Crystal Lakes
1 week ago
Trail snow-covered at times — gear and expertise recommended
4 this month · 52 reports
Glacier Basin Loop
Mount Rainier Area
updated 1 month ago
Glacier Basin Loop is currently snow-free above 6000 feet as of October 9. The trail is generally in good condition, with minor obstacles that pose few problems. Reports from October 3 indicate a few lingering smoke hazes in Grand Park, but no noticeable smell. Visitors have reported seeing goats and a bear cub, though the cub was scared off by a group of children. The descent into Glacier Basin offers some fall color, particularly on the sunlit switchbacks. The road to Sunrise is suitable for all vehicles, and parking was plentiful before 9 AM on September 27, with some cars parking along the road by late afternoon.
Generated from 18 trip reports. Trails change faster than reports do, so check anything you’d turn around for.
What hikers ask about Glacier Basin Loop
Generated from the most recent trip reports, newest 1 month ago. Check anything you’d turn around for.
No trip reports on this trail in 1 month, so everything below is at least that old.
The trail is snow-free above 6000 feet as of October 9. Earlier reports in September 27 and September 6 mentioned intermittent snow that was not hard to cross, suggesting it has now melted out.
The trail is generally in good condition with minor obstacles that pose few problems, as noted on September 6. There are a lot of rocks, which can present challenges, especially for older hikers.
The road to Sunrise is suitable for all vehicles as of October 9. Parking was plentiful before 9 AM on September 27, with some cars parking along the road by late afternoon.
Yes, recent reports include sightings of goats October 3 and a bear cub that was scared off by children. A marmot was also seen on September 27.
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Trail notes generated from recent reports. Conditions change fast.
Sources
Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
SUMMARY: My last-chance hike before White River entrance closes. Glacier Basin loop counter-clockwise, plus excursions to 3rd Burroughs and Emmons Moraine. 12.6 miles, 3900 feet climb, 6.5 hours movin...
Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
Not too much to add on Weekend Schlepper's recent TR, except to note that the snow is gone. Otherwise, I did pretty much the same loop, except I went around to Frozen Lake before ascending First Burro...
Older1 month ago
Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
The route I took isn't described exactly anywhere on WTA - took the Wonderland Trail up from White River Campground, then the Burroughs Mt trail to the Third Burroughs, then down to the Glacier Basin ...
Older1 month ago
Mount Rainier Area
I could just cut and paste my report from last year except Georg strolled up to the Third Burroughs. Then he always is an over-achiever on the hikes.We left just before 8 am and finished up at 4 pm wi...
Older2 months ago
Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
Hiked to Third Burroughs from White River trailhead, via Sunrise Rim Trail on the way up and Glacier Basin on the way down. Ground was frosty above 6000 feet in the morning, and the last 800 feet up T...
Older4 months ago
Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
We, a fun group of Mountaineers, hiked up Glacier Basin to 2nd Burroughs, went through 1st, and returned to White River Campground via the Wonderland. The only snow was 2 short, fairly easy sections j...
Older4 months ago
Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
Glacier basin trail to burroughs junction- Started from the Glacier basin trail at white river campground. Parking was plenty and the vault toilet was well stocked. The glacier basin trail is pretty w...
Older4 months ago
Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
I hiked a variation on the WTA Hiking Guide's "Glacier Basin Loop". This was a 13 mile loop-with-a-tail beginning at White River campground, going up the Glacier Basin Trail to go up-up-up the Burroug...
Older4 months ago
Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
I arrived just before 7am and there were plenty of parking spaces, probably because of the morning rain and the clouds enveloping everything. The main Sunrise Road apparently opens tomorrow, so my cal...
Older4 months ago
Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
I arrived at the trailhead at about 8:15am thinking that not a lot of people would be there since sunrise road wasn’t open yet and I was very very wrong. There was no parking and I ended up having to ...