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Paradise Glacier

Mount Rainier National Park

A great alternative to the Muir Snowfield

Ski Touring Moderate

Distance
14 km
Ascent
1.5 km
Descent
1.5 km
Duration
7-8 hrs
Low Point
1.6 km
High Point
3.1 km
Gradient
39˚
Paradise Glacier Map

Do you like skiing on an open glacier but are tired of the Muir Snowfield? Well look no further than the Paradise Glacier. This is a great alternative which has a a better descent up high with the downfall being the exit. Since this area is Southeast many times when the wind is coming from the west it kicks up all the new snow from Muir and brings it over to the Paradise Glacier. Unlike the Muir Snowfield where you can make your way all the way back to the Paradise Parking lot this tour will take you down to the valley road where you need to skin back up to the Parking lot.

Description

Leaving from the Paradise Parking lot you need to start heading up the Skyline Trail into at the Glacier Vista area. From here you need to climb directly up the west face towards Panorama Point. Once on the ridge start heading North and after a few minutes you will arrive on the Muir Snowfield. Now just put your head down and do the long slog all the way up to Camp Muir. Once at the Muir Shelter take in the stunning up close view of Mount Rainier and the endless Mountains to the south before it is time to make your descent.

Dropping into the Muir snowfield start riding fall line while slowly traversing to the skiers left. Before long you will see Anvil Rock sticking out to the East and make your way over there. Directly below you to the southeast is the open landscape of the Paradise Glacier. From here start riding down with the initial turns heading skiers right before just riding fall line all the way to the lower basin. Once it gets flat try to pick up as much speed as possible but as a snowboarder you will probably have to hike a bit south before hiking up a small ridge and following the Paradise river into the basin below.

Just above Edith Basin make sure to ride a bit south of Sluiskin Falls before dropping into Edith Basin. Now you can ride fall line all the way down to the Valley Road. From here switch back to skinning and start following the road west and after 15 minutes you will be back at the Paradise Parking Lot.

To see my trip in the area and more photos check out this link https://www.whereiskylemiller.com/mt-rainier/paradise-glacier/

Difficulty

Moderate

Slopes become slightly steeper at around 25-30 degrees.

Medium Exposure (E2)

2 out of 4

As well as the slope itself, there are some obstacles (such as rock outcrops) which could aggravate injury.

Remoteness

2 out of 4

Away from help but easily accessed.

Best time to visit

between January and June

Features

  • Bowl
  • Alpine
  • Single Descent

Equipment required

  • Rope
  • Skins
  • Glacier kit

Similar routes nearby

Guidebooks in this area