Rain Forest Loop
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
The Carbon River is prone to flooding and the access road washes out periodically — check the NPS website or call the ranger station before making the drive, especially in fall and winter.
The trail stays damp year-round and sections can be slippery with mud and wet roots. Waterproof boots with good tread are not optional here.
Trail Details
- 1
The Carbon River entrance is the least-visited corner of Mount Rainier, so you'll likely have the loop nearly to yourself even on summer weekends — arrive by mid-morning and you may not see another soul.
- 2
The road to the Carbon River trailhead has been closed to vehicles for years, adding a flat five-mile walk (or bike ride) along the old road before you even reach the loop — bring a bike to cut the approach in half and save your legs.
- 3
Bring a macro lens or your phone's close-up mode. The real show here is small-scale: shelf fungi, banana slugs the size of your finger, and intricate moss patterns that photograph beautifully in the flat, diffused light of an overcast day.
