How to get into Mt Rainier and Ashford trails?

Submitted by SpiteTop77 t3_11ajumg in Washington

I want to try some of the hikes out there since I haven’t before. While the area is only an hour from me, when I look up the trail on maps it says it’s 3-4 hours due to unpaved roads. Should I ignore what maps say? And how dangerous do the unpaved roads get? Thank you in advance. I was looking at Teeley creek and Cayuse pass.

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heathenbeast t1_j9uoxwd wrote

Cayuse Pass is closed for the season. The 410 is kept open only as far as far as the Crystal Mountain Ski Area. Google maps is currently saying closed until June 2023. I don't know if rooting for an early melt is a good thing, so I'd delay that plan til summer.

Teeley Creek looks interesting and appears open. Gonna be real cold and I'd make sure my vehicle was UP for forest roads that may not get into the plow schedule, depending on the latest weather. I'd been looking at a trip up Rainier to Paradise and it's only being plowed on weekends.

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Novel-Art3412 t1_j9sij9p wrote

Looking at the map, the Teeley Creek trailhead is about 10 miles off from the highway. Even if you're going very slow, it should be less than an hour, so if you plug how long it will take to get to the turnoff from the highway (by Copper Creek Inn), I would add add max 1 hour to find the total.

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ardesofmiche t1_j9soe2f wrote

Remember that some estimates take into account traffic. Cayuse pass and Highway 410 can have traffic being a heavily driven two lane windy highway

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heathenbeast t1_j9umwfw wrote

It's closed for the season.

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ardesofmiche t1_j9un0mk wrote

I’m aware.

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heathenbeast t1_j9up9dj wrote

How heavy would you estimate the traffic to be then, on that closed road?

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ardesofmiche t1_j9upkhu wrote

Highway 410 has crystal mountain still open, so it still has traffic. I’m obviously not saying Cayuse pass has traffic considering there’s several feet of snow there

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ImpulseBimmer t1_j9wn005 wrote

Also, Washington Trails Association's website is FAR better than Reddit for trail reports.

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