Weekend Gem-The Eastside Loop

Looking across to Indian Bar from the Cowlitz Divide

Sure, everyone has the Mt. Rainier’s Wonderland Trail or the Northern Loop on their bucket list. But, those who seek out quieter, less traveled trails will love the Eastside Loop. This Loop utilizes the Wonderland, Owyhigh and Eastside Trails for a polar opposite experience from a isolation perspective. On half of the Loop, you hike the wildly popular and quite frankly amazing, Wonderland segment between Summerland and Ohanapocnosh. Passing over Panhandle Gap, Indian Bar and the Cowlitz Divide, very tasty. The Eastside TR takes a much, much quieter route passing Owyhigh Lakes, the Governors Ridge and the Grove of the Patriarchs, where the landscape literally begs for backcountry exploration. What an amazingly diverse trip this 35.5 miler is, it simply doesn’t get better. Begin the trip at Stevens Canyon, I recommend doing the Eastside/Owyhigh part first if you can get the permits that way. This will give you a good stretch of trail to get warmed up/settled in first before heading up to the high country for the epic Wonderland section. But, it important to keep an open schedule due to permit availability and weather. After all, it is going to be a great trip in either direction and that is a certified fact. If you are heading up there before August, be prepared for some easy to navigate snow patches on Panhandle Gap and some mosquito action.

Taking a breather with a view

Indian Bar

Just some of the many waterfalls that pour into Indian Bar

Snowfield by Panhandle Gap

Ahh…Summerland!