way leads to a view of the Emmons Glacier, the largest glacier in the contiguous United States. It starts at White River Campground, which in fall 2026 was the main open trailhead on that side of the park while fires kept Sunrise Road closed to cars.
Permit: Mount Rainier National Park charges an entrance fee of $30 per private vehicle, $25 per motorcycle, or $15 per person 16 and older arriving on foot or bike, each valid for 7 consecutive days. The $55 Mount Rainier annual pass and America the Beautiful passes are accepted; Washington's Discover Pass is not. Entrance stations take cards only. The park is not using timed-entry reservations anywhere in 2026. Day hikes need no permit; a wilderness permit is required for any overnight camping.
Route and Distance
From the White River Entrance, drive five miles to White River Campground and use the hiker and climber day-use parking, not a campsite. The trail starts at the upper end of the campground and follows the Inter Fork White River for 3.5 miles, gradual at first and steeper near the basin. The park lists 7 miles round trip and 1,280 feet of gain. AllTrails maps 8.2 miles with 2,345 feet; plan on the longer figure.
Emmons Glacier Spur
About a mile up, the Emmons Moraine Trail branches off for a one-mile round trip to an overlook of the Emmons Glacier. It's worth the detour even if you don't go on to the basin.
Mines and Mountaineers
Prospectors tried to mine copper here in the late 1800s and never extracted anything of value; the trail itself was once their road. Today Glacier Basin camp is popular with climbers starting up Mount Rainier, and from the basin you may see them on the Inter Glacier and mountain goats on the slopes. A climber's path continues past camp through fragile wetland; day hikers should stay on the trail. Camping requires a wilderness permit.
Fires on the North Side
In 2026 the Grand Park 2 and Wonderland Complex fires closed large parts of the park's north side. White River Road, the campground and their trails reopened on September 5, 2026, but Sunrise Road stayed closed to cars for the rest of the season (open on foot and bike), and the Wonderland Trail north of Frozen Lake, the Northern Loop and Grand Park stayed closed. Smoke from the Garda Falls Fire was still visible above the West Fork White River in October. Check the park's fire page before you go.
Road Season and Construction
The park says the road from SR 410 to White River and Sunrise closes for winter in mid-October or earlier with the first heavy snow. Bridge replacement at Fryingpan Creek on White River Road caused delays of up to 30 minutes in fall 2026, and the park expects more construction impacts from 2027 to 2029.
Hiking tips for Glacier Basin Trail (Mount Rainier)
- Park in the hiker and climber day-use area at White River Campground.
- Take the Emmons Moraine spur at the one-mile mark for the glacier view.
- Check the park's fire and road pages; north-side closures changed often in 2026.
- Allow extra time for construction delays on White River Road.
- Stay on the trail past camp to protect the wetland meadow.
Nearby trails to explore
- Naches Peak Loop Trail
- Shriner Peak Lookout Trail
- Skyline Trail Loop (Paradise, Mount Rainier)
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Glacier Basin is a long valley walk with a glacier view near the start and goats near the end. Use TrailMates to find people heading to White River and hike it as a group. Download TrailMates on the App Store or Google Play.