Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), checked by Global Adventurer.
The hike
The walk starts at the upper parking lot at Paradise, by the Jackson Visitor Center. The Skyline Trail begins at the stone steps carved with a John Muir quote and climbs north through the meadows above the Nisqually Glacier, paved and steep at first. It passes Glacier Vista and reaches Panorama Point, about 2 miles up, where there is a toilet. From there the High Skyline Trail goes round above a steep, icy slope that does not melt. The loop then drops east past the Stevens-Van Trump Memorial into Paradise Valley and returns by Myrtle Falls.
It is a 5.8-mile (9.4 km) loop with 1,690 feet (516 m) of climbing; allow about 4 hours. The grade is Moderate: a steady climb on good trail to about 7,000 feet.
Snow can linger on the trails at Paradise well into June or even July, and the park warns that early in the season this trail may be hazardous. Stay on the built trails, because the meadows are fragile. Pets are not allowed on park trails, and Paradise is for day use only.
Entry to the park costs $30 per vehicle for seven days, and the entrance stations take cards only. No timed-entry reservation was needed anywhere in the park in 2026. The road from Longmire to Paradise is plowed in winter but closes at night.
Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.
Good to know
- Paradise's classic loop through wildflower meadows beside the Nisqually Glacier
- Snow lingers near Panorama Point into July; the High Skyline Trail skirts the steepest slope
- Paradise's car parks often fill by mid-morning on summer weekends
Summits on the way
- Alta Vista 5,961 ft (1,817 m) · passed close by
- Panorama Point 6,909 ft (2,106 m) · passed close by
Getting there
Start: Paradise, Jackson Visitor Center · Free parking. 46.78571, -121.73557
Places to stay nearby
Rooms in and around Paradise: Booking.com → Expedia →
Affiliate links: if you book, Global Adventurer earns a small commission at no cost to you.
Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line and figures come from OpenStreetMap and our own checks; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.
