[chitra0828]

Hi All, new members excited to be visiting Mount Rainier NP this summer. As we review hikes around the Sunrise Visitors center we were wondering if it's worth doing both Fremont Lookout and Mt. Burroughs trail? I ask only because the 1st section of the trail seems to be the same for both, after which the Mt. B one kinda goes straight while the Fremont lookout takes a turn away. Would very much appreciate views and thoughts. Thx Chitra

[Schroder]

When I'm down there I usually take the side trip over to the lookout then take the loop up to 2nd Burroughs & back on the Burroughs Mountain Trail above the White River. Expect a few patches of steep snow over the trail on Burroughs through August. https://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7968239

[zephyr]

[chitra0828]

Thanks very much for the replies. Sorry I should have clarified, we would not be attempting both hikes in the same day. It would be different days. Was asking if it is worth doing both - are they quite different from each other, or fairly similar terrain and scenery? Also, we want to do a 3-day multi-day hike. We are too late to get reservations at the wilderness campgrounds so we would need to hope for walk-ins at the appropriate camp sites. We called the Visitors Center and they advised us to come early to one of the Wilderness Centers and the Rangers there can plan out an itinerary for us depending on availability at the various camp sites. What are your views of this? And which areas would be good for a 3-day multi hike? We were looking at the Northern Loop and the area around Mowich Lake.

[Malachai Constant]

Skyscraper Mountain also has a view that is a compromise between 2nd Burroughs and Fremont. The best is third Burroughs as there is a view straight down onto the Winthrop Glacier. All are superb however.

[uww]

If it is just Fremont vs. Burroughs, I would pick Burroughs no question. I certainly would not do both on two different days- Fremont is an addon to the Burroughs trail for me, not a destination. Unless you are way into fire lookouts or have not been in one (and who knows what COVID protocol will be...), it is no big crime to skip it in my opinion. And definitely go to all the way to Third Burroughs.

[rossb]

So your question is basically whether it is worth it to go to Fremont after doing Burroughs on a previous day (or vice versa). In general I would say yes. You probably want to break it up, just because they both involve the same drive, and are in the same neck of the woods. But Burroughs is very different from everything in the area, just because the terrain is so different (it is essentially tundra). I wouldn't worry about the overlapped part, because it is relatively short. In fact, you can get to the hikes several different ways, so there are options for mixing it up. In general you want to cover as much new terrain as possible just because there are so many pretty areas. A lot of what makes hiking Rainier fun is the local terrain, not just the views of the volcano. I agree with the other comments; (Third) Burroughs, Skyscraper and Fremont are all really good (and I would rank them in that order). Are you talking about three day hikes, or two day hikes? If it is three, then I wouldn't hesitate to do a couple from the Sunrise trailhead, with something from a different trailhead in between. Summerland is a great hike. Glacier Basin is also nice. Neither of those two require driving up the road to Sunrise. Glacier Basin is pretty easy and melts out early. You can make a bigger day of it by taking a side trip to the Emmons Moraine. If you are camped at White River Campground, you can just start from your camp. Summerland is a little bigger hike, but one of the most spectacular in the park. It can get very crowded by midsummer (and will have plenty of snow before then). The tough part about Summerland is deciding when to turn around. It gets really nice up there, and if you just keep going and going, it makes for a long day.

[vroc38]

IMO, in terms of views, the first Sunrise hike to do is Third Burroughs (or Second, if that's as far as you care to go), then Skyscraper, then Fremont. All are awesome, but Third Burroughs is just about as good as it gets.

[chitra0828]

Thank you so much all. Let me read up on your points and revert thanks so much!

[chitra0828]

Thanks so much for the guidance. I think we will do 3rd Burroughs rather than Fremont Firetower. One further question - from 3rd Burroughs, there seem to be two different ways to get back: (1) Come back from 3rd BUrroughs and take Sunrise trail back to Sunrise; or (2) Descend from 3rd Burroughs, detour to Glacier Basin and walk back on the Glacier Basin Trail to White River Campground. Clearly (1) is shorter and easier. In your view is (2) worth it? I have read a few other posts and the full loop via Glacier Basin seems to get mixed reviews (lot of forest walking en route back)

[chitra0828]

Hi all - was wondering if any advice on whether this loop trail from Burroughs Mountain is worthwhile? Many thanks!

[zephyr]

[Schroder]