Wonderland Trail Gear List & Packing Guide
Mount Rainier NP, Washington, USA · full loop around Mount Rainier
Gear research & fact-checking
The Wonderland packs ~27,000 ft of climbing into a ~93-mile loop around Rainier, in a range famous for socking in with rain and lingering snow. It's a self-supported camping trip with bear-country food rules and cached resupply, so shelter, rain protection, and food storage all matter at once.
- Distance
- ~150 km · ~93 mi
- Elevation gain
- ~8,230 m (≈27,000 ft) total ascent
- Max altitude
- 1,981 m
- Typical length
- 9–14 days
- Season
- mid-Jul–Sep
- Difficulty
- very strenuous
Permits & logistics
A wilderness permit is required for every overnight — early-season reservation is competitive. Plan around the mid-Jul–Sep window; this is a very strenuous loop with alpine, ~27,000 ft of climbing, snow possible.
What makes the Wonderland Trail different
- ▸Microspikes (and an ice axe + skills if early/late season) — snowfields linger on the high passes.
- ▸Pack liner or dry bags and waterproof footwear — expect to hike wet.
- ▸An approved bear canister or food-storage method — required by the managing authority.
- ▸A resupply plan (mailed boxes or town stops) and the food capacity to bridge the gaps.
The gear list, matched to this trail
Shelter
The Wonderland Trail sees sustained rain, shoulder-season snow possible up at 1,981 m, so a proven, storm-worthy pitch beats the absolute lightest one.
Sleeping bag
Even in mid-Jul–Sep this route runs cold (snow possible) — bias your bag toward a colder comfort rating, not the lightest fill.
Sleeping pad
This route runs cold with snow possible, so a higher R-value pad matters more than saving grams.
Backpack
Long gaps between resupply on the Wonderland Trail mean carrying more food and water at once — size the pack for the carry, not the base weight.
Rain shell & insulation
The Wonderland Trail demands a genuinely waterproof shell (not water-resistant).
Water treatment
Reliable filtration covers the regular water sources along this route.
Stove & cooking
A standard lightweight canister stove handles the conditions on this route.
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Wonderland Trail packing FAQ
Do I need a bear canister on the Wonderland Trail?
You must store food using an approved method per Mount Rainier National Park rules — many hikers use a bear canister or the park's cache boxes. Confirm current food-storage requirements with the NPS when you get your permit.
How do resupplies work on the Wonderland Trail?
Most hikers mail resupply caches to designated ranger stations along the loop, since the route doesn't pass towns. Plan food capacity for the longest leg between your caches.