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Fremont Lookout

Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River
46.9146, -121.6423 Map & Directions
Length
5.6 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain
1,200 feet
Highest Point
7,200 feet
Calculated Difficulty About Calculated Difficulty
Moderate
View facing south from the lookout. Photo by tinypines. Full-size image
  • Good for kids
  • Lakes
  • Mountain views
  • Ridges/passes
  • Wildlife

Parking Pass/Entry Fee

National Park Pass
Saved to My Backpack

The two-story frame cabin of Mount Fremont, built in 1934, provides an opportunity to reminisce about the time when watchmen stood guard over the forest, with an eye out for wildfires. Continue reading

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Hiking Fremont Lookout

The two-story frame cabin of Mount Fremont, built in 1934, provides an opportunity to reminisce about the time when watchmen stood guard over the forest, with an eye out for wildfires.

From the Sunrise Visitor Center, hike west on the Sourdough Ridge Trail to the Frozen Lake junction, in the shadow of Mount Rainier and the three Burroughs.

At this junction, a trail leads off to the right, heading uphill past Frozen Lake, the water source for Sunrise Visitor Center. It's 1.3 miles to the lookout from here, and 481 feet up. As you can see from the intersection, there's very little shade here, so bring plenty of water and good sun protection.

WTA built a series of steps into this steep section of trail to help prevent erosion. The project took most of summer 2017 -- if you've been here before, do you notice a difference in the tread on your way up?

From the lookout, take in sweeping views of Grand Park, Redstone Peak, Skyscraper Mountain and Berkeley Park. Bring binoculars to look for mountain goats and black bears in Grand Park, the meadow to the northwest of the lookout.

WTA worked here in 2017 and 2016!

Hike Description Written by
Multiple authors contributed to this report, WTA Community

Fremont Lookout

Map & Directions

Trailhead
Co-ordinates: 46.9146, -121.6423 Open in Google Maps

Before You Go

Between July 4 and September 2 visitors to this trail need a reservation to enter the park as well as a national park pass.

See weather forecast

Parking Pass/Entry Fee

National Park Pass

WTA Pro Tip: Save a copy of our directions before you leave! App-based driving directions aren't always accurate and data connections may be unreliable as you drive to the trailhead.

Getting There

Learn how to secure your timed-entry permit for Mount Rainier National Park here.

From Enumclaw, follow SR 410 east for 43 miles until you reach Sunrise Park Rd/White River Rd. Make a slight right at the fork and follow along for 5 miles and over the White River. The road then switchbacks to become exclusively Sunrise River Rd and continues 10 miles to its end at the Sunrise Visitor Center and the parking area.

More Hike Details

Trailhead

Mount Rainier Area > NE - Sunrise/White River

Mount Rainier National Park

Guidebooks & Maps

Day Hiking: Mt. Rainier National Park Trails (Nelson & Bauer - Mountaineers Books)

Buy the Green Trails Mt Rainier East No. 270 map

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Fremont Lookout

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