Washington · National Park trail

Paradise Trails Orientation: East Skyline & 4th Crossing 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 junction of East Skyline Trail and 4th Crossing Trail. The summit of Mount Rainier is located northwest of this intersection. East Skyline Trail is oriented roughly east-west at this intersection, with the downhill trail to west when facing Mount Rainier (northwest) and the uphill trail to southeast.

4th Crossing Trail goes downhill to the southwest, connecting to the Paradise Valley Road. How Far Is It? Paradise Valley Road: 0.3 miles, average walking time 12 minutes, heading southeast on the 4th Crossing Trail.

States: Washington
Trail type: National Park trail
Centroid nearest city: Seattle, WA · 63 mi · ~1.8 hr drive
Centroid coords: 46.7921°, -121.7231°

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-east-skyline-4th-crossing-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: East Skyline & 4th Crossing 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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