Trails and Vistas for All
Our North District combines beginner-friendly hut access
with many miles of groomed and backcountry trails appropriate
for almost any skill level. Families with young
children often make the trek to Copper Creek hut.
Snowshoers will enjoy exploring the many ridges
above the hut. Whether you're a beginner or an
expert, a skier or a snowshoer, looking for nice groomed
trails or un-groomed backcountry adventures, our North District
has a trail for you!
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Overlook Trail with an optional un-groomed Loop.
A great trail for first-time skiers. It starts at the
upper SnoPark (at 3300') and is now groomed out for
1 mile.
At the 1/2 mile point, there is a turn-off on the right
to an un-groomed trail flagged with orange tape.
This un-groomed trail forms a 2-3 mile loop back to the
main trail that is excellent for snowshoers or intermediate
skiers.
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Rainier Vista Trail - Southwest End.
The main trail used to reach Copper Creek hut, excellent
for beginner to intermediate skiers. There is
a short (0.2 miles) steeper section just above the upper
SnoPark, but the rest of this groomed trail has a
very beginner-friendly, gradual ascent over 2.7 miles to
reach the hut turn-off. (From the turn-off, there is 0.4 miles
trail with a short steeper section to reach
Copper Creek Hut at 4200').
The Rainier Vista Trail continues
to the north.
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Valley Vista Trail.
A lower trail, groomed when there is enough snow,
often with more wildlife.
This trail starts on the Rainier Vista Trail 1.5 miles above
the upper SnoPark and goes
about 3.4 miles before returning to Rainier Vista Trail near
the Copper Creek hut turnoff. The trail starts at
3840', goes down to a low of 3450', then returns to 4160'.
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Cal's Trail.
An un-groomed trail, that goes from Copper Creek hut
0.7 miles mostly North to the Rainier Vista Trail.
Combining this trail, the Rainier Vista Trail and the Hut Turnoff
trail makes a nice short 1.4 mile loop from the hut.
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Rainier Vista Trail - North End (Puyallup Ridge Trail).
A now regularly groomed trail starting at the Copper
Creek turnoff going about 5.8 miles out to the old
Puyallup Ridge Lookout tower. Much of this trail
is relatively flat. For a real challenge, do
the 18 mile round trip from the SnoPark to the Lookout
and back! The views of Rainier and the
surrounding Cascades don't get much better (see our
Photos section for examples).
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Puyallup Ridge Loop Trail (Morge Lake Loop).
This 2.7 mile frequently groomed trail provides an
alternative route for
part of the Puyallup Ridge trail.
It starts just past Morge Lakes, stays on a relatively
flat traverse along the West side of the ridge, and
returns to Puyallup Ridge trail about 0.9 miles from the Lookout.
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Mountain View Trail.
This is a short (0.2 mile) groomed trail that goes from the
Rainier Vista Trail north of the hut to a location with
a nice vista of Mt. Rainier.
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Pick the trails that suit your style, then "Go North" soon.
Our Backcountry Map will help. Get one at a
local REI store,
at Whittaker Mountaineering in Ashford, or at
Whittaker Mountaineering MTTA Map. For more information, see our
Maps page.
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Open with Expanded Operations!
