Carbon Glacier, Mount Rainier National Park | July 15-16, 2021

Destination

  • Northwest side of Mount Rainier National Park: Carbon Glacier and Ipsut Pass
  • Ipsut Creek campground

Difficulty Rating

  • Easy to Ipsut Creek campground (former road)
  • Medium/hard: setting aside the former road to Ipsut Creek campground, the trails were more technical and the climb up to Ipsut Pass is long and unrelenting. However, the tread on the trails was overall quite good, making much of this trip runnable.

Noteworthy

  • Former car camping campground at Ipsut Creek had numerous campsites with tent pads, picnic tables, and bear lockers. Ground was very hard - difficult to stake my tent. There was an outhouse that seemed to be maintained.
  • Good water source of Ipsut Falls- the Carbon River is rather murky and full of sediment. Ipsut Falls is a short hike past the kiosk and the outhouse.
  • $26/backcountry permit if booked online in advance during the peak season of June 1-September 30. Walk-up permits might be available at no cost. Outside of the peak season, you can only get a walk-up permit-- no online reservations.
  • The nearest ranger station is Carbon River - it's conveniently located to pick up your permit en route to the trailhead. 
  • National park pass to park at the trailhead.
  • Be sure that the bridge over the river isn't out! Otherwise you won't be able to reach Carbon Glacier.

Future Explorations...

  • Getting to Ipsut Creek campground was easy and surprisingly scenic. Being at the campground meant having the luxuries of a picnic table and a bear locker.  
  • If I had stayed 2 nights inside of 1 night I would consider doing a loop around Mother Mountain - descending from Ipsut Pass.  
  • Connecting over to Grand Park or the Burroughs Mountain areas for a multiple-night trip would also be fun.

Resources

Media


Carbon Glacier

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