Hiking the Skyline Loop in Mt. Rainier
This past week, I hiked the Skyline Loop Trail at Mount Rainier National Park for the third time, and it still blew me away. I woke up at 4:30am to snag a parking spot at Paradise, which totally paid off. The morning light hitting the mountain, the quiet trail, and the fresh alpine air made the early start worth it.
I took the counter-clockwise route, which offers a nice gradual climb and nonstop views of Rainier and the Nisqually Glacier. The wildflowers are fading, but marmots were out and about, and the stretch near Panorama Point was as epic as ever. No matter how many times I hike this trail, the views always feel new—truly one of the best loops in the park.
