Home › Washington › Enumclaw › Glacier Basin Trailhead
Glacier Basin Trailhead
4.7 ★★★★★ 87 Google reviews · Running trail in Enumclaw, Washington · Open 24 hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Open 24 hours
Confirmed from Glacier Basin Trailhead's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Family-friendly hiking area with views of Mount Rainier and nearby glaciers, as well as a campground.
What runners say about Glacier Basin Trailhead
“Absolutely beautiful Hiking Trail, easy with a wide path leading to the foot of Mount Rainier.”
“Nice easy trail with amazing views of Mt Rainer and nearby glaciers.”
Awesome easy hike with some great views! This has to be one of the easiest hikes with the most scenic views, short of just driving up to mount rainier. You do have to park at the parking lot and walk a little bit to get to the trail if you don’t have a camping spot. And camping spots are first come first serve here.
Nice easy trail with amazing views of Mt Rainer and nearby glaciers. Last half mile to the camp site still lots of snow. Great campground.
Awesome place to hike with amazing views. But it's only available during the summer months when the snow has melted. Make sure you call the park ranger station to ask. The trail splits at a fork and you have the option of going to the glacier or going to the Green lake.
Amazing trail. Amazing campground. Backpacked on this trail for 2 days and was blown away by the constant views. It can be steep at moments but doable! Such an unbelievable experience watching the sunset on Rainer and even saw the Milky Way.
Trail conditions & character
“Absolutely beautiful Hiking Trail, easy with a wide path leading to the foot of Mount Rainier.”
“I did the loop from Sunrise up to Fremont Tower then to burroughs and then down to the Glacier Basin.”
“To avoid weekend crowds, we got to the park at 5am to start hiking the 8-mile trail in the light of sunrise.”
“Medium level hiking with everything: snow mount, creeks, wild flowers, marmot”
“You do have to park at the parking lot and walk a little bit to get to the trail if you don’t have a camping spot.”
Plan your run at Glacier Basin Trailhead
The practical stuff
- AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
- At the trailheadparking, water — reported by runners
- Websitenps.gov
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | Open 24 hours |
| Tuesday | Open 24 hours |
| Wednesday | Open 24 hours |
| Thursday | Open 24 hours |
| Friday | Open 24 hours |
| Saturday | Open 24 hours |
| Sunday | Open 24 hours |
Running trails near Enumclaw
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Crystal Peak Trailhead
4.7 ★★★★★ 81 reviews
Hiking area offering kid-friendly trails, views of Mount Rainier, and lakes.
Snoquera Falls
4.6 ★★★★★ 98 reviews
Hiking area featuring a waterfall, and boulders.
Greenwater Lakes Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 151 reviews
Family-friendly lake, river and stream hike boasting a campground and a couple of bridges.
Federation Forest State Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 512 reviews
Small park with interpretive trails and old-growth forests, plus views.
