Burroughs Mountain Trail is one of the most beautiful hikes in Mount Rainier National Park! Although Mount Rainier National Park has many fun trails, this trail was one of my favorites.

We actually were not planning to hike this trail because we did not think we had time, but we ended up changing our plans to fit it in, and it did not disappoint. The trail was challenging and long, but the views of Mount Rainier were spectacular. We were in awe of the views on the entire hike, so I know you will not be disappointed.

If you want to hike it when you visit Mount Rainier National Park, you are in the right place! I created this guide to have everything you need to know to hike Burroughs Mountain Trail. Get your hiking boots and cameras ready for a challenging but fun hike!

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How to Get to Burroughs Mountain Trail

The Burroughs Mountain Trailhead is near the Sunrise Visitor Center in Mount Rainier National Park. There is a large parking lot near the visitor center, where many trails begin in this section of the park.

Since this is one of the most popular sections in the park, I recommend arriving early in the morning. We arrived just after sunrise and had no issue finding parking, but the parking lot filled up quickly as we approached midday.

Since many beautiful trails begin from the Sunrise Visitor Center, I recommend packing meals and spending the entire day there! We spent a day hiking a few trails in this section, and it was perfect.

If you plan to stay a night near the park, I recommend staying in a nearby campground or finding an accommodation on the east side of the national park. A few towns near Mount Rainier National Park near the park have accommodations, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, or you can stay in White River Campground or Silver Springs Campground.

Burroughs Mountain Trail Overview

The Burroughs Mountain Loop is one of the most epic hikes in Mount Rainier National Park! It was a last-minute addition to our itinerary, and it was worth every step for the incredible views of Mount Rainier.

Burroughs Mountain Trail goes over three mountains: First, Second, and Third Burroughs, each offering breathtaking views. If you do not want to hike the entire loop, you can hike to either First Burroughs (4.7 miles round trip) or Second Burroughs (7 miles round trip). Both offer incredible views, so you will not be disappointed!

Burroughs Mountain Trail Hiking Stats

Length: 9.6 miles round trip
Elevation gain: 2,600 feet
Difficulty: Strenuous
Best time to hike: Summer to early fall
Facilities: The parking lot has restrooms.
Webcam: I used this webcam to check the conditions before visiting.
Not dog-friendly: Dogs are not allowed on trails in Mount Rainier National Park.

Burroughs Mountain Trail Map

What to Pack for the Hike

Burroughs Mountain Trail is strenuous, making it crucial to pack the appropriate gear and plenty of food and water. This is a great baseline for what to pack, and you can adjust as needed:

burroughs mountain trail in mount rainier national park

Hiking Burroughs Mountain Trail: Step-By-Step Guide

Burroughs Mountain Trail is one of the most epic hikes in Mount Rainier National Park, offering some of the best views of Mount Rainier. I was in awe of the views along the entire trail, so I know you will love it once you hike it!

The most popular way to hike Burroughs Mountain Trail is as a loop, although you can hike it as an out-and-back. Both options are about 9.5 miles round trip and have 2,600 feet of elevation. The views make the effort worth it!

**Always remember to leave no trace. It is crucial to pack out what you pack in and throw away your trash properly. Also, stay on designated trails. This area has fragile vegetation.

Burroughs Mountain Trailhead

The hike to Burroughs Mountain begins near the Sunrise Visitor Center in Mount Rainier National Park. As I mentioned, this area is incredibly popular and experiences the most crowds midday. I recommend arriving early in the morning to avoid the midday crowds and give yourself enough time to hike the entire trail.

You can hike the loop in either direction, and we decided to hike it counterclockwise. Both options are great, and I will go into detail about the route we hiked.

Sourdough Ridge Trail

If you hike it counterclockwise like we did, it starts on the Sourdough Ridge Trail. This section of the trail is stunning as it passes wildflower fields and offers views of Mount Rainier.

Many trails intersect with the Sourdough Ridge Trail, so it is crucial to pack a trail map and pay attention to the trail signs. It can be easy to take a wrong turn and end up on a different trail.

After about 1.5 miles, the trail passes Frozen Lake and the Burroughs Mountain Trail junction. You will continue straight onto Burroughs Mountain Trail and start the ascend to First Burroughs Mountain.

Burroughs Mountain Trail

The rest of the hike to the three Burroughs is along the Burroughs Mountain Trail, which is well-maintained and easy to follow. The views of Mount Rainier along the entire trail are breathtaking!

This portion of the Burroughs Mountain Trail has a few steep sections that will get your legs burning. But the views help distract you from it! And soon enough, the trail leads you to the ridge, where you have unmatched views of Mount Rainier.

First Burroughs Mountain

First Burroughs Mountain is the first mountain the trail passes over, and we did not even realize we passed over it! We were distracted by the views and focused on where we were hiking.

After walking along the ridge for a bit longer, the trail passes over Second Burroughs Mountain, which offers stunning views of Mount Rainier!

hiking burroughs mountain trail in mount rainier national park

Second Burroughs Mountain

Second Burroughs Mountain has some of the best views of Mount Rainier and the surrounding mountains! It makes the effort worth it. It is also a great place to stop for a break and decide if you will continue to the Third Burroughs Mountain.

We stayed on Second Burroughs Mountain for over half an hour because we could not get over the views. We also had to fight off some brave chipmunks that were going into hiking backpacks to get food. Make sure to keep an eye on them when you hike this trail!

Many hikers turn around after Second Burroughs Mountain because it saves about 1,000 feet of elevation if you do not continue to Third Burroughs Mountain. But it is a beautiful hike and worth the extra effort if you are up for it!

views on burroughs mountain trail in mount rainier national park

Third Burroughs Mountain

The final 1.5 miles to Third Burroughs Mountain is strenuous! You gain about 1,000 feet of elevation over two sections, making you work for the views.

This section was the most challenging on the Burroughs Mountain Trail, so if you want to save yourself from this part, you can turn around after Second Burroughs.

But if you make it to Third Burroughs, you will not be disappointed! The up-close views of Mount Rainier are stunning, and it is cool to feel as if you could reach out and touch the mountain. (You cannot actually touch it, but you get what I am saying!)

Since most people turn around after Second Burroughs Mountain, this summit was more peaceful with fewer people. It was a nice change of pace since most trails in Mount Rainier National Park are crowded.

Heading Back to the Parking Lot

The hike back is straightforward, continuing over the Second Burroughs to the loop trail junction. At the trail junction, the loop continues right to begin the descent on Burroughs Mountain Trail. I recommend looking behind you as you hike down because the views of Mount Rainier are beautiful on this portion of the loop.

Soon enough, Burroughs Mountain Trail passes Glacier Overlook, providing beautiful views of Mount Rainier before turning onto the Wonderland Trail. Eventually, you turn off the Wonderland Trail onto the Sunrise Rim Trail and follow it back to the Sunrise Visitor Center parking lot.

As mentioned earlier, you can easily hike the Burroughs Mountain Trail as an out-and-back, although it does not save you much mileage or elevation gain. The loop is also a great way to explore more of the area.

If you want to hike the Burroughs Mountain Trail, this guide is the perfect place to start. It has everything you need to know to hike to the Burroughs in Mount Rainier National Park!