South Puyallup Trail

South Puyallup Trail is a 3.2-mile out-and-back from its trailhead to South Puyallup River Camp and the Wonderland Trail junction. It climbs through mature forest beside the river, gaining about 700 feet to roughly 4,200 feet. Allow about 2.5 hours on the trail itself; the rocky streambed and columnar lava wall near camp are the payoff.

The access changes the day. Dry Creek is 4.2 road miles from the trailhead, and cars cannot continue beyond Dry Creek. Walking the access in both directions turns the outing into about 11.6 miles total. You can ride a bicycle up the road and leave it at the rack, but bikes cannot continue on park trails. Published approach figures vary, so plan for the longer 4.2 miles each way. The trailhead's normal season is May through November.

The path climbs alongside the South Puyallup River through forest. Expect built trail features, including puncheons, turnpikes, check steps and bridges. Lower down, look for western redcedar, Douglas-fir, yew and western hemlock; higher up, the forest shifts toward Pacific silver fir, western white pine, noble fir and Alaska yellow cedar.

The river once flooded the lower forest. After it overtopped its banks in 2006, crews moved the trail farther uphill and finished the reroute in 2019. That raised line is the one this route follows.

Near the camp, columnar andesite forms a tall wall above the forest. Where the trail meets the river, the rocky streambed opens a view of cascading glacier-fed water and Mount Rainier. The rock wall is the standout photo stop; include the surrounding trees to show its scale.

The mapped trail ends at the Wonderland Trail junction after 1.6 miles; the return follows the same corridor. Day hikers don't need a wilderness permit, but overnight camping at South Puyallup River Camp does. Dogs aren't allowed on park trails.