Naches Peak Loop Trail Hiking Guide
The Naches Peak Loop circles a small peak on the park's eastern edge, starting at Tipsoo Lake just below Chinook Pass. Half of it follows the Pacific Crest Trail on national forest land, and the other half curls back into the park with Mount Rainier straight ahead. The park calls it one of its most popular hikes, and it is short enough for most families. Its season is tied to State Route 410, which closes for winter.
Permit: Tipsoo Lake is inside Mount Rainier National Park, and the park says every visitor needs an entrance pass: $30 per private vehicle, $25 per motorcycle or $15 per person 16+ on foot or bike, each good for 7 days, or the $55 park annual pass or an America the Beautiful pass. There is no entrance booth on SR 410 at Chinook Pass, so buy one online or at a staffed entrance (cards only). Washington Trails Association lists no parking permit at Tipsoo Lake but a Northwest Forest Pass at the Forest Service lot on the east side of the pass. No timed-entry reservations in 2026; no day-hike permit.
Which Way to Walk
Park at Tipsoo Lake, half a mile west of Chinook Pass on SR 410. The park recommends going clockwise for the best mountain views: walk from the picnic area to Chinook Pass, cross the highway on the Chinook Entrance Arch and join the Pacific Crest Trail southbound along the east side of Naches Peak for 1.6 miles. At the junction you re-enter the park and follow the Naches Loop Trail 1.4 miles around the west side back to the lake.
How Long and How High
The park lists 3.5 miles round trip, 500 feet of gain and about two hours. AllTrails agrees on 3.5 miles but maps 643 feet and calls it moderate, while Washington Trails Association gives 3.2 miles, 600 feet and a high point of 5,850 feet. Any of those figures make it one of the gentler ways to see Rainier up close.
Dogs: Only on the PCT Half
This is the one Rainier loop where the dog rule gets complicated. The park allows leashed dogs (6 feet maximum) on the Pacific Crest Trail, but not on the Naches Loop Trail inside the park and not around Tipsoo Lake. In practice you can't take a dog around the full loop; an out-and-back on the PCT from Chinook Pass is the only legal option. Hikers are also required to stay on trail in the Tipsoo Lake meadows.
Berries, Color and the First Snow
The park points to an abundant huckleberry crop along the trail in late summer and early fall, the best reason to hike it after the wildflowers fade. Fall also brings the first snow to the pass. WSDOT closes Chinook Pass for winter every year; in recent seasons it has closed between late October and mid-November and reopened in late May, with the exact date set by the weather. Check WSDOT's pass page before driving over in autumn.
Camping and Longer Options
There is no camping on the loop inside the park, and the park says the PCT has no suitable campsites within its boundary; camping is allowed on the neighboring national forest with the right permits. Day hikers wanting more can follow the PCT beyond the loop junction toward Dewey Lake, a popular extension, but check a map and the forest's rules first.
Hiking tips for Naches Peak Loop Trail
- Go clockwise so Mount Rainier is in front of you on the return half.
- Leave dogs at home unless you are only walking the PCT side from Chinook Pass.
- Check WSDOT's Chinook Pass status before any trip after mid-October.
- Carry your park pass; there is no booth at Chinook Pass to buy one.
- Stay on the trail at Tipsoo Lake, where meadow travel is prohibited.
Nearby trails to explore
- Glacier Basin Trail (Mount Rainier)
- Shriner Peak Lookout Trail
- Skyline Trail Loop (Paradise, Mount Rainier)
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Naches Peak is a short loop with big views, ideal for a relaxed group day near Chinook Pass. Use TrailMates to find people heading to Tipsoo Lake and coordinate in the event's group chat. Download TrailMates on the App Store or Google Play.