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Carbon River Rainforest
The Carbon River Rainforest in Mount Rainier National Park. The old road running through it is now a pleasant hiking/bike trail.
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The Carbon River Rainforest in Mount Rainier National Park.
Carbon River Rainforest
The Carbon River Rainforest is one of the most unique and fascinating areas in Mount Rainier National Park. Located in the northwest corner of the park, this lush forest receives a tremendous amount of moisture each year, creating one of the few inland temperate rainforests in the United States. This is a very different side of Mount Rainier, and we really enjoy it because it feels quiet, green, peaceful, and almost hidden away from the busier areas of the park.
The Carbon River Road begins near the Carbon River Entrance on State Route 165, and from here the landscape quickly changes into a thick forest of giant trees, moss-covered logs, ferns, and deep green vegetation. The air often feels cool and damp, and the forest floor is covered with layers of moss and fallen trees that slowly become part of the rainforest again. Western red cedar, Douglas fir, and western hemlock trees grow throughout this area, and many of them are very large and impressive.
One of the most enjoyable things about the Carbon River Rainforest is the old road itself, which is now closed to vehicle traffic beyond the entrance area and used as a hiking and biking route. This makes the Carbon River Road a relatively gentle way to explore the rainforest. As you walk or bike along the road, you follow the Carbon River through a beautiful forest corridor, with occasional openings where you can see the riverbed and surrounding mountains.
This area is also the gateway to several excellent hikes, including the trail to Green Lake and Ranger Falls, as well as longer routes that lead deeper into the wilderness toward Ipsut Creek and the Carbon Glacier area. The Carbon Glacier is especially notable because it is one of the lowest-elevation glaciers in the contiguous United States, and it is reached by a long backcountry hike from this side of the park.
The Carbon River Rainforest is not the place for sweeping roadside views of Mount Rainier like you find at Paradise or Sunrise. Instead, this area offers a quieter, more intimate experience. It is a place to slow down, listen to the river, enjoy the damp forest air, and appreciate a completely different personality of Mount Rainier National Park. For visitors who enjoy forests, solitude, and a less crowded park experience, the Carbon River Rainforest is a very special place to explore.
Carbon River Rainforest Update
04/22/25
SR165/Fairfax Bridge Closure
There is NO public access to Carbon River & Mowich Lake from State Route (SR) 165. The SR165/Fairfax Bridge is closed to pedestrians, bicycles, and vehicles and there is no alternate route
https://wsdot.wa.gov/about/news/2025/103-year-old-sr-165-carbon-river-fairfax-bridge-permanently-closed
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The sign at the Carbon River Entrance of Mount Rainier National Park.
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Carbon River Rainforest in Mount Rainier National Park.
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Carbon River Rainforest in Mount Rainier National Park.
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The hiking/bike trail used to be a road. This makes for a very pleasant walk through the Carbon River Rainforest.
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Where is the Carbon River Rainforest?
The Carbon River Entrance and Carbon River Rainforest are located in the northwest corner of Mount Rainier National Park. Traditionally, visitors reached this area by driving to Buckley, Washington, then following State Route 165 south through the small communities of Wilkeson and Carbonado toward the Carbon River Ranger Station and park entrance. This route leads into one of the quietest and greenest areas of Mount Rainier, where the Carbon River Road enters a lush inland temperate rainforest filled with moss, ferns, large trees, and a very different feeling than the higher-elevation areas of the park.
Before planning a visit, always check the current Mount Rainier road conditions with the National Park Service. Access to the Carbon River Entrance has been affected by bridge and road closures outside the park, and conditions in this area can change because of flooding, washouts, and weather. When open, this is a beautiful, less-crowded gateway into Mount Rainier’s rainforest country.
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Spur Trail To Chenuis Falls
While on your walk through the Carbon River Rainforest, you may want to take a short spur trail that crosses the Carbon River to see Chenuis Falls.
Chenuis Falls is reached from the Carbon River Entrance in the northwest corner of Mount Rainier National Park. When access is open, visitors begin at the Carbon River Entrance and follow the Carbon River Road, which is now closed to public vehicle traffic beyond the entrance area and used as a hiking and biking route. From the entrance, walk or bike approximately 3.5 miles along the old road through the beautiful Carbon River Rainforest. This is a very enjoyable section of the hike, with moss-covered trees, ferns, large evergreens, and the sound of the Carbon River nearby.
The Chenuis Falls Trailhead is located along the left side of the Carbon River Road. From there, the route crosses the rocky riverbed of the Carbon River and then follows a short forested trail toward the falls. Depending on conditions, the route may be marked with rock cairns, and hikers may need to cross a log bridge or footlog. Always check current trail and river conditions before attempting this hike, because footlogs can wash out and access to the Carbon River area can be affected by road and bridge closures. When open, Chenuis Falls is a quiet and rewarding rainforest hike.
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The Shannon crossing the Carbon River on a narrow foot bridge, on her way to see Chenuis Falls.
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The Shannon crossing the Carbon River on a narrow foot bridge, on her way to see Chenuis Falls.
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Another foot bridge on the way to Chenuis Falls.
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Another foot bridge on the way to Chenuis Falls.
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Chenuis Falls in the Carbon River Rainforest of Mount Rainier National Park.
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Chenuis Falls is a really nice place to enjoy some soothing peace and calm.
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A view along the spur trail to Chenuis Falls in the Carbon River Rainforest of Mount Rainier National Park.
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What about Carbon Glacier?
Carbon Glacier is at the "end of the road." From the Carbon River Entrance trailhead, it is approximately 8.5 miles one way to the Carbon Glacier Overlook, or about 17 miles round trip.
The hike begins at the Carbon River Entrance, where the old Carbon River Road continues beyond the entrance as a hiking and biking route. From here, visitors travel approximately five miles along the closed road through the beautiful Carbon River Rainforest to Ipsut Creek Campground. This section is relatively gentle and follows the Carbon River through a lush forest of moss, ferns, and large trees.
From Ipsut Creek, the route continues on the Wonderland Trail toward the Carbon Glacier. This section becomes more rugged as the trail follows the Carbon River Valley deeper into the backcountry. Hikers pass through thick forest, cross side streams, and eventually reach viewpoints near the Carbon Glacier, one of the lowest-elevation glaciers in the contiguous United States. The full trip is a long day hike, and many visitors choose to make it an overnight backpacking trip.
Carbon River Rainforest in Mount Rainier National Park.
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Carbon River Rainforest in Mount Rainier National Park.
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