Naches Peak Loop Trail is one of our absolute favorite hikes in the Pacific Northwest. Tucked away near Chinook Pass in Mt Rainier National Park, this 3.2 mile loop packs in an incredible amount of scenery for a relatively easy hike — alpine meadows bursting with wildflowers in summer, blazing fall foliage in autumn, views of Dewey Lake, and the mighty Mt Rainier as a backdrop for much of the trail. If you are looking for one hike to do near Mt Rainier that does not require a lot of effort but delivers jaw-dropping views, this is it.

We have done this hike a few times now, in different seasons, and it never disappoints. This guide covers everything you need to know to plan your visit.

Trail Overview

The trail shares a portion with the famous Pacific Crest Trail and straddles the boundary between Mt Rainier National Park and the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. You will cross from national forest land into the national park during the loop.

How to Get There

From Seattle, take WA-410 East through Enumclaw toward Chinook Pass. The drive takes approximately 2 hours. The trailhead is located near Tipsoo Lake, right at the Chinook Pass summit at an elevation of about 5,400 feet.

Important: Chinook Pass (Highway 410) is a seasonal road. It typically opens in late May or early June and closes in November when snow accumulates. Always check road conditions at WSDOT before heading out, especially in early and late season.

If you enjoy scenic drives through the Cascades, check out our guide to the best Cascades day trips from Seattle for more road trip ideas.

Where to Park

There are two main parking options:

Option 1: Tipsoo Lake parking lot — This is the most popular starting point. The lot is on the south side of Highway 410 right at the pass. It fills up fast on summer weekends, so arrive early.

Option 2: Past the highway overpass — Drive about half a mile past Tipsoo Lake and park on the shoulder near the highway overpass over WA-410. This is what we did on our visit. It is less crowded and gives you a different starting perspective on the loop. The Pacific Crest Trail crosses under this overpass.

We recommend arriving before 9 a.m. on weekends in peak season (July through September). The Tipsoo Lake lot is small and it fills quickly. We arrived around 4:30 p.m. on an autumn evening and still found shoulder parking near the overpass without any issues.

Trail Directions: Our Recommended Route

You can hike the loop in either direction, but we recommend going counter-clockwise starting from the highway overpass side. Here is why — if you hike in the evening, you will have Mt Rainier in front of you for the entire descent back toward Tipsoo Lake, lit up beautifully by the evening sun. Even during the day this direction places the mountain views in the most dramatic way as you come around the loop.

Starting from the Highway Overpass

We parked near the bridge over Highway 410, about half a mile past Tipsoo Lake. The trailhead is not clearly marked — look for the Pacific Crest Trail sign on the right side of the overhead bridge. Head uphill on the trail facing away from the road.

The Ascent and First Views

The trail starts with a gentle climb through subalpine meadows. On our autumn visit we noticed cool permafrost patterns on the ground — a reminder that you are hiking at over 5,000 feet.

After a short ascent you arrive at a small lakelet nestled among the trees. This is your first taste of the alpine lakes scattered around this area.

Dewey Lake Viewpoint

Continuing along the trail, you reach a stunning viewpoint overlooking Dewey Lake below. The lake sits in a forested basin and on a clear day reflects the surrounding peaks beautifully.

At the trail intersection here you have two choices — hike down to Dewey Lake for a closer look or stay on the Naches Peak Loop. The detour to the lake adds about a mile round trip. We decided to stay on the loop trail to catch the remaining daylight but the lake is worth the side trip if you have time.

If you love alpine lake hikes, our Bench and Snow Lakes trail guide covers another stunning Mt Rainier hike with pristine subalpine lakes and Unicorn Peak views.

The Meadows and Mt Rainier Views

After the Dewey Lake junction, the trail enters the most spectacular section. Fall colors had started to pop out on our visit with a beautiful mix of gold and red from the berry bushes and mountain ash. After a small uphill section, we got our first glimpse of Mt Rainier on this trail — and it took our breath away.

We spent some time here soaking in the views and taking pictures. From this point onwards, Mt Rainier stays in front of you for the rest of the trail as you make your way back toward Tipsoo Lake.

