*Yellowstone Cliffs camp sign (Northern Loop Trail)*

Visitation in the park has increased substantially since I did my original series on the Wonderland Trail backcountry camps in 2012. It has become increasingly common for hikers to select camps that are off the Wonderland Trail in order to complete a circuit. Therefore I am mapping all the other backcountry camps in the park so hikers can view the alternatives. This will be an ongoing process through 2025, and I will add the camps here as they become available. I am listing them here in the same heading and order found on the NPS website.

The KEY to the right applies to all of the following camp videos. The moving red arrow on each map is the viewer’s position in the space.

Happy Hiking!

LONGMIRE/PARADISE AREA CAMPS

• LAKE GEORGE Lake George is often used as an alternate camp for Wonderland hikers when transiting the west side of the park and Wonderland camps like South Puyallup and Klapatche Park are not available. Access is via the South Puyallup Trail (2 miles), then the Round Pass Trail (.5 miles) and finally to Lake George (.8 miles). This camp has 5 individual sites, a group site, plus a shelter and is fairly spread out, allowing for some privacy. Filmed in 4K/run time 11:49.

*Lake George Camp is 3.3 miles off the Wonderland Trail*

• SNOW LAKE Snow Lake Camp is located on the south side of the Stevens Canyon road near Lake Louise. It can be accessed from the Wonderland Trail where it brushes against the road; the hiker has to walk the road to the Snow Lake trailhead, approximately one half mile. From there it is 1 mile on trail to the turnoff for the camp. Filmed in 4K, run time 6:52.

EASTSIDE CAMPS

• BERKELEY PARK. Berkeley Park Camp is one of the camps along the Northern Loop Trail. It is fairly close to Sunrise so is convenient if getting a late start. Its proximity to the Wonderland Trail makes it a viable option if unable to secure a spot at Sunrise Camp. Filmed in 4K, run time 6:02,

*Berkeley Park is 1.5 miles from the Wonderland Trail intersection*

• DEER CREEK Deer Creek Camp is located on Mt. Rainier's East Side Trail near the intersection of the Owyhigh Lakes Trail, where that trail head is .4 miles from Highway 123. It has two sites not far from where Deer Creek joins the Ohanapecosh River. Filmed in 4K, run time 4:41

DICK’S LAKE (coming soon!)

• FIRE CREEK Fire Creek is only viable if the hiker is incorporating the Northern Loop Trail (fairly common) into their Wonderland itinerary. It’s a half mile hike into the camp, and the camp is spread out, great for privacy but those in site #3 are close to a mile in from the NLT. Also of note, Fire Creek is the only fresh water readily available between Berkeley Park and James Camps, so plan accordingly. Filmed in 4K, run time 8:42

*Fire Creek Camp is a half mile in from the Northern Loop Trail*

FOREST LAKE (coming soon!)

• GLACIER BASIN Glacier Basin camp is just over 3 miles up the trail from White River. There has been significant bear activity at the camp in past years so there are no bear poles, screw top bear barrels are provided for food storage. The sites are clustered together so don’t expect privacy. Of note, the group site is sizeable. It’s a walk to the privy so don’t delay if you have the urge. Filmed in 4k, run time 8:04.

*Glacier Basin Camp is 3.1 miles from the White River Campground*

• JAMES James Camp is on the Northern Loop Trail, between Fire Creek and Yellowstone Cliffs. With Lake James being on the boggy side, the area is notorious for bugs. Filmed in 4K, run time 10:49.

*James camp lies between Yellowstone Cliffs and Fire Creek on the Northern Loop Trail*

LAKE ELEANOR (coming soon!)

LOWER CRYSTAL LAKE (coming soon!)

• OLALLIE CREEK Olallie Creek Camp lies 1.3 miles down the Cowlitz Divide Trail from the intersection with the Wonderland Trail, making it a good alternate camp for Wonderland hikers if, for instance, Nickel Creek is not available. This video was filmed in June 11, 2025 so there was some snow to contend with and Olallie Creek was raging. Serenity will rule in the summer months. Filmed in 4K/run time 10:05.

*Olallie Creek Camp is 1.3 miles off the Wonderland on the Cowlitz Divide Trail*

SHRINER PEAK (coming soon!)

• TAMANOS CREEK Tamanos Creek Camp resides on the Owyhigh Lakes trail. For Wonderland Trail hikers, one must walk the road from the Fryingpan Creek trailhead (to Summerland) to the Owyhigh Lakes trailhead, a distance of .7 miles. Then it is a 1,400’ climb and 2.8 miles to the Tamanos Creek Camp, which has 4 individual sites and 1 group site. Filmed in 4K, run time 7:48.

*Owyhigh Lakes trailhead is .7 miles down the road from Fryingpan Creek trailhead*

THREE LAKES (coming soon!)

UPPER CRYSTAL LAKE (coming soon!)

UPPER PALISADES LAKE (coming soon!)

• YELLOWSTONE CLIFFS Yellowstone Cliffs Camp is on the Northern Loop Trail. It’s a long way in and there are but 2 sites, but the setting is cool. If traveling CCW, this is the last camp on the NLT before intersecting the Wonderland Trail part of the loop. Filmed in 4K, run time 8:23.