Burroughs Mountain Loop
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Mount Rainier does not do subtle. At 14,410 feet, Washington’s tallest peak towers above the landscape, wrapped in glaciers and constantly shifting in and out of the clouds. On our first full day in the park, we set out from the Sunrise Visitor Center to do the Burroughs Mountain Loop, a route stitched together from several Sunrise area trails. At about 10 miles with roughly 2,500 feet of elevation gain, it turned out to be one of the most incredible hikes of the trip.
Mount Ranier from Visitor Center Parking Lot
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When we arrived at the trailhead, Rainier kept slipping in and out of the clouds, teasing us with glimpses of its massive glacier-draped slopes. Not long into the hike, a pika popped out from the rocks for a quick hello before vanishing again, a small but perfect start to the day.
Near Frozen Lake, I spotted a herd of mountain goats high on Mount Fremont and could not resist climbing up for a closer look. By the time I reached them, they had decided to head down, so for a brief stretch we all shared the same route back toward the main trail.
From there, we continued toward the Burroughs. The Burroughs are a series of three high points along the same ridge, labeled First, Second, and Third Burroughs, with each one taking you a little farther out and closer to Rainier. The landscape grew more rugged and exposed, and for a while we were completely swallowed by clouds. Then, at Burroughs 2, everything changed. The sky finally opened and Rainier appeared in full, enormous and impossibly close, still draped with a few lingering wisps of cloud. We stopped there for lunch, completely pulled into the view.
Then came the climb to Burroughs 3, and it was steep. It felt like one last serious push, but the payoff was worth every step. At the top, we stood nearly face to face with the mountain and its glaciers, close enough to really appreciate just how massive and rugged Rainier is.
On the way back, the trail carried us through wildflower meadows bursting with color, a softer ending to a day that had already delivered pikas, mountain goats, and one jaw-dropping view after another. It was an unforgettable first full day at Rainier.
Near Frozen Lake, I spotted a herd of mountain goats high on Mount Fremont and could not resist climbing up for a closer look. By the time I reached them, they had decided to head down, so for a brief stretch we all shared the same route back toward the main trail.
From there, we continued toward the Burroughs. The Burroughs are a series of three high points along the same ridge, labeled First, Second, and Third Burroughs, with each one taking you a little farther out and closer to Rainier. The landscape grew more rugged and exposed, and for a while we were completely swallowed by clouds. Then, at Burroughs 2, everything changed. The sky finally opened and Rainier appeared in full, enormous and impossibly close, still draped with a few lingering wisps of cloud. We stopped there for lunch, completely pulled into the view.
Then came the climb to Burroughs 3, and it was steep. It felt like one last serious push, but the payoff was worth every step. At the top, we stood nearly face to face with the mountain and its glaciers, close enough to really appreciate just how massive and rugged Rainier is.
On the way back, the trail carried us through wildflower meadows bursting with color, a softer ending to a day that had already delivered pikas, mountain goats, and one jaw-dropping view after another. It was an unforgettable first full day at Rainier.