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Moraine Trail

Difficulty: easy

2.8 miles

Elevation gain: 880'

Max elevation: 5880'

Camps: none

First hiked by me: 2020

This is a little-known gem among the many trails above Paradise, offering a close-up glacier experience without crowds to distract you from the stunning views.

Take your pick of routes through the maze of paved trails above Paradise, aiming northwestish toward the one named Dead Horse Creek Trail. 0.7 miles from the parking lot, the unpaved and easily missed Moraine Trail turns off to the left. This is only officially maintained for its first 0.1 mile, but the unmaintained part is easy to follow although wet, rocky, and rooty in places.

The trail descends into the valley of the Nisqually Glacier, ending on the ridge of a dramatic lateral moraine. This is a huge mound of loose dust and rocks, piled up by the glacier of years gone by (the Nisqually has retreated nearly a mile over the last 150 years). Enjoy the views of moraine, glacier, and mountain, but be careful on the edge of the moraine which is steep and loose underfoot!

Ascending the paved Dead Horse Creek Trail

Descending the Moraine Trail, which ends on the lateral moraine visible in the center-right of this photo

Overlooking the Nisqually Glacier, which is brown lower down because it's covered in rockfall

Standing on the moraine, looking south down the Nisqually Valley

Standing on the moraine, enjoying a close-up view of the upper reaches of the mountain and Nisqually Glacier