Wonderland Trail

Generally considered one of the premier backpacking trips in the US, the Wonderland Trail in Mount Rainier National Park lives up to the hype. There are endless views of the most glaciated mountain in the lower 48, wildflower meadows, waterfalls, and endless challenges. The trail is no joke, being 90 miles with 25,000 feet of climbing. Many people take 10-14 days to complete the entire trail and if that's what it takes, it's worth taking the time to do it. For many these 90 miles will be the hardest they've ever done, but also the most rewarding. You'll want to prepare well in advance because of the permit lottery. The permits can be in high demand, so don't get too excited about the trip before you get approved. You can also get walk-in permits within 24 hours of your desired start, but are not necessarily guarenteed. 

You can get incredible weather in the summer, withgot sweeping mountain views at the top of almost every climb. Expect to see rain, regardless of when in the year you're there.. Even in mid summer, there can still quite a bit of trekking across snow. 

Wildlife and wildflowers were both abundant on the trail. Marmots, mountain goats and black bears are seen frequently on the trail. Summerland and Spray Park are both havens for wildflowers, but you'll spot them in quite a few other spots as well. Spray Park is an alternate of the Wonderland trail; it has similar mileage but goes higher on the mountain than the standard trail. The Spray Park altenate is high recommended if you can handle a little extra climbing (and snow), the views from the top make the additional distance well worth it. 

One of the best parts of this trail is that water is everywhere, which helps you cut back on the amount of weight you have to carry in water. Their is less water on the east side, from near Indian Bar to Nickel Creek in particular. But that stretch is only five to six miles, everywhere else you'll encounter a water source at least every 4 miles, if not more often. Indian Bar is one of the top camp sites and  highly recommend if you're able to reserve this spot.