Comet Falls

The trailhead sits on the road to Paradise, about four miles east of Longmire. The path climbs beside Van Trump Creek through forest, then crosses open avalanche chutes and a steep rock face fitted with a cribbed ladder. At roughly 1.6 miles, a signed 200-foot spur leads to Bloucher Falls, a separate three-tier cascade often called Van Trump Falls. Cross the creek on a footlog beyond it, then continue to Comet Falls.

A short boot path near the end gets you close to the falling water and the dark rock wall behind it. The spray can soak you, and sunlight sometimes catches the mist. Keep your camera protected and give the steep slopes room: rockfall is a real hazard here. The easiest way to appreciate the height in a photo is to include the basin and a little of the surrounding wall rather than zooming in on the water alone.

The walls show smooth, glacier-polished rock, while several open chutes on the approach are kept clear of large trees by recurring snow slides. A 2001 debris flow on Van Trump Creek began at Kautz Glacier and reached the falls. After a separate slide forced a trail closure in 2012, trail crews built the cribbed ladder passage now used across the rock face.

The waterfall was named for its resemblance to a comet’s tail. The route continues above the falls to Van Trump Park’s open meadows; a junction also connects toward Mildred Point and Rampart Ridge. Van Trump Park commemorates P. B. Van Trump, who, with Hazard Stevens, was among the first people to stand on Mount Rainier’s summit.

The small lot has room for about 16 cars and often fills; there is no extra parking nearby, so arrive early or have another hike in mind. There are no trailhead services, so use facilities in Longmire or Cougar Rock before starting and bring food and water. Dogs are not allowed on park trails, and creek water must be treated before drinking. Snow can make the route treacherous until well into summer; wait for it to melt and check current park conditions before you go.