Mt. Peak

This description will be for the south side trail. The larger new parking lot and trailhead have tables and bathrooms and ample parking. The trail from here winds its way to the gate for the access road (the previous trailhead). From there it’s almost all uphill. You can follow the gravel access road to the forested section or you can take the paralleling side dirt trails (they will frequently meet up). The first side trail access is quite steep, try the second one for an easier grade.  The dirt trail will pop you onto the road for a bit. I usually skip the last dirt trail (a good shortcut for the way back down) at this point and follow the road the rest of the way to a nice viewpoint, and if not overgrown with summer foliage has a view of Mt Rainier.  Once to the old Pinnacle Peak Park (around the bend from the last viewpoint) you’ll head downhill briefly into the forest, go left to take the main trail, then stay left at the next intersection (going right takes you on a steeper, more challenging south side acent). Then another trail intersection, here you’ll want to go right (going left takes you downhill on the shortcut back to the access road). Steadily climbing until you reach the trail coming up from the north side, stay right. When the trail flattens, look for a trail on your left, this short trail will take you to the very top. The top used to have a fire lookout (in the works to rebuild as of Jan ’19), but only the pillars remain, they’ve added two benches for a great picnic spot, however, there is no view here. Back to the flat area, you can find a trail that goes down for a view of Mt. Rainier (this is the steep south trail I mentioned earlier).