The descent toward Tipsoo Lake is the highlight of the hike. The trail winds through colorful shrubs with golden and red hues on both sides, and the mountain dominates the view ahead. We saw a lot of hikers coming the other way, but doing the hike in our direction was definitely the right call for the best views.

As you walk downhill there is a beautiful valley to the left with alpine meadows stretching out below. On a clear day you can see the rest of the Cascade mountain range in the distance.

Tipsoo Lake and the Finish

The loop brings you back down to the Tipsoo Lake parking area. Tipsoo Lake itself is a pretty alpine lake right at the pass and worth a quick walk around if you have the energy. The lake with Mt Rainier reflected in its waters is a classic Pacific Northwest photograph.

Since we parked past the overpass, we had a short uphill walk along the road back to our car. The entire hike took us about 3 hours with plenty of stops for photos.

Best Time to Visit

Wildflower Season (Mid-July to Mid-August)

This is the most popular time to hike Naches Peak Loop. The alpine meadows explode with wildflowers — lupine, paintbrush, asters, and many more. The meadows become a carpet of purple, red, and yellow against the green of the subalpine trees. If wildflowers are your goal, aim for the last two weeks of July and first two weeks of August.

Fall Colors (Late September to Mid-October)

This is when we did our hike and it was absolutely magical. The berry bushes and mountain ash turn brilliant shades of red, orange, and gold. The crowds thin out compared to summer and the cooler temperatures make for comfortable hiking. Late September to early October is the sweet spot for fall foliage.

Summer (June to September)

Any clear day from late June through September is a great time for this hike. The trail is snow-free and the views are spectacular. Weekdays are significantly less crowded than weekends.

Avoid: Early season (June) when snow may still cover portions of the trail, and late October when Chinook Pass may close for the season.

What to Bring

The trail is short but you are hiking at elevation in the mountains, so come prepared:

• Water — Bring at least 1 liter per person. There are no water sources on the loop itself.
• Layers — Weather can change quickly at 5,400 feet. A lightweight Columbia Watertight II Rain Jacket is a good idea even on clear days.
• Sun protection — Sunscreen and a hat. The trail is exposed with minimal tree cover.
• Insect repellent — Mosquitoes and biting flies can be bad near the lakes in summer. We recommend Repel 100 Insect Repellent .
• Camera — You will want one. Trust us.
• Snacks — A great trail for a picnic with a view.

More Mt Rainier Hikes

If you enjoyed the Naches Peak Loop, Mt Rainier National Park has many more incredible trails:

• Bench and Snow Lakes Trail — A stunning subalpine lake hike with jaw-dropping views of Unicorn Peak and the Tatoosh Range. Moderate difficulty.
• Burrough Mountain Trail — For panoramic views of glaciers and alpine meadows at the Sunrise area of Mt Rainier. One of the best trails in the park.
• Best of Cascades Road Trips — Our guide to the best day trip destinations from Seattle including Mt Rainier, North Cascades, Mt Baker, and Mt St Helens.

After the Hike

We left the trail around 7:45 p.m. and drove back toward Seattle via Greenwater. We made a pit stop at Naches Tavern in Greenwater for some well-deserved beer and food — it is the last stop for food when travelling from Seattle via Enumclaw and makes for a great post-hike meal spot on the way back too. In short, it was a perfect autumn day hike from Seattle!

Happy trails!

Hiking Resources

We always look at the weather and latest trip reports from below sites to plan our hikes:

• National Park Service - Naches Peak Loop
• Washington Trails Association
• AllTrails - Naches Peak Loop Trail

Travel Tips

• Buy America the Beautiful Annual Pass if you have plans of visiting multiple national parks — it pays for itself in 2-3 visits
• Make sure your park pass is displayed clearly in your vehicle
• Last food stop is at Greenwater while travelling from Seattle via Enumclaw to this trailhead
• Arrive early on weekends — the Tipsoo Lake parking lot fills up fast in summer
• Always check Chinook Pass road conditions before heading out — the pass is seasonal
• Cell service is spotty to nonexistent at the trailhead, so download any maps or directions beforehand
• There are vault toilets at the Tipsoo Lake parking area