Last updated on December 20, 2023.

The Trail of the Shadows at Mount Rainier National Park in Washington gives visitors a good look into the history of the park. Located in the Longmire area, it’s a ¾ mile loop trail that starts across the street from the National Park Inn. It travels through the old James Longmire homestead, settled in 1883, 16 years before the park was established.

 

Start of the Trail

We did the trail in a clockwise direction, and started by crossing over a small creek and into the forest. The trees towered above our heads.

Trail of the Shadows in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
Trail of the Shadows
Looking up into the treetops on Trail of the Shadows in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
Looking up into the treetops

A few steps later, we came to a section inundated with water. In some places, it was bubbling up from the ground and the trees had died. This is the first evidence that there were hot springs in the area. We then continued through the forest, sometimes along a boardwalk.

Trail of the Shadows in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
Trail of the Shadows
Bubbling water on Trail of the Shadows in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
Bubbling water
Boardwalk on Trail of the Shadows in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
Boardwalk

We came to what looked like the remnants of a fountain or bath. It wasn’t labeled as well as the rest of the trail, so we weren’t 100% sure what it was.

Fountain or bath on Trail of the Shadows in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
Fountain or bath
Fountain or bath on Trail of the Shadows in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
Fountain or bath

 

Longmire Cabin

About halfway through the trail, we stumbled upon the last remaining cabin built by the Longmires. The family built several cabins in the 1880s to accommodate visitors to their hot springs resort. This specific cabin was built in 1888 and was very simple inside.

Longmire cabin on Trail of the Shadows in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
Longmire cabin
Longmire cabin on Trail of the Shadows in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
Longmire cabin

 

Hot Springs

After passing a section of Longmire Meadow, we came to an original hot spring bath built in 1920. It was supposed to be part of a new resort, but after tests determined the water had no medicinal value, plans were scrapped. The original resort, Longmire Medical Springs Resort, sat nearby. It was demolished in 1920 to make way for the new resort.

Longmire Meadow on Trail of the Shadows in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
Longmire Meadow
Longmire Meadow on Trail of the Shadows in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
Longmire Meadow
Hot spring bath on Trail of the Shadows in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
Hot spring bath

Further along, we came to a point where there was a good quantity of water bubbling up from the ground. We could even hear the sound of the bubbles and smell the sulphur.

Bubbling water on Trail of the Shadows in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
Bubbling water

 

Longmire Meadow

At the end of the Trail of the Shadows, there’s a viewpoint of Longmire Meadow with Mount Rainier in the background. The ridge to the left is an ancient volcanic lava flow called Rampart Ridge. The lava stopped when it reached two glaciers that were joined together. The glaciers on both sides of the ridge, once 1,200 feet high, melted to form meadows.

Longmire Meadow on Trail of the Shadows in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
Longmire Meadow

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Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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