Sunrise at Sunrise (Night Hike)

Let’s go for a sunrise hike at Sunrise Mount Rainier!

Distance: 10 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,500 ft.
Difficulty: A little hard

This weekend, we will head out to witness the sunrise from the top of Third Burroughs mountain, in the Sunrise section of Mount Rainier National Park. We will get a very early start so that we can make it to the peak and get the best views. Bring a snack and we can eat breakfast while enjoying the dawn and early morning light from one of the most beautiful sections of the national park. On the way back, we will follow the loop trail to enjoy more views and hopefully see some of the wildlife that tends to be active in the mornings.

We will leave Seattle at 1am and should arrive at the trail by around 3am. Dawn is at 5:45 am, so we should have plenty of time to hike before sunrise. Slower hikers have the option of stopping at Second Burroughs if they run out of time.

It should be obvious that you will need a headlamp! Your cellphone light is not enough!!

Hiking poles are recommended. Bring plenty of food and water, and bring some warm clothes since it will be cold at night (about 45 F).

This hike is weather dependent and I will reschedule if there are a lot of clouds. There’s no point if we can’t actually see the sunrise. We should have a reliable forecast by Thursday night.

Download this GPS map for alltrails, though we might adjust our route slightly:
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington/burroughs-mountain-loop-trail

Riders should give $25 to their drivers for gas. Bring a plastic bag to place your boots in after the hike. An America the Beautiful Pass is required to park at the trailhead. Day passes can be ordered online ahead of time. Remember that the ticket office will not be open, so drivers must be prepared ahead of time. Because we are going so early, a timed entry pass is not necessary.

Important: I am not a guide and this is not a guided trip. You and yourself alone are responsible for your own safety. Please know your abilities before signing up.