Find info on great West Coast hikes, backcountry cooking, and discover the art of backpacking.
Trail guides, planning tools and trail food for the Pacific Northwest and the California coast.
Wonderland Guides began in 2011 as a backpacker's guide to Mount Rainier's Wonderland Trail and has grown to cover the Lost Coast Trail, Mount Rainier's Northern Loop, and the craft of cooking well in the backcountry. Everything here comes from trips on the trail, not from a brochure.
Trail guides and cooking
Washington - Mount Rainier
The Wonderland Trail
A 93 mile loop around the base of Mount Rainier, entirely within Mount Rainier National Park. This strenuous hike visits almost every major valley and ridge radiating from the mountain and is typically completed in 9-13 days.
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Northern California - The King Range
The Lost Coast Trail
A 25 mile beach hike along the most remote and rugged stretch of California coastline remaining. Pinned beneath the steep slopes of the King Range, several sections pass through intertidal zones and are inaccessible at high tide.
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Trail food
Backcountry Cooking
Practical meal planning for hikers: DIY lightweight backpacking meals, food dehydrating guides, dehydrator recipes for a dozen fruits, and camping and backpacking recipes.
Browse guides →Trip planners
Wonderland Trail Itinerary Planner
Build a day-by-day Wonderland Trail itinerary from any trailhead, in either direction, with mileage and elevation for each day.
The Lost Coast Trail Tides Planner
Find the safe hiking windows through the intertidal zones of the Lost Coast Trail for the dates of your trip, from predicted tides at Shelter Cove.
Popular articles
DIY Backpacking Meals
Make your own lightweight, delicious, and inexpensive backpacking meals. Get meal ideas and discover foods favored by veteran backpackers
Wonderland Trail, Mount Rainier National Park Map
A reference map of the Wonderland Trail encircling Mount Rainier, with a full-resolution download.
Backcountry safety for hikers and backpackers in the Pacific Northwest
Learn the basics for backpacking safety, how to avoid hypothermia, and what to do when deer attack.
Cherries
Dried cherries don't top my list of favorite fruit for backpacking, but they can be a welcome addition to granola and trail mix. If you have a tree or stumble upon a bonanza deal at the fruit stand, it's worthwhile to run a few trays through the dehydrator. Here's how I do it.
Mount Rainier's Northern Loop Trail
The Northern Loop trail is a 15.5 mile trail that both starts and ends on the Wonderland Trail, forming a 33 mile loop. It can be extended with the Spray Park and Ipsut Pass trails to form a 48 mile trip that includes some of the finest scenery in the north half of the park.
Hiking the Wonderland Trail when you can’t get a wilderness permit
When wilderness permits are in short supply, you can still hike most of the Wonderland Trail with this strategic itinerary.
Food dehydrating 101
Everything you need to know to get started with drying your own food for backpacking.
Tips for re-hydrating dried foods in the backcountry
The first time I dehydrated my own meals for backpacking I was surprised at how poor the results were on the trail. I just threw it all on the old Whisperlite and blasted it on high for fifteen minutes. The chicken was rock hard and the noodles were so soft they were falling apart. This was all my fault as I had put no thought into the final step -- cooking it for supper after a long day on the trail. It turns out that rehydration of dried foods on the trail is an art in itself, especially so if you want to conserve fuel. Once you get the hang of it, it's actually quite easy, and the results can be excellent. Here are some tips on everything I've learned.
17 Gorgeous Vintage Postcards from Mount Rainier National Park
A collection of antique postcards dating from between 1907 and 1956, some with messages enscribed.
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