The Skyline Loop Trail at Mount Rainier spoils you with the gorgeous views of this glacier-covered active volcano. This popular trail is on the south side of Mount Rainier and takes you through subalpine meadows, wildlife, streams, and waterfalls. The pinnacle of the trail is Panorama Point with breathtaking views of the Washington landscape and mountain tops.
If you have one trail to do to experience the majesty of Mt. Rainier, let it be this one. You won’t regret it.
The Basics of Hiking Skyline Loop Mount Rainier
- Miles: 5.5 miles
- Elevation Gain: Approximately 1,777 ft.
- Average Time: This depends on your speed, but it could take between 3 and 5 hours.
- Difficulty: Hard/Strenuous
- No dogs
- Best time to hike: July through September
- Hiking from October through May-June: You’ll be walking through snow. Wear spikes, snow shoes, and poles.
- Get there early; the parking lot fills up quickly.
- The trailhead is located in the Paradise area of the park. This is near the Jackson Visitor Center, and offers nearby bathrooms, a gift shop, and a cafeteria.
How to Enter Mt. Rainier National Park For The Skyline Loop
You’ll want to enter Mt. Rainier National Park at the Nisqually entrance. There are only two gates to enter the park here, and lines can get backed up. Arrive early to avoid lines. If not, you may have to wait upwards of 30 minutes to an hour to get through the gate at a peak time. Park fee is due upon entering the park, or you can use an active America The Beautiful Pass to access the park.
From there, you will follow signs to Paradise and park at the Jackson Center Visitor Center at Paradise.
As of this writing in August 2025, you do not need a timed entry or reservation to enter the park at the Nisqually gate.
From Seattle, expect approximately 2.5 to 3 hours to get to this trailhead. It can be significantly longer if there is traffic or a backlog at the gate. If you’re visiting from Portland, Oregon, you can expect a 3.5 to 4-hour drive, depending on traffic and the time it takes to get through the gate.
Parking
Parking and crowds are huge considerations for this trail. While the trailhead has a large parking lot, it fills up quickly. The trailhead is shared with the Visitor Center and is a hub for multiple trails in the Paradise area.
Consistently, I read reviews saying to get parked at the trailhead before 7 am, even on weekdays during the summer. To be on the safe side to get a parking spot, aiming to be at the lot at or before 7am seems like a win. I hiked this on a weekday in the summer, and the parking lots appeared full by 7:45 am.
Is Skyline Loop Hard?
This trail is classified as hard/strenuous by both AllTrails and the National Park Service. It is not an easy hike by any measure. If you don’t have experience hiking at elevation or you have any mobility issues, I would not recommend this trail.
While the name of the trail may suggest this is a “loop” and you may associate a loop with a walk in the park, this trail is by no means a walk through a park. It is a strenuous trail with steep elevation and obstacles.
To complete the whole Skyline Loop, you will:
- Walk a steep ascent of over 1700 feet
- Cross patches of snow (even in the summer)
- Walk through unsteady rock terrain
- Complete a small stream crossing
What To Pack:
- Phone with a camera
- GPS navigation on your phone. I use AllTrails Plus for navigation. It allows me to follow myself on the trail without any internet reception, and the app alerts me if I wander off trail.
- Copious amounts of water and snacks
- First Aid supplies
- Sun protection: hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, etc.
- Bug spray: I sprayed before the trail and was fine for the entire trail.
- Layers: the temperature fluctuates significantly from the base to the top of the mountain
- Knife/Duct tape to repair any gear if necessary
- If hiking in fall/winter/spring: poles, spikes, and snow shoes + any other snow gear
- Headlamp for hiking around dawn/dusk/night
Hiking Clockwise or Counter-Clockwise?
As the name suggests, the Skyline Loop trail at Mt. Rainier is a loop. You can circle the trail in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. You can also hike clockwise to Panorama Point, turn around, and go back down the way you came. I don’t think there’s a wrong way to do this hike, but there are some considerations to doing it each way.
Clockwise
Hiking clockwise is the more popular route with more crowds. This route gives you beautiful, picturesque mountain and wildflower vistas during your ascent. Clockwise is a steeper, shorter incline to the top. You’ll feel winded hiking up this trail.
If you only want to hike to Panorama Point and not do the whole loop, clockwise is the way to go.
Counter-Clockwise
Counter-clockwise has a slower, longer ascent. Right after you begin upwards, there is an offshoot to see Myrtle Falls.
I chose to hike this trail counterclockwise and enjoyed my trip. There were a lot fewer hikers on the counter-clockwise side of the mountain, and it was much easier to walk uninterupter on the trail. In contrast, on the clockwise side, hikers would go up the trail a little way and then turn around, resulting in significantly more traffic on the trail overall.
Can You Bring Dogs on The Skyline Loop?
No, the Skyline Loop Trail is not dog-friendly. And for good reasons. Many critters were wandering around the trail, and wildflowers were growing abundantly around the relatively narrow trail.
I left my pup at home for this one and made sure he had two walks planned for the day because I knew I would be gone a long time.
Can You Hike This Trail Solo?
Yes, I hiked this trail solo and recommend hiking solo with caution, based on your hiking ability. I passed many other solo hikers on the trail and chatted with some of them. There appeared to be a decent number of solo hikers on this trail.
As always, as a solo hiker, take precautions, know your limits and abilities, and be aware of your surroundings. I’ve been an avid hiker for many years and felt comfortable on this trail alone. A novice hiker may not feel so confident on this trail.
What I generally liked about this trail is that it was jam-packed with people, so I never felt alone. There was also decent cell phone service through the trail, which is nice for emergencies.
Conclusions on Hiking Skyline Loop Mount Rainier:
The Skyline Loop Trail at Mount Rainer National Park is a magical hike through lush meadows to Panorama Point on glacier-covered Mount Rainer. Its steep elevation leads to beautiful views and is a must-do hike for your visit to Mount Rainer.