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 Reporter |
Summary: This is a wonderful and memorable walk along Sourdough Ridge to the intersection at Frozen Lake. Turn right and head uphill to the lookout called Mt. Freemont. To say the view is awesome stills falls short. On a clear day you can not only see an up-close view of Mt. Rainier in all it's splendor, but you can see several other mountains as well. If you are lucky and the sky is unobstructed, you can see the skyline of Seattle far off in the distance. Closer in are Sluiskin Mountain, Old Desolate, Mineral, Burroughs, Skyscraper, and of course Freemont Mountains. Grand Park can be seen to the North. Take some time to look inside and see the tools used by rangers who have been on the "lookout" for fires for many many years. On the return trip you can take one of the several trails, but the most direct route back is on the Sourdough Ridge trail. keep an eye out for a large herd of Mountain Goats that inhabit this area, you may get lucky enough to see them. Trailhead: Getting there -- From Enumclaw, drive east on state Route 410. Continue 4 1/2 miles past the Mount Rainier National Park entrance and turn right onto the White River/Sunrise Road. Drive a long mile to the park entrance fee station and in about four miles pass the turnoff for White River Campground. Continue 10 miles to Sunrise, elevation 6,400 feet. The trail starts to the left of the Ranger Station. (Lat:46.914 Lon:-121.64192) Trail Guides for Freemont Lookout Mt. Rainier: Day Hike Mt. Rainier by Ron C. Judd (Sasquatch Books) 50 Hikes in Mt. Rainier National Park by Ira Spring & Harvey Manning (The Mountaineers) Best Seasons: Fall, Spring, Summer, User Groups: Hikers, Ranger Contact: White River Wilderness Information Center 360 663-2273 Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Drew Furnia, who has posted 23 other hikes on this site. To visit this reporters web site, click here. Trail Reviews Submit your own review 
Reviewed by Dan on 8/12/2007 Fantastic hike. I went on a day with unlimited visibility so the views from the Sunrise lodge to the top were breathtaking. It was about 1.5 hours drive from Enumclaw, park fee is $15. The lookout building was getting a new roof so it was off limits for visitors. The Sunrise Area Trails handout lists this hike as strenuous on the easy, moderate and strenuous scale. The parking lot was over flowed with the trails very busy. One slightly overweight 20 something was down on the side of the trail with Mt Rainier volunteers assisting and one 60 something lady turned around with about a mile to go. At the end of the trail was a young couple with a toddler they carried, several 5 year olds and lots of seniors. Bring a walking stick! 
Reviewed by Adam on 7/12/2007 I hiked this when it was 95 degrees and got quite the sunburn! Despite that, this hike provided the most beautiful views I have ever seen! It is a pretty good climb for the last 1.3 miles (final distance from five points) if you're not conditioned for it, but the climb is well worth it. I was lucky to climb on a clear day and I swear I could see forever!! I even heard and saw and avalanche on Mt. Rainier! It sounded like an earthquake...hopefully no climbers were in that area. If you find yourself at Sunrise and have the energy for a hike with a great reward at the end, hike this one!! Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site. Keys: Washington Hiking, Washington Trails, Washington Hikes, Pierce County Hiking, Pierce County Trails, Pierce County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||