Although Mount Rainier National Park has hundreds of miles of beautiful trails, the Skyline Loop Trail is one of my favorites! The Skyline Loop Trail offers stunning views of Mount Rainier, and on a clear day, you can see as far south as Mount Hood.

The Skyline Loop Trail was one of the first hikes I added to our Mount Rainier National Park itinerary. The views along the entire trail were breathtaking! But it was not an easy hike and made us work for those views, but it was worth it!

If you want to hike the Skyline Loop Trail when you visit Mount Rainier National Park, you are in the right place! I fell in love when I hiked it, so I am excited to share everything I know with you, so you can enjoy this beautiful hike.

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How to Get to the Skyline Loop Trail

The trailhead for the Skyline Loop Trail is near the Paradise Visitor Center in Mount Rainier National Park. The visitor center has a large parking lot where many trails begin in the Paradise section of the national park.

Paradise is one of the most popular sections of Mount Rainier National Park, and it is always busy. I recommend arriving in the morning to secure a parking spot and enjoy a fun-filled day hiking and enjoying the views!

We arrived just after sunrise and easily found a parking spot. We actually stayed parked in this spot all day because we hiked a few trails in the area. We packed our meals and enjoyed the food on nearby picnic tables surrounded by beautiful views. It was perfect!

If you plan to spend the night in Mount Rainier National Park, I recommend staying on the south side of the national park. A few towns near Mount Rainier National Park have accommodations, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations.

Skyline Loop Trail Overview

The Skyline Loop Trail is easily one of the best hikes in Mount Rainier National Park. The views along the entire trail are breathtaking, and it will quickly become one of your favorite trails.

Because of the length and elevation gain, it is challenging, but the trail is well-maintained and easy to follow. And the views help distract you from the elevation gain!

Skyline Loop Trail Hiking Stats

Length: 5.7 miles round trip
Elevation gain: 1,800 feet
Difficulty: Moderate/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.

Skyline Loop Trail Map

What to Pack for the Hike

This is a great baseline for what to pack, and you can adjust as needed:

views from panorama point on the skyline loop trail in mount rainier national park

Hiking Skyline Loop Trail: Step-By-Step Guide

The Skyline Loop Trail is one of the most popular hikes in the Paradise section of Mount Rainier National Park. It is stunning and has some of the best views of Mount Rainier and the surrounding mountains!

**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.

Skyline Loop Trailhead

The Skyline Loop Trail begins near the Paradise Visitor Center. Many trails start at the main parking lot, but the Skyline Loop Trail follows the paved trail right behind the visitor center.

The trailhead has a small sign pointing to Skyline Trail, so you know you are on the right path when you see that.

As always, I highly recommend having a map just in case. Since this section of Mount Rainier National Park has many intersecting trails, having a map makes it easier to ensure you are staying on the correct trail!

Trailhead to Glacier Vista

Although you can hike this loop in either direction, I recommend hiking it clockwise. We hiked it clockwise, so this guide will walk you through how to do the same.

The trail immediately begins to gain elevation and is a steady incline to the highest point on the hike. The beginning section of Skyline Loop Trail travels through stunning wildflower fields, so make sure to take your time and take all the photos!

This section is also paved and easy to follow. But it intersects with many other trails, so it is crucial to make sure you follow the signs for the Skyline Trail.

After about half a mile, the Skyline Loop Trail comes to a major intersection with many other trails, including the Alta Vista Trail. The Skyline Loop Trail continues straight and ascends towards the first major viewpoint. Although the rest of the trail is unpaved, it is well-maintained and easy to follow.

Glacier Vista to Panorama Point

Around 1.3 miles on the Skyline Loop Trail, the trail has a short spur to Glacier Vista. This viewpoint offers stunning views of Mount Rainier and its glaciers. But would you believe me if I told you the views after this get better?? Just wait!

It is a popular viewpoint on the trail, and many people turn around here, but if you want to hike the entire loop, you will continue back onto Skyline Loop Trail.

The next mile ascends steadily, providing beautiful views of Mount Rainier. This section was one of my favorites on the trail because I felt so close to Mount Rainier. It was truly incredible! And before you know it, the trail turns onto a beautiful ridge towards the best lookout on the entire hike, Panorama Point.

Panorama Point

Panorama Point has breathtaking views looking south over Paradise Valley, and on a clear day, you can see Mount Adams, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Hood. It was the perfect place for a snack break before we continued on.

We also stayed here for quite some time enjoying the views and taking photos. We lucked on and hiked it on a day where we could see all the way to Mount Hood. It was amazing!

If you do not want to continue the loop, you can turn around at Panorama Point and descend the way you came. But I recommend continuing the loop because the views of Mount Rainier will blow you away!

views along the skyline loop trail in mount rainier national park

Panorama Point to Myrtle Falls

The Skyline Loop Trail continues ascending towards the highest point at almost 7,000 feet, and the views of Mount Rainier are unmatched! You feel so close to it, and it will quickly become one of your favorite parts of the hike.

The trail then begins to descend the ridge, and after about a mile, you have two options. You can continue on the Skyline Loop Trail for another 2.5 hours or turn right onto the Golden Gate Trail and cut a mile off the hike. Both trails are beautiful and pass several small cascading waterfalls, so you really cannot go wrong with either!

Myrtle Falls to the Parking Lot

Once you are near the end, the trail passes by Myrtle Falls, which is one of the most photographed waterfalls in Mount Rainier National Park. Although the waterfall is not the tallest in the park, standing at 72 feet tall, it is the most picturesque because it has Mount Rainier in the background. The short side trail to Myrtle Falls is worth hiking for the views!

Unfortunately when we finally arrived at Myrtle Falls, the clouds moved onto Mount Rainier. But the waterfall was still beautiful, and we could picture how stunning it would be if Mount Rainier was out of the clouds!

The rest of the Skyline Loop Trail is paved and easy to follow back to the parking lot. The trail passes behind the Paradise Inn before finally connecting to the Paradise Visitor Center.

If you want to hike one of the most beautiful trails in Mount Rainier National Park, the Skyline Trail Loop is perfect. This guide has everything you need to know about the Skyline Loop Trail!