Parking
Use the designated hiker and climber lot at the end of Loop D in White River Campground; do not park in a campsite. A park entrance fee or pass is required.
Overview
About Emmons Moraine Trail
Why go
- Views of Emmons Glacier and a turquoise moraine lake
- A gradual forest approach before a short, rougher climb
Heads up
- The final spur is rocky, steep and loose
Emmons Moraine Trail is a 3-mile out-and-back from Loop D at White River Campground to a ridge with views of Emmons Glacier and an unnamed turquoise lake. The first mile shares Glacier Basin Trail and climbs gradually through forest; the last half-mile leaves the smoother tread for boulders, a log bridge and steep switchbacks. It is a good choice for a close glacier view without hiking all the way to Glacier Basin. Plan on about two hours and roughly 700 feet of climbing; the loose descent and the viewpoint can stretch that out.
Parkwolf’s verdictIs this the hike for you?Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Mount Rainier map
Full mapElevation4,311–5,020 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
7 active Mount Rainier alerts
- ClosureWildfire closures in the northern parkGrand Park 2 and Wonderland Complex fire closures affect trails, backcountry camps, and Sunrise access; stay out of closed areas.Official details
- ClosureSR 165 bridge closed: no public access to Carbon River or Mowich LakeThe SR 165 Carbon River/Fairfax Bridge is closed to vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians; there is no public access or alternate route to Carbon River or Mowich Lake.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Mount Rainier Tour Guide
Your drive to Emmons Moraine Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Mount Rainier National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Mount Rainier audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
White River: The Campground and Patrol Cabin0:00 / 0:32
“White River Campground is ahead, a forested base beside the river below Sunrise. For a day visit, there's a separate picnic area, and the historic patrol cabin in Loop D is worth a short look.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Mount Rainier Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Sunrise: Walk to Emmons Vista
- Sunrise Road White River View: Rainier's Crater Rim
- Beargrass Has No Seven-Year Clock
- Fryingpan Creek: The Climb to Summerland
- 77 audio storiesacross Mount Rainier’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Mountain Goat, Black Bear, Wolverine, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 99 trails, 87 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Emmons Moraine Trail
The approachStart at the hiker and climber parking area at the end of Loop D, not in a campsite.
Start at the hiker and climber parking area at the end of Loop D, not in a campsite. The broad dirt path follows the Inter Fork of the White River through forest. It was once a mining road, so this first stretch is a steady, uncomplicated walk beside the river. There is no potable water at the campground.
The moraine spurAfter about a mile, take the left fork for Emmons Moraine.
After about a mile, take the left fork for Emmons Moraine. The path narrows across boulders before reaching a log bridge over the river. Water levels vary, and the crossing can be difficult in some conditions. After the bridge, a short set of steep, loose-dirt switchbacks climbs to the moraine ridge; take extra care on the way down.
Stop at the maintained-trail signThe marked route ends at a signed viewpoint.
The marked route ends at a signed viewpoint. From there you can look across the turquoise lake and toward the glacier, but there is no official trail down to the lake. Faint tracks beyond the sign cross steep, unstable ground; don't follow them. From the maintained ridge, frame the turquoise lake below the debris-covered glacier to show both the water and the moraine that holds it back.
Why the lake is turquoiseThe lake is unnamed.
The lake is unnamed. A moraine left by the retreating glacier blocks its meltwater, and fine glacial silt gives the water its blue-green color. Emmons is the largest glacier on Mount Rainier and the largest in the contiguous United States. Rock debris from a December 1963 fall off Little Tahoma covers much of its lower surface, insulating the ice beneath it.
Before you goA park entrance fee or pass is required, and pets aren't allowed on park trails.
A park entrance fee or pass is required, and pets aren't allowed on park trails. The route is generally snow-free from July into October, though snowmelt can make the river crossing harder. Use the designated hiker and climber lot rather than a campsite, and check current road and trail conditions before setting out.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Mount Rainier
466 sightingsMountain GoatMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
383 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
10 sightingsWolverineMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
58 sightingsElkMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
574 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
1,853 sightingsHoary MarmotMost seen around 6 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Mount Rainier. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
