Washington · National Park trail

Paradise Trails Orientation: Alta Vista & East Alta Vista Trail Junction

in Washington · centroid 63 mi from Seattle

Season: Summer Paradise is open year-round, but this orientation guide is designed for the summer season when trails are snow-free. In spring and fall, there may be patches of snow covering sections of trail. Please stay on trails, even if it means crossing snow, to avoid trampling delicate meadow plants.

Pets are not allowed on trails. This location is the lower junction of the Alta Vista and East Alta Vista Trails. Both trails combine on the other side of Alta Vista peak just before reaching the junction with the Skyline Trail at a flat rest area known as the Dancefloor.

North is between the two trails, marked by a pointed boulder. Alta Vista Trail climbs to the northwest towards the top of Alta Vista peak (elevation 5,940 feet), and in the direction of the summit of Mount Rainier. The main trail goes steeply downhill to the south, with views of the Tatoosh Range.

States: Washington
Trail type: National Park trail
Centroid nearest city: Seattle, WA · 63 mi · ~1.8 hr drive
Centroid coords: 46.7904°, -121.7356°

About Mount Rainier National Park

National Park

This trail is inside Mount Rainier National Park, a national park managed by the U.S. National Park Service. Conditions, road status, trail closures, and reservation requirements are published on the park's NPS page — check it before driving in, especially in winter or during major weather events.

Entrance fee: $30 per vehicle (verify current rate on the park page). An America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) covers entrance to all NPS units.

Official NPS trail page: https://www.nps.gov/places/paradise-trails-orientation-alta-vista-east-alta-vista-trail-junction.htm

Park homepage: https://www.nps.gov/mora/index.htm

Plan your hike

Practical notes

Maps + permits: long-distance trails like this often require permits for through-hiking, backcountry camping, or specific sections (especially in National Parks). Check with the maintaining organisation listed above and the relevant land manager before booking travel.

Water + supplies: water sources vary seasonally on most U.S. trails. Carry a filter and consult current trail-condition reports — through-hiker journals (PCT-L, AT Reddit, etc.) and the maintaining organisation publish regular updates.

When to go: hiking seasons vary widely with elevation, latitude, and snowpack. Through-hikers traditionally start the AT in March-April (Springer northbound) and the PCT in late April (Campo northbound). High-elevation western trails (CDT, JMT, Wonderland) generally aren't passable until July.

If you've hiked Paradise Trails Orientation: Alta Vista & East Alta Vista Trail Junction and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.

Stay nearby

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