Shriner Peak Lookout Trail Hiking Guide
Shriner Peak is the lookout hike on the quiet east side of Mount Rainier, climbing from SR 123 through an old burn to a fire lookout facing the mountain across the Ohanapecosh valley. The park says it's a good trail for solitude, mostly because it's steep, shadeless and hot on summer afternoons. In fall the heat is gone and the views are just as big.
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.
Trailhead on SR 123
The trailhead is 3.5 miles north of the Stevens Canyon Entrance on SR 123, half a mile north of the Panther Creek Bridge. From outside the park, the park's directions reach this corner on US 12 via Packwood. Work on the Grove of the Patriarchs bridge project has brought daytime delays of up to 30 minutes on SR 123 near the Stevens Canyon Road junction; check the park's construction page for the current schedule.
Steep, Open and Dry
The park lists 8 miles round trip, 3,434 feet of gain and about five hours. AllTrails maps 8.6 miles, 3,412 feet and six and a half to seven hours, rated hard. After a short forest start the trail enters an old burn and climbs steeply in the open for 2.5 miles to the ridge, follows the ridgetop for half a mile, then switchbacks steeply to the lookout. The park says the route has no water sources at all, so carry every drop you need.
At the Lookout
From the ridge and the Shriner Peak Fire Lookout you look across at Mount Rainier, down into the Ohanapecosh Valley and out over the Cascades. The wilderness camp near the lookout is known for sunrise on the mountain; it needs a permit, and the park says its only water is a spring about a mile back down the trail.
Ohanapecosh in 2026
The Ohanapecosh Campground, visitor center and picnic area, the usual services near this trailhead, were closed for all of 2026 for a construction project the park expects to run through February 2027. Bring food and water from Packwood. The Grove of the Patriarchs, just west of the Stevens Canyon Entrance, has been closed since flood damage in 2021 and remains shut while a new bridge is built.
Season
SR 123 over Cayuse Pass closes every winter. WSDOT's records show it closing between late October and mid-November in recent years and reopening in late May. The park says Ohanapecosh is generally reachable from late May to early November. Watch for smoke in late summer and fall; in 2026 a fire burned just outside the park's southeast boundary.
Hiking tips for Shriner Peak Lookout Trail
- Carry all your water; the trail has none.
- Start early on warm days; the burn area offers no shade.
- Allow for construction delays on SR 123 near Stevens Canyon Road.
- Get a wilderness permit to camp at Shriner Peak and plan on the spring a mile below.
- Stock up in Packwood; Ohanapecosh services are closed in 2026.
Nearby trails to explore
- Naches Peak Loop Trail
- Bench and Snow Lakes Trail
- Glacier Basin Trail (Mount Rainier)
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Shriner Peak is a long, sunny climb to one of the park's quietest viewpoints, and company helps on the switchbacks. Use TrailMates to find hikers heading to the east side and make it a group trip. Download TrailMates on the App Store or Google Play.