Most hikes in Mount Rainier National Park require you to put in work to get the best views. But the Silver Forest Trail is different. It’s a short, easy, and family-friendly trail, making it one of the best quick hikes in the Sunrise area.
The Silver Forest Trail starts right from the Sunrise parking lot and hugs the mountain’s rim, overlooking the White River valley below. One of the trail’s highlights is the Emmons Glacier Vista, a lookout where you can see Mount Rainier in all its glory, along with the Emmons Glacier, the largest glacier in the contiguous United States.
In this article, I’ll share everything you need to know before hiking the Silver Forest Trail in Mount Rainier, including how to get there, what to expect on the trail, and tips from our own experience to help you make the most of your hike along this scenic trail in Mount Rainier National Park.
Silver Forest Trail Complete Hiking Guide
The Silver Forest Trail is an easy, family-friendly hike in the Sunrise area of Mount Rainier National Park. It follows the mountain’s rim while it meanders between young subalpine forest and meadows.
It’s tucked away from the busyness of the rest of Sunrise, so it’s a good place to duck out into nature for a bit and enjoy the serenity. The trail gets its name from the bleached-out “silver” skeletons of dead trees along the trail. The dead trees are the result of a forest fire, although, as you’ll see, the trees are growing back.
It’s a 1-mile-long, easy hike with negligible elevation gain, and a great place to snap a photo amongst the backdrop of Mount Rainier in a natural setting with meadows of wildflowers in the summer.
The hike begins at the Sunrise parking area. Follow the short Sunrise Rim Trail until it splits, then veer left onto the Silver Forest Trail.
Almost immediately, you’ll reach the Emmons Glacier Vista, a viewpoint with an unobstructed look at Mount Rainier, the jagged Little Tahoma peak, and the massive Emmons Glacier. It’s the first stop and a fantastic photo spot.
From there, the trail continues along the rim. Open stretches reveal glimpses of Rainier towering behind you, while patches of forest provide moments of shade. The landscape doesn’t change much along the way, so you can turn back whenever you like.
If you continue all the way, you’ll eventually reach a sign marking the end of the maintained trail about one mile in. Beyond that point, the path begins to fade as it turns downhill. It’s the remnants of an old trail used to get to Sunrise before the road was built.
In my opinion, the hike’s best views are on the way back. As you head back toward Sunrise, the trail turns straight toward Mount Rainier. It’s almost impossible not to stop a few times for photos as the mountain jumps out from behind the trees.
Silver Forest Trail Hike Details
- Hike Distance: The total distance of the hike is about 2 miles out and back, but you can go as far as you like since the view doesn’t change.
- Hike Duration: The hike takes approximately 1-2 hours in total, including time spent enjoying the views.
- Hike Difficulty: The trail’s difficulty is easy. There are no obstacles or steep sections on this hike. Perfect for a family-friendly hike.
- Hike Incline: The hike is relatively flat the entire way, and the elevation gain is negligible.
- Dogs are NOT allowed on this trail because it is located in Mount Rainier National Park.
- A Mount Rainier Entrance Pass is required to hike to Panhandle Gap. The trail entrance for the Silver Forest Trail is located in the Sunrise area of Mount Rainier National Park and also requires a Sunrise Timed Entry reservation ahead of time.
How to get to the trailhead for Silver Forest Trail
The Silver Forest Trail is located in the Sunrise area of Mount Rainier National Park. Start by hiking the Sunrise Rim Trail from the Sunrise Parking Lot, then the Silver Forest Trail connects to it about 0.1 mile in.
If you want to hike the Silver Forest Trail, you will need a Sunrise Timed Entry reservation during the peak summer season. These permits are required for day-use access and can be booked in advance starting in May through the Recreation.gov website. If you miss the initial release, a limited batch of additional tickets becomes available the day before your visit at 7 PM.
The map location below for the Sunrise Rim Trail is the access point for the Silver Forest Trail.
Silver Forest Trail Hike: Our Experience
I’ll be honest. I had no idea the Silver Forest Trail even existed before visiting Sunrise. So when we got there and saw the short little trail marked on the map, we had some extra time and decided to check it out.
We set out from the Sunrise parking lot and immediately veered left where the trail split from the Sunrise Rim Trail.
Almost right away, the path ducked into a young forest before opening up at the Emmons Glacier Vista. If you’re visiting Sunrise with kids, grandparents, or anyone who wants a short, easy walk, this spot alone is worth it. It’s just minutes from the parking lot and gives you an incredible view of Mount Rainier’s eastern face and the massive Emmons Glacier. No hiking gear required.
After snapping a few photos there, we kept going. The trail followed the rim with just a slight downhill grade.
Eventually, we reached the trail’s abrupt end. It’s a simple sign marking the end of the maintained trail. There’s no grand overlook or dramatic finish. Just a little sign. So we turned around and began our hike back.
But the return trip was the best part.
We could finally see Mount Rainier straight on. Every so often, the trees thinned out, exposing a view of Mount Rainier in front of us. And better yet, there were points when the trail seemingly went straight towards the mountain. Views of the mountain never get old.
They say that the journey is more rewarding than the destination, but in this case, the journey back is more rewarding than the journey there.
