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Spray Park

 4.9 (16)
  1. Areas
  2. WA
  3. …Southwest Washington
  4. …Mount Rainier National Park
  5. Carbon/Mowich
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6.5 Miles 10.5 Kilometers


79%

Runnable

1,627' 496 m

Ascent

-1,623' -495 m

Descent

9%

Avg Grade (5°)

51%

Max Grade (27°)

5,845' 1,782 m

High

4,723' 1,440 m

Low

Shared By Tom Robson

Conditions

All Clear 2 days ago
Some Mud History
Getting forecast...

“An open forest journey to subalpine meadows and Spray Falls.”

— Tom Robson
Driving DirectionsGPX File

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · River/Creek · Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Treat water before drinking. Fires are prohibited. No pets on trails.

Overview

Spray Park seems to hit all of the Rainier high points:
  • Waterfall
  • Rainier views
  • Glacier views
  • ...and Wildflowers

Need to Know

The subalpine meadows of Spray Park are delicate and easily damaged. Please stay on the constructed trails and rest on rocks near the trail. Try to minimize your impact on this fragile environment so that it remains beautiful.

Eagle's Roost Camp is located in open forest near Spray Falls. A trip to view the falls at sunset is well worth the effort! Permits are required for camping. Permits and current trail conditions are available park-wide from wilderness information centers, ranger stations, and visitor centers.

Description

The trailhead is located on the southeast side of Mowich Lake walk-in campground at the end of the Mowich Lake Road.

The trail descends .25 mile to a junction with the Wonderland Trail. Follow the Spray-Seattle Park east for two miles, up and down forested terrain, across Lee Creek and eventually to the junction with a spur trail to view Spray Falls. The next half mile to the first meadows of Spray Park is a steep climb on a series of switchbacks. More extensive meadows are found in another half mile.

Flora & Fauna

Open forest predominates for most of this route. 1.5 miles from the trailhead, Eagle's Cliff overlook offers a spectacular view of Mount Rainier and the Mowich Glacier. Later, a short spur trail leads to a good view of Spray Falls. During the height of summer, the flowering meadows of Spray Park rival the beauty of any in the park.

History & Background

Spray Park and Falls were likely named in 1883 by a trail construction crew who noted how the cascading water of the falls broke "into a mass of spray."

Contacts

Local Club: Washington Trails Association

Oct 16, 2018: Fall Hikes to the Mount Tahoma Huts

Oct 15, 2018: How to Make a Perfect Hiking Plan in 5 Steps

Oct 8, 2018: South Creek

Land Manager: National Park Service - Mount Rainier National Park

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Trail Ratings

  4.9 from 16 votes

#2

in Carbon/Mowich

#235

Overall
  4.9 from 16 votes
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Rankings

#2

in Carbon/Mowich

#22

in Washington

#235

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3,988 Since Mar 5, 2015
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Photos

Great Sunrise on Mt. Rainier from the approach trail
Great Sunrise on Mt. Rainier from the approach…
 4
The eponymous Mt. Rainier.
The eponymous Mt. Rainier.
 3
View of Mt Rainier from Spray Park
View of Mt Rainier from Spray Park
 3
Spray Falls
Spray Falls
 5
Mt. Rainier after a long dry summer.
Mt. Rainier after a long dry summer.
 2
Spray Falls
Spray Falls
 3

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