Norse Peak Trail

Norse Peak is a big hike to complete, but it’s worth the effort. This trail offers a great view of Mount Rainier and the surrounding mountains of forest, especially on a clear day. If you visit outside of the peak weekend hours, you’re almost guaranteed to have the trail mostly to yourself- definitely a perk!

Part of the trail is recovering from a forest fire, but this increases the number of blooms to enjoy in the early-mid summer.

The hike begins from the parking area on the road. Take Gold Hill Road a short distance to where the trail heads up across a long section of switchback turns. After the route straightens out a bit, keep straight where Goat Lake Trail intersects.

The trail zig-zags and the Norse Peak View Trail split off from Norse Peak Trail. They meet again before the summit, so it doesn’t make too much of a difference which one you take. The two trails converge into the Norse Peak View Trail.

At the summit, the Norse Peak Trail actually continues further to drop down the other side of the peak and meet the PCT. Most hikers just turn around at the summit instead of completing the final stretch of the route.