Wonderland Trail
1 week ago
Trail is clear of snow and bugs are absent
2 this month · 31 reports
Hessong Rock and Mount Pleasant
Mount Rainier Area
updated 23 months ago
The trail conditions for Hessong Rock and Mount Pleasant are generally good, with no significant snow reported as of October 6. However, be aware of muddy sections and the possibility of loose stones on the boot path to the saddle, which can be a trip hazard as noted on October 2. The climb to Mount Pleasant is described as steep but with good footholds and step-ups, while the path to Hessong Rock involves navigating talus and rocks. Be cautious of "needle ice" concealed under dirt on the slope approaching Hessong Rock summit, which made it extra slippery in early October. The Mowich Lake Road remains rough but passable for most vehicles, with parking availability varying depending on the time of day and day of the week.
Generated from 9 trip reports. Trails change faster than reports do, so check anything you’d turn around for.
What hikers ask about Hessong Rock and Mount Pleasant
Generated from the most recent trip reports, newest 23 months ago. Check anything you’d turn around for.
No trip reports on this trail in 23 months, so everything below is at least that old.
The Mowich Lake Road is described as long, rough, and abysmal in sections, requiring constant vigilance. It is passable by any normal car, but a low clearance vehicle is not recommended as of October 6 and September 24.
Parking can be busy, with the main lot being 80% full of overnighters before dawn. In the afternoon, cars were parked up to half a mile from the trailhead, though some spots may open up as of September 24. On October 2, about 10 vehicles were in the parking area with 8 more parked along the road.
Wildlife sightings have included gray jays and pika at the saddle as of October 6. A bear was seen grazing near the trail to Hessong/Pleasant on September 24, along with a herd of goats and many gray nutcrackers.
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Trail notes generated from recent reports. Conditions change fast.
Sources
Older23 months ago
Mount Rainier Area
Magnificent. This may be my favorite view of the mountain. A mid afternoon Sunday start meant I had the trail going up to myself, and grand views at the top in solitude.See DK1998's trip report on 9/2...
Older24 months ago
Mount Rainier Area
My 2 of 3 Trip Report for "Hessong Rock and Mount Pleasant" .. this for Mount Pleasant ..TUE 02-Oct-2024, ~11:20 after arriving on The Saddle (Hessong Rock - Mount Pleasant), i had a fun ~30 minutes b...
Older24 months ago
Mount Rainier Area
Thanks to DRDana's and a few other recent Trip Reports of "Hesson Rock and Mount Pleasant", WED 02-Oct-2024 morning, i went for an O&B; Mowich Lake Spray Park Trail TH > The Saddle > Mount Pleasant > ...
Older24 months ago
Mount Rainier Area
My 3 of 3 Trip Report for "Hessong Rock and Mount Pleasant" .. this for "Hessong Rock" ..~12:30 TUE 02-Oct-2024, after getting back to The Saddle from Mount Pleasant summit, i continued towards Hesson...
Older24 months ago
Mount Rainier Area
Mowich Lake Road:requires constant vigilance and care, but passable by any normal car. It took me exactly an hour to drive the 20 miles from Coronado to the trail head.Parking:Before dawn the main lot...
Older24 months ago
Mount Rainier Area
We arrived at the trailhead around 9:30am after enduring the famously infamous Mowich Lake Road with its 11 miles of washboards and bomb craters. As expected the parking area was full and we had to jo...
Mount Rainier Area
Pulled off a 5 peak scramble adventure out of Mowich Lake trailhead with SoaringEagle: Fay Peak, East Fay Peak, First Mother Mountain, Mount Pleasant, and Hessong Rock. Weather was clear and not too h...
Older26 months ago
Mount Rainier Area
We hiked clockwise from Mowich Lake up the Knapsack Pass trail looping around to the Spray Park trail. Clockwise is definitely the way to go because the trail between the lake and pass is quite muddy ...
Older26 months ago
Mount Rainier Area
We planned on just doing Spray Park, but after seeing some people headed up to Mount Pleasant we thought, “why not?”. The trail coming out of spray park to the saddle goes straight up and has lots of ...