Parking
Park in the Longmire visitor area near the National Park Inn and museum. Cross Longmire Road to the Trail of the Shadows; the Rampart Ridge loop starts at its west end. Restrooms are in the Longmire area.
Overview
About Rampart Ridge Trail
Why go
- A substantial old-growth forest walk with several ridge viewpoints.
- The Longmire overlook and clear-day Rainier and glacier views give the loop distinct payoffs.
Heads up
- The climb is steep and sustained for much of the first half.
- The mountain view is weather-dependent.
Rampart Ridge Trail is a 4.6-mile loop from Longmire: follow the Trail of the Shadows to the junction, climb Rampart Ridge, then return on the Wonderland Trail. Plan on about 2.5 hours and roughly 1,340 feet of climbing. The park calls it moderate; the sustained uphill makes this a real workout, especially if you are expecting a short Longmire stroll. Go clockwise, as the park recommends, so Mount Rainier stays ahead of you for more of the walk. At the Trail of the Shadows junction, take the marked Rampart Ridge branch rather than doing the separate interpretive loop.
Parkwolf’s verdictThe loop and who it suitsMap & elevation
The route
Loading the Mount Rainier map
Full mapElevation2,759–4,094 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 Rampart Ridge 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
Longmire: A Museum, Mineral Springs and a Meal0:00 / 0:39
“You're nearing Longmire, the historic village that became park headquarters in eighteen ninety-nine.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Mount Rainier Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Fay Fuller’s Mountain Murmurs
- Why Iron Mike Runs Rusty
- Cougar Rock: A Picnic or a Waterfall Walk
- Twin Firs: A Short Walk Among Old 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 Rampart Ridge Trail
Up through Longmire's forestThe opening connector passes large trees and damp meadow ground, where skunk cabbage and…
The opening connector passes large trees and damp meadow ground, where skunk cabbage and horsetails grow. Then the route climbs steadily on switchbacks through old-growth forest. A curved tree arch makes a memorable landmark on the way up; look for mosses and lichens on the trunks, and keep an eye out for woodpeckers, grouse or deer without expecting a sighting. The climb is the main effort of the loop.
The Longmire overlook and ridge crestA signed 200-foot spur looks down over Longmire's buildings.
A signed 200-foot spur looks down over Longmire's buildings. Continue to the ridge crest for the broadest payoff: on a clear day, Mount Rainier and the Kautz Glacier rise above the forest, with views into the Nisqually River Valley. The route follows the ridge for about 1.3 miles, with several places to stop and look. This is the hike's signature view; cloud can hide the mountain, so the forest walk still needs to be worth your time on a gray day.
Back on the Wonderland TrailNear mile 2.9, turn east onto the Wonderland Trail for the return to Longmire.
Near mile 2.9, turn east onto the Wonderland Trail for the return to Longmire. The ridge traverse eases before the route descends more steeply. Follow the Longmire direction at the junction, then use the short mapped paths through the visitor area to close the loop at the Trail of the Shadows start.
A ridge made by RainierRampart Ridge is the remnant of an ancient lava flow that began at Mount Rainier's summit.
Rampart Ridge is the remnant of an ancient lava flow that began at Mount Rainier's summit. That long, forested spine is why this walk gives you two very different views: down over the historic Longmire complex and outward toward the volcano and its glaciers.
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.
