One Day Wilderness-Summerland

Summerland from near Panhandle Gap

Some wilderness places are so mesmerizing that they captivate the people that visit them time and time again, Summerland is one of these places. Subalpine meadows stretch to rocky expanses under the shadow of Little Tahoma, while icy streams drain the glaciers empty into tarns of green. Spend a day (or two) wandering this idyllic landscape under the shadow of Mt. Rainier’s icy crown and connect to the grand landscape. It is 4.4 miles to Summerland and  another 1.4 to Panhandle Gap on the Wonderland Trail, a trail that lives up to it’s name mile after mile. Or saddle up with a camp spot and make a weekend out of it, take the WT another 4.4 miles through alpine expanses and snow fields to Indian Bar where waterfalls pour off the Mountain into this deep chasm. Make sure if you want to stay overnight arrive to the ranger station early for permits, my favorite camp is the last one furthest from the shelter. Either way, this is an adventure that you won’t soon forget!

Indian Bar lights up at sunrise