Panhandle Gap Hike
Panhandle Gap Hike

Panhandle Gap Hike

Mount Rainier National Park
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Panhandle Gap Hike

Panhandle Gap Hike

Distance: 11.1mi
Elevation: 3,159ft
Time: 6-8h

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The Panhandle Gap hike is a 11.1mi trail in Mount Rainier National Park that offers nice mountain views and is rated as hard. This hike passes Camp Summerland, a few small lakes, and then culminates at Panhandle Gap, which has amazing views.

Panhandle Gap Hike Map

Getting there

The trailhead for the Panhandle Gap hike is located at the parking lot for Summerland Trail on Sunrise Park Road. You’ll leave from the north side of the road.

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About

Backcountry Campground

Camp Summerland

When to do

July-October

Pets allowed

No

Family friendly

No

Route Signage

Average

Crowd Levels

Moderate

Route Type

Out and back


Panhandle Gap Hike
Elevation Graph


Panhandle Gap Hike Description

The hike to Panhandle Gap is long, but it’s full of great views and points of interest along the trail. You’ll cross through Summerland Gap, enjoy some small lakes, and then finish off at the gap, which offers awesome views.

Take Summerland Trail south from the Summerland parking area. The trail shortly joins Wonderland Trail- stay straight and hike roughly alongside Fryingpan Creek. You’ll switchback along a few tight turns and then continue straight along to Camp Summerland after a few more switchbacks. The trail out of camp continues south along Wonderland.

Hiking along Wonderland for another mile, you’ll pass a couple of small lakes. These are somewhat uninspiring, so keep going for 0.4mi to the gap. The views here are fantastic, and it’s a nice place to recoup before retracing your steps back to the parking area.

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