Burroughs Mountain Loop Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Start point: Sunrise Trailhead
- End point: Second Burroughs Mountain
- Trail Log: Trail Log
- Hike type: Loop
- Distance: 6.2 miles
- Elevation gain: 1300 feet
- High point: 7,402 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Seasons:July-Sep
- Family Friendly: Yes
- Backpackable: No
- Crowded: Yes
Contents |
Hike Description
For splendid views of the east face of Mount Rainier and an immersion experience in high alpine tundra, this hike delivers with relatively little effort. When you reach the viewpoint at Second Burroughs Mountain, you'll enjoy views to The Wedge and Mt. Ruth, above Glacier Basin, and Steamboat Prow, where the Winthrop and Emmons glaciers split. To the southwest is Little Tahoma Peak.
There are several trails leading out of the Sunrise Visitor Center. For this hike, head north (and uphill) for 0.2 miles to a fork in the trail. Take the left fork and hike 0.4 more miles on the Sunrise Nature Trail to the Sourdough Ridge Trail. Then turn left and head west on the Sourdough Ridge Trail. In July, these meadows are filled with lupine and other flowers.
It's 0.8 miles on the Sourdough Trail to Frozen Lake. There's a permanent snow field here that feeds the lake as it melts. The lake is the water supply for Sunrise, so a small fence keeps people away. There's a well-signed five-trail junction just past the lake. For this hike, go straight ahead on to the Burroughs Mountain Trail.
The trail climbs the north side of First Burroughs Mountain. There are views to the north of Fremont Mountain, Berkeley Park, Skyscraper Mountain and scores of other distant ridges. The trail passes several rock walls and provides ever better views of Mount Rainier. After 0.7 miles of climbing, the trail reaches the summit of First Burroughs Mountain. You'll pass a junction with the Sunrise Rim Trail, then drop a bit to a saddle. Then the trail climbs about 300 feet in 0.6 miles to the summit of Second Burroughs Mountain. Spend some time here on the stone bench looking at the east face of Mount Rainier.
The Burroughs Mountain Trail continues from here downhill to Glacier Basin, but that's a long way down and a long way back up. If you want a smaller challenge, there's an unmaintained foot path that branches off the main trail and heads uphill for 800 feet to the summit of Third Burroughs Mountain. For this hike, though, turn back downhill and return to First Burroughs Mountain. Turn right on the Sunrise Rim Trail and head across the flat summit of First Burroughs.
The trail soon drops off the south side of the mountain. There are spectacular views down to the toe of the Emmons Glacier and the head of the White River. The trail drops into a pine forest, passes an improved viewpoint, and enters some stunning subalpine wildflower meadows. Turn right at a junction with the Wonderland Trail at Sunrise Camp. Angle left at the next unmarked fork to visit tiny Shadow Lake. Past Shadow Lake the trail begins to gently climb through fields of lupine and asters. At the next trail junction, leave the Wonderland Trail and follow the left branch signed as the Sunrise Rim Trail. Soon, you'll see the parking lot at Sunrise. Turn left and walk a 100-foot-long signed spur trail to the lot itself.
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
- Sunrise Area Trails (National Park Service)
- National Park Service: Mount Rainier National Park
- Green Trails Maps: Mount Rainier Wonderland #269SX
- Green Trails Maps: Mount Rainier East #270
- National Geographic: Wonderland Trail
- National Geographic: Mount Rainier National Park
Regulations, fees, facilities, etc
- $30 for a 7-day pass (or America the Beautiful Pass)
- Dogs aren't allowed on trails in the park
- Visitor center, information kiosks, restrooms, picnic area
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Burroughs Mountain
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Burroughs Mountain
Guidebooks that cover this hike
- Day Hiking: Mount Rainier by Tami Asars
- Hiking Mount Rainier National Park by Heidi Schneider & Mary Skjelset
- Day Hike! Mount Rainier by Ron C. Judd
- Day Hikes in Washington State by Don J. Scarmuzzi
- Best Hikes With Kids: Western Washington & the Cascades by Joan Burton
- Best Wildflower Hikes: Washington by Art Kruckeburg with Karen Sykes & Craig Romano
- Washington Hiking by Craig Hill
- Hiking Washington by Oliver Lazenby
- Best Short Hikes In Washington's South Cascades & Olympics by E.M. Sterling & Ira Spring
- Pacific Northwest Hiking by Craig Hill & Matt Wastradowski
- Washington Hikes by Scott Leonard
- Pacific Northwest Hiking by Scott Leonard & Sean Patrick Hill
More Links
- Sunrise (National Park Service)
- Burroughs Mountain Trail (National Park Service)
- Burroughs Mountain (Washington Trails Association)
- Burroughs Mountain Hike (Outdoor Project)
- Mount Rainier National Park: Burroughs Mountain Loop (Backpacker)
- Burroughs Mountain (The Mountaineers)
- Burroughs Mountains (Visit Rainier)
- Burroughs Mountain (Mount Rainier, Sunrise) (Summit Post)
- Burroughs Mountain Loop Trail (All Trails)
- "Mount Rainier's Burroughs Mountain gives grand view of two mighty glaciers: great hikes" (Oregon Live)
- Sunrise/Burroughs Mountain (Mt. Rainier) (Northwest Wildflowers)
- Mount Rainier National Park (National Park Service)
Contributors
- Stevefromdodge (creator)