Carter and Madcap Falls

We drove up to Longmire to hike up to Carter and Madcap Falls along the Wonderland Trail. This was about 6 miles round trip with 1,200 ft of gain. We only saw one hiker on our way up and then a very large group on our way back when we were about 1 mile from Longmire. So a very peaceful day. View looking towards Eagle Peak along the Nisqually River.

Looking south along the Nisqually River towards High Rock.

The trail was well packed down. Based on trip reports, we left our snowshoes at home.

I only post holed when I stepped off the trail.

View of Eagle Peak as we crossed the Niaqually River bed.

log bridge over the Nisqually River

Nisqually River from the log bridge, Mt Rainier was hidden behind the clouds.

View of Eagle Peak across the Paradise River

This part of the trail followed along the Paradise River.

I think this is Lane Peak (zoom).

Carter Falls

Madcap Falls

The sky cleared up as we returned from the waterfalls, and we had a great view of Mt Rainier along where we crossed the Nisqually River.

While we were taking a lunch break here, we saw clouds start to gather on the mountain.

Last view of clouds gathering over Mt Rainier as we headed back.

 

Carter and Madcap Falls

 The gate up to Paradise (Mt Rainier NP) stayed closed today, so from Longmire we hiked up to Carter and Madcap Falls along the Wonderland Trail. We went a bit beyond the waterfalls for an overall hike of 6.5 miles rt with 1,200' gain. We ended up carrying our snowshoes and using our micro spikes.
Sun providing a golden light through the trees in the morning.

 This section of the Wonderland Trail is mostly in the forest, here we had a view between the trees of the Nisqually River and Eagle Peak.

Further up the trail, we could look down the Nisqually River and in the far distance see High Rock with the fire lookout on top.

Near Cougar Rock Campground, the trail crosses over the Nisqually River. Nice view of Mt Rainier here.

Log bridge over the Nisqually River

View of Mt Rainier from the log bridge

As the Wonderland Trail starts to follow up along the Paradise River, we had a couple of views looking up at Eagle Peak.

Carter Falls

Madcap Falls

View of Paradise River a bit further upstream.

Clouds were gathering over Mt Rainier as we were returning down the trail

Carter and Madcap Falls

 Headed up to Mt Rainier to do a couple of short waterfall hikes. First, we hiked to Carter and Madcap Falls along the Wonderland Trail. We started at the trailhead by the Nisqually River for a 2.3 mile round trip hike with 500 ft of gain.

 Morning started with clear skies. We could see Mt Rainier as we headed down to the Nisqually River.

 The log bridge crossing the Nisqually River is downstream.

 View of Rainier from the Nisqually River

 After crossing the Nisqually River the Wonderland Trail follows the Paradise River.
We saw some lovely fall colors along the trail.

Beautiful trees with lichen and moss.

 enjoying the fall colors along the trail

 Carter Falls

 another view of Carter Falls.

 watching the sunbeam through the trees

 Madcap Falls

 Watching the sun light up the fall colors as we hike back down the trail.

 Large trees

some fungi along the trail: