Steamboat Prow via Glacier Basin Trail

The hike to Steamboat Prow on Glacier Basin Trail is infrequently trafficked and quite long and challenging, so we recommend coming prepared with plenty of water and GPS if you intend to complete it as a day hike. While the Glacier Basin Trail sees more traffic, the push up to Steamboat Prow is often much quieter and not as well marked. The trail offers fantastic up-close views of Mount Rainier.

The trail begins from the end of the White River Campground. Take Glacier Basin Trail through the valley to Glacier Basin Camp. Continue through camp, gaining steady elevation. When you reach the v-shaped ridge of Steamboat Prow, you’ll have two options to choose from to experience the peak.

You can either ascend and immediately descend the ridge on Glacier Basin Trail to follow the trail to Camp Shurman right under the foot of the peak, or you can ascend the ridge and hike to the right along the ridgeline to summit Steamboat Prow. From the top of Steamboat Prow, you can either descend off the summit face to Camp Shurman and loop back on Glacier Basin Trail or retrace your steps.

Either way, you’ll want to recoup at Camp Schurman and then rejoin Glacier Basin Trail to hike back to the trailhead.