Parking
Use the Reflection Lakes parking area opposite the signed trailhead on Stevens Canyon Road; the lot is reported to hold about 35 vehicles. Cross the road to start.
Overview
About Pinnacle Peak Trail
Why go
- A wide view of Rainier and other volcanoes for a short hike
- The route changes from sparse forest to exposed talus and an open saddle
Heads up
- The upper climb is steep, rocky and exposed
- The maintained trail stops at the saddle, below Pinnacle Peak’s summit
Pinnacle Peak Trail is the maintained 2.5-mile round trip from the signed trailhead across Stevens Canyon Road from Reflection Lakes to Pinnacle Saddle, then back the same way. It climbs about 1,050 feet to 5,920 feet. The view is a big reward for a short outing, but the grade makes it feel tougher than the mileage suggests. Plan on about two hours.
Parkwolf’s verdictIs this the hike for you?Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Mount Rainier map
Full mapElevation4,905–5,873 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 Pinnacle Peak 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
Reflection Lakes: A Quick Mountain View0:00 / 0:32
“Reflection Lakes is coming up beside Stevens Canyon Road.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Mount Rainier Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Inspiration Point: A View Without a Hike
- Ruby Falls: Beneath the Bridge
- Narada Falls: The Lower View
- Paradise Picnic Area: A Lunch Stop Among the Trees
- 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 Pinnacle Peak Trail
Through the treesThe first part climbs at a steadier, gentler pace through sparse forest.
The first part climbs at a steadier, gentler pace through sparse forest. You may glimpse Mount Rainier through the trees around half a mile in. The path leaves that cover at roughly 0.7 mile, where the ground turns rocky and the climb gets steeper.
Above the cliffsThe upper route stays open across loose rock beneath the cliffs.
The upper route stays open across loose rock beneath the cliffs. Around a mile in, a short switchback opens the view back across the trails and meadows of Paradise, with Rainier beyond. It is a good place to pause before the final push to the saddle.
Turn around at Pinnacle SaddleAt about 1.25 miles you reach the saddle and the maintained trail's end.
At about 1.25 miles you reach the saddle and the maintained trail's end. Rainier and Paradise lie to the north; Mount Adams stands out to the south, with Mount St. Helens and, on clear days, Mount Hood farther off. The saddle sits at 5,920 feet, well below Pinnacle Peak's 6,562-foot summit. Paths continue toward nearby peaks, but those are climbers' routes, not part of this hike. The meadow touches the protected Butter Creek Research Natural Area; stay on the public trail and do not enter the research area.
Life among the rocksThe rocky slopes are good places to watch for pikas and marmots, which are among the animals…
The rocky slopes are good places to watch for pikas and marmots, which are among the animals found here. They may be tucked among the talus, so keep your eyes on the rocks as well as the views.
What to expectThis is a short but steep mountain hike, with loose rock, exposed ground and sections beside…
This is a short but steep mountain hike, with loose rock, exposed ground and sections beside steep drop-offs. Snow can linger into summer. Pets are not allowed on park trails.
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.
