Pinnacle Peak

I love this hike.  I time myself up and down. I try to push myself each time.  Your heart rate will be throught the roof by the time you get to the first turn.  It is a great challenge and just when you think you can't go further, you are at the top.

I've done this hike at least once a year since 4th grade (and I'm in my late 20's now).  The scenery itself on the trail is beautiful, I take it slow and just enjoy my surroundings. The views from the top are the best in the park.  For the last 10 years I've settled with stopping at the saddle, but as a kid my family always went on to the top of plummer. I don't remember as much of the hike up to Plummer except for more AMAZING views (and some bugs on top the mountain usually!). I did go up as a kid in elementry school a few times so I can't imagine it was much more difficult than the trail to the saddle.

Have hiked Pinnacle Peak several times... views seem to get better each year!  Usually see marmots, chipmunks, and deer. Definitely worth the effort-- one of the best trails in the park.

Big payoff for such a short hike.  Amazing views of Rainier and much to explore on the ridge, However, with the good snow pack this year there ia one particular snow field crossing that is very risky if you don't have an ice axe or rope.

This is a pretty amazing hike on a clear day. Fairly moderate incline is well worth the effort. Stunning views from both sides of the past. Do this hike!!!! We played around on the Pinnacle Glacier after a short scramble on loose scree and then followed a game trail down along a small stream back to the main road.

Overall, this ranks high on the reward vs. effort scale.

My girlfriend and I hiked up the Pinnacle Peak trail last weekend.  At the saddle we turned to the left and scrambled to the top.  There we sat and ate our lunch and enjoyed the view.  It was a warm summer day, but the cool breeze blowing up from the south made it very comfortable.  The whole hike took about 3 hours, including the time spent eating.  We're a couple of middle-aged (how did *that* happen?!?) folks in average shape for non-obese Americans.  The hike wasn't that difficult, but we were a bit sore the next day.

Pinnacle Peak is, let's say, one of those hikes worth driving to Mt. Rainier if it's a full day commitment for those who live far from the park. The trailhead is across the road from Reflection Lake. Upon arriving at the saddle where the maintained trail ends, the views are awesome. You can opt to continue east (head left when reaching the saddle), or venture to other nearby peaks on this glorious Tatoosh Range. Continuing on, it's hard to locate the trail that can take you to the top. You encounter scree that switch backs, and eventually come to a rock staircase with no real direction to take. You just look up and follow (as much as possible) the footpath until you get to the staircase. My party of weekend hikers was lucky, as we met a mountaineering group in training, and followed their lead. On a sunny weekend, you'll probably encount a dozen people or so on the way up. The last 300 yards or so are up, up, up, hand and foot rock climbing. Good to have some security, but we made it (some of us in tennis shoes) with no equipment - just be careful and use your head. Once on top, the view of Rainier is one of the best on this side of the park. Below are Reflection Lake, some snow, Paradise visitor center in the distance and below you, etc. Turn around and you can see St. Helens, Adams, and other peaks you didn't know existed. Camera time! Not for kids under 12 I'd say, but a nice hike if you have 3-4 hrs to kill while in the park, or make a day of it, and you feel the need to sweat.

We saw the Paradise parking lot and decided that wasn't where we wanted to be, so thank goodness we found this hike! All we were going by was the park map given at the entrance, with little in the way of topographic clues, but this was a perfect early-season hike (mid-June 2005 = little snow). Rainier was mostly shrouded in clouds, so Pinnacle Peak presented a nice visual challenge. It proved to be a very pleasant hike through varying terrain, including several snow fields, and once we reached the end of the maintained trail we couldn't resist the urge to scramble to the "top," or some portion thereof. The chill wind, threatening clouds and slippery scree cautioned us to remain humble in the face of the wilderness, but the spectacular views, scurrying chipmunks, singing birds and marmots reminded us why we should make the effort to reach places like this!