Mount Rainier National Park has tons of official, well-maintained trails that draw thousands of visitors every year.
But scattered between those popular routes are a handful of unofficial, unmaintained paths. These are the kinds of trails most hikers never step foot on, but lead to some of the park’s most unique places.
The Natural Bridge is one of them.
Situated off Mount Rainier’s Northern Loop Trail, the Natural Bridge is a remote rock archway. It’s too far from the nearest trailhead, enough that most people can only reach it by backpacking in. In fact, when I hiked to the Natural Bridge, I didn’t pass a single other hiker on the trail.
In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know before hiking to the Natural Bridge in Mount Rainier National Park, including how to get there, what to expect on the trail, and tips from my own experience to help you make the most of your hike to this obscure rock arch in Mount Rainier.
Natural Bridge Complete Hiking Guide
For most hikers, the Natural Bridge can not be done as a day hike. It’s about 13.5 miles one way from Sunrise.
Instead, most people hike to the Natural Bridge as a side trip while backpacking Mount Rainier’s Northern Loop Trail. That’s what I did. If you do it that way, the detour to the Natural Bridge adds about 1.5 miles to your trip.
The cutoff for the Natural Bridge trail is on the Northern Loop Trail near Windy Gap. The 0.7-mile side trail to the Natural Bridge is unofficial and unmaintained, but there’s an official park sign marking its beginning.
Once you’re on the trail to the Natural Bridge, it gets much narrower and overgrown in places. The incline slopes downhill as you make your way out to the bridge.
The trail is easy to follow, but I recommend using the GPS trail I included in the section below. There’s a separate side trail that veers off toward Independence Ridge, and it’s easy to get sidetracked and head the wrong way if you’re not paying attention.
The final approach goes downhill to a viewpoint overlooking the Natural Bridge.
At the viewpoint, there is a makeshift railing made from logs where you can observe the Natural Bridge from afar, or you can hike down below and walk on the Natural Bridge like I did. Either way, enjoy the views of the bridge framed by Lake Ethel and Lake James beautifully in the background.
Natural Bridge Hike Details
- Hike Distance: The total distance of the hike is about 1.5 miles out and back from the cutoff on the Northern Loop Trail to the Natural Bridge.
- Hike Duration: The hike to the Natural Bridge is about a 1-2 hour detour from the Northern Loop.
- Hike Difficulty: The trail’s difficulty is moderate. The trail to the Natural Bridge is not long, but it is quite overgrown in sections. There are also some steeper parts, but nothing out of the ordinary if you’ve been hiking the Northern Loop Trail.
- Hike Incline: The hike has an elevation gain of about 500 feet. The trail is mostly downhill on the way to the Natural Bridge, then mostly uphill on the way back.
- Dogs are NOT allowed on this trail because it is located in Mount Rainier National Park.
Natural Bridge Hike in Mount Rainier: My Experience
On the second day of my Northern Loop backpacking adventure, I woke up at Fire Creek and set out early in the morning.
Just before reaching Windy Gap, I came to the cutoff for the Natural Bridge. It had been on my Rainier “must-see” list for a long time, so there was no way I was skipping it. Honestly, little side trips like this are what makes backpacking so rewarding. I’d never be able to get there otherwise.
So I started down the trail, knowing that hiking to the Natural Bridge would add an extra hour or two to my day.
But what I didn’t expect was how overgrown the trail would be.
I figured that by hiking later in the season, it would be more trampled down. Wrong. It turns out the Natural Bridge isn’t as popular as I thought it was.
But the trail wasn’t too bad, and I easily plowed through the overgrown parts. One of the main reasons I like to hike in boots and pants. As the trail began its final descent to the bridge, I went faster and faster. My excitement was building.
And then the viewpoint finally appeared.
It was a small lookout point with a log fence, just sort of haphazardly erected there. That was definitely the best viewpoint of the Natural Bridge from above. But the trees surrounding it were somewhat overgrown, and I was looking for a more immersive experience.
So I stepped out onto the bridge itself.
I won’t lie, that first step onto the stone arch was a little nerve-wracking. As I made my way toward the middle of the archway, the rock began to slope to one side. I don’t recommend walking out there unless it’s bone dry.
I scrambled back up to the viewpoint and found a log to sit on. It was quiet and scenic, with the Natural Bridge right in front of me. The perfect lunch spot.
The trek back was mostly uphill, and by the time I rejoined the Northern Loop, I was ready to keep pushing forward on the trail. The Natural Bridge was easily one of the highlights of my entire Northern Loop backpacking adventure.
More Hikes in Mount Rainier National Park
We’re based in Seattle and have done a ton of hikes in Mount Rainier National Park. To help fellow adventurers, we’ve put together guides to the best trails we found. You can check them out by clicking the links below.
- Hike to a subalpine meadow with views of the Tahoma Glacier: Emerald Ridge Hike
- An old fire watch tower sitting atop a rocky peak: Gobbler’s Knob
- Lesser-known spot for camping in Mount Rainier: Lake George
- Wooden fire watch tower with one of the all time best views in Mount Rainier: Fremont Lookout
- Explore the wildflower meadows below Rainier at Summerland, or proceed further to glacial moraines of Panhandle Gap
- Hike through a rocky, tundra-like landscape with close-up views of Rainier’s summit: Burroughs Mountain Trail
- A short hike in the Sunrise area that has big views without big crowds: Dege Peak
I hope you enjoyed my hiking guide to the Natural Bridge in Mount Rainier National Park. Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions 🐸
