Trail of the Shadows

The Trail of the Shadows at Mt. Rainier National Park in Longmire, WA is an easy 0.7-mile loop hike that features views of Mt. Rainier from the Longmire Meadow and includes historical info kiosks, buildings, and mineral spring remnants.

Explore Longmire Meadow

This hike begins across the street from the Longmire visitor center where hikers will find several entrances to the Trail of the Shadows. This route follows the trail counter-clockwise and thus it leads to some of the best points-of-interest along the loop first. If you wish to save the best for last, hike the trail clockwise and follow this guide in the opposite order instead.

View of Mt. Rainier - Mile 0.07

From the trailhead listed here, you'll start off by walking north where you'll find a very short spur trail that leads directly into the wetlands of the Longmire Meadow. This short trail ends with a view of Mt. Rainier poking its glacier-capped peak over the trees. This area is one of the only places where you'll find a great on-trail view of the mountain.

Mineral Spa Remnants - Mile 0.1

Just north from the view of Mt. Rainier, located back on the main loop, sits the remnants of an old spa, located around mile 0.1. Follow the short path that runs between short stone walls to reach an circular well-like stone structure that once encompasses an active mineral spring. The mineral spring, to this day, is still doing its thing — the methane below the surface bubbles up from below, causing the water to actively bubble with vigor, which is actually a bit noisy. We simply didn't expect anything like this along the trail, personally.

Eclaine Longmire Cabin (1888) - Mile 0.25

As you follow the trail north from the old spa remnants, you'll pass information kiosks where you can stop to learn about the long-gone Longmire Medical Springs Resort, which opened in 1890. Long before the national park existed, people would pay up to $8 per week for room and board to stay at the hotel and to bath in mineral springs. Around mile 0.25, visitors will reach the old Eclaine Longmire cabin which is the only remaining structure from that era that the national park continues to maintain. The building stands as a reminder to the James Longmire family and their contributions to promoting the land before it became a national park.

Rusty Springs - Mile 0.27

To the west of the cabin sits yet another mineral spring. Named the Rusty Spring, this old remnant from the Longmire Medical Springs Resort is both a fascinating historical find, but also a natural one. The rusty color comes from oxidation of iron in the ground water. As the water passes through areas of magma-heated ground, far below the mountain, it breaks down the iron and as the water cools (before reaching the surface), it mixes with air which causes rust to form. By the time the water reaches the surface, it has turned into a rusty-red stream.

Meadow View - Mile 0.4

After passing Rusty Springs, the trail leads back into the forest as it passes old-growth trees. Near mile 0.4, located just off-trail, is a spot where you can get a view of Longmire Meadow and the towering Eagle Peak and Chulta Peak overhead. Right at your feet is yet another mineral spring seeping out of the ground and smeers over the meadow as if it were an oil slick.

Completing the Loop - Mile 0.4 to 0.7

The last stretch of this trail leads from the old-growth western side of Longmire Meadow and passes through the forest to reach the trailhead back on the southeast side. Along the way, you'll find more beautiful old-growth trees before the trail passes through a wetland area, over a boardwalk, where you might be attacked by mosquitos or wetland-loving bugs. The hike wraps up at the trailhead for an easy 0.7-mile jaunt around Longmire Meadow.

Parking & Fees

Visitors will find a large parking lot at the coordinates provided, located at the Longmire visitor center. The lot is large enough to fit several dozen vehicles as of June 2025. As of June 2025, there's a $25 entry fee for the park which is good for several days. If you plan ahead, you can speed up your entry with an Annual National Park's Pass.

Pets

All pets, including dogs, are not allowed on any trails within Mt. Rainier National Park, so please leave your dogs at home.

Warning

Bugs: The Longmire Meadow can be buggy, especially during warmer months. The sections of trail that seemed to have the most bugs was in the south where the trail crosses a boardwalk over wetlands.