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July 31st, 2025: Sunrise Group Site to Summerland Group Site (10.8 miles, 2,316 ft elevation gain)
After a night of very little sleep (shouts to our camp neighbors with the crying toddler). Kyle, Nick, and I packed up camp quicker than any of other previous mornings on trail. I think we were all ready to leave Sunrise behind for greener pastures.
Prior to leaving camp, I went to Shadow Lake one last time to filter some water, and thankfully, I had my camera on me. I was able to capture a brilliant reflection of the morning clouds in the water.
From camp, the Wonderland Trail skirted the southern shore of Shadow Lake, and shortly after, we began a furious 2.5-mile, 2,000-foot descent down to the car-accessible White River Campground. Along the way, we were spooked by a chicken grouse!? Apparently they live in the subalpine areas of Mt. Rainier National Park.
Before you know it, we were walking on a gravel road to pick up our final food cache at the ranger station. On each side of us, all the delights of a frontcountry campground filled the air. Kids playing, RVs parking, and the smell of freshly cooked bacon. Remember those old cartoons where the smell of a pie would lift Bugs Bunny, and he would float in the air towards the prize on the windowsill? That was basically Kyle, Nick, and I as we were forced to walk right past it all. Would they trade some bacon for some of my fruit snacks? A fair trade, in my opinion.
The ranger station was unmanned, but our resupply buckets were there. It was time to fill our packs with a few more days of food. While I had my back turned, I heard the unmistakable sound of aluminum on aluminum, the cap turning on the can, and the small psst of air escaping. Then I heard Nick say, “Those were supposed to be for the end of the hike.” When I turned around, Kyle was chugging a beer, and Nick had two more in his hand. Nick offered one to me; I shrugged and took it. Folks, that can hit my hand like Mjölnir. It was maybe the most delicious beer I’ve ever tasted.
We found a few picnic benches near the trail, drank our beer, and ate some snacks. White River is probably not a campground I would stay at for peace and quiet, but it had bear-resistant trash cans, full bathrooms with soap and running water, and a water filling station. One could do worse.
The Wonderland Trail left the camp towards White River. Swollen with fresh snowmelt, this river was extremely powerful. Lucky for us, another sturdy footlog was in place to help us cross. Soon, we found ourselves on a wide, flat path, under a thick canopy of old-growth forest. It was a bit shocking to have a flat surface to hike on for a change. It wouldn’t last long. We had a short break at a small creek before beginning our last major ascent of the hike.
For once, on the trail, we were not alone. On the long climb up to Summerland, there were plenty of day hikers, no doubt going to check out one of the prettiest spots in the park. As usual, Nick was going faster than Kyle and I, so he went off ahead. I told him, if he felt strong enough, to go right to the Summerland shelter and claim our spot.
The trail steadily climbed, switchback after switchback. It was long, but not nearly the toughest climb of the trip. We eventually left the trees behind, and a brief sprinkle of rain started and ended within a matter of minutes. A cascading creek intersected the trail, and after crossing it, the alpine meadows of Summerland were upon us. It was even more beautiful than everyone promised it would be. Bountiful blooms burst at our feet as Rainier, Little Tahoma Peak, and Fryingpan Glacier rose into the heavens. Mountain goats leisurely climbed and descended the distant rocky crevices, barely noticeable.
Kyle and I met up with Nick at the shelter around 13:00. The 3-sided wooden shelter sits high overlooking the meadows. It is in great shape, and since the shelter was the group site for Summerland, we were already done for the day!!! We spent the next few hours discussing the merits of Butt-Rock, enjoying the meadows, watching marmots, but mostly relaxing in the shelter. At one point, a helicopter even flew over the privy and removed a giant barrel of waste (I’ll let you pontificate on what the waste consisted of). I will refrain from writing the hilarious name (at least we thought so) that we gave to this waste-removal helicopter to keep this PG, but I promise it was not clever. After 81 miles of mostly intense hiking, it was good to have 7 uninterrupted hours of not having to do anything.
At night, when everyone went to bed, I got up to do some astrophotography. I spent at least an hour beside the wildflowers, and I was able to capture my absolute favorite Milky Way shot I’ve ever taken. On my way back to the shelter. I could just make out the headlamps of climbers on Rainier.
Tomorrow, a *checks notes* 5-mile day?!? That is basically a nearo!!! We hit Panhandle Gap, the highest point on the Wonderland Trail, before dropping down to the famed Indian Bar.
Camp Review
- MLG’s Camp Rating: 11/10
The group site is a 3-sided shelter overlooking the incredible Summerland valley. Need I say more? Probably not, but I will.
The toilet is close by, the water source is a clear, beautiful stream surrounded by flowers and mountains, and early morning Rainier sunrise views are immaculate. Rainier catches the first rays of light, and the alpenglow is something to behold. Plus, the bugs were almost nonexistent.
Did I mention that sleeping in a shelter means you don’t have to set up a tent?
I literally have nothing negative to say about this place.
- Kyle’s Camp Rating: 10/10
“Summerland was my first open-air shelter overnight sleep (big fan). At this point in the hike, a minimal camp setup by keeping the tent stashed away was quite welcome. Leaning up against the shelter wall, gazing out the open-faced shelter looking out over the park, and reading through messages of countless hikers etched on the wooden structure (some several decades old). This was a level of comfort I didn’t expect on this trail. To top it off, killer sunset/rise views of the mountain, watching goats traverse the sheer rock wall, and the whisper of the stream in the distance felt totally serene. Having the shelter to ourselves was a big pickup for this site, and the convo with the WT3 that day was peak and kicked off a revived love for that distant but all-too-familiar genre of music that is butt-rock.”
- Nick’s Camp Rating: /10
Day 6 Top Highlight
Summerland, Summerland, Summerland!!!
Notable Quote(s)
From Reddit user Positive_Dark_9384
“Pearl Jam is basically what all of the buttrock guys heard and thought “I could do that,’ and then did a worse version of it, down to the stupid vocal style (Eddie Vedder’s voice is cool but it sounds f****** stupid when other people do it, except for the guy from Creed. Creed is the greatest.)”
Previously: Wonderland Trail: Day 5 (Cataract Valley to Sunrise)
Next: Wonderland Trail: Day 7 (Summerland to Indian Bar)