Summerland - Panhandle Gap
Mount Rainier Area
As of September 20, 2025, the Summerland-Panhandle Gap trail is clear of snow with no significant obstacles reported. Parking at the Summerland lot was available by 6:30 am on September 20th, though one report from September 8th indicated parking along Sunrise Park Road was necessary by 8 am on a Sunday. Toilets are not at the Summerland trailhead; the nearest are at the White River entrance.
Views were spectacular with no significant smoke reported on September 20th and September 8th, offering clear sights of Mount Rainier. While most flowers were fading, fall colors were beginning to emerge in some areas by September 8th and 20th. Loose rocks and steep sections exist in the boulder fields near Panhandle Gap.
generated from 31 reports
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Today I hiked to the Summerland camp and Panhandle Gap with a group of 7 people from The Mountaineers Olympia branch!I reached the parking lot at 6:30 am, as I didn't have a timed entry reservation. T...
A great day to enjoy another trail in the Sunrise area. Berries were gone, fall foliage was not quite there yet in the forest or meadows, but views were spectacular and weather was perfect.We arrived ...
I got around this day to knock off ONE more mile of the WT that my feet have not touched. I did 12.4 miles total and got further down toward Indian Bar than before. At 71, I’ve done 86% of it, and a...
Bottom Line:Hiking the Summerland-Panhandle Gap trail as far as the two tarns and then (rock surface only) scrambling up the waterfall-lined basin with its glacial remnants and towering cliffs. Most f...
We were able to snag a parking space along Sunrise Park Road around 8am on Sunday, saving us the extra 2.3 miles from parking at White River Trailhead. The backpacking camping permits were gone for t...
Hiked Summerland up to Panhandle Gap with a group on Thursday. Two cars had entry permits for the 7:00 entry and one arrived before 6:00. The parking lot was not full at 8:00, there were plenty of sp...
We entered the park before 7am, and there was plenty of parking at the trailhead. The beginning of the hike was shady and forested until the switchbacks before Summerland camp. This was a great spot f...
This was an overnight (with permit) at Summerland camp - in Friday Oct 11, out Saturday Oct 12.Note: According to the Longmire WIC, this weekend might be the last opportunity to go on this hike - they...
TLDR: Upper Fryingpan Creek bridge between Summerland Camp and Panhandle Gap is OUT. Proceed carefully. Official MRNP trail status here: https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/trails-and-backcountry-c...
My third trip to Panhandle Gap was easily the best so far. The clouds that misted on us from Enumclaw to Crystal Mountain cleared out by 9am and we had spectacular weather.They had all the paved "rea...
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