Tatoosh Range Traverse highlights a stunning east-west running ridge along the southern edge of Mount Rainier National Park, including peaks such as Unicorn and Eagle. Visible from the Paradise area,1 the region was historically significant to the Taidnapam (Upper Cowlitz) people, who used the high ridges for hunting and gathering.2 Tatoosh itself means “breast” in the Chinook language, reportedly inspired by rock formations on Butter Peak.3
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Tatoosh Range Traverse at a Glance
Lane Peak + Denman Peak + Plummer Peak + Pinnacle Peak + The Castle + Foss Peak
萊恩峯+丹曼峯+普拉瑪峯+尖頂峯+城堡+福斯峯
Access: Pinnacle Peak Trailhead
Round Trip: 7.7 miles
Elevation Range: 4867′-6566′
Essential Gear: helmet, rock & rope (30m)
Route Info: Dennis Kiilerich, Matthew Pahs, Rick Teudt, Robert Jenner
GPS Track: available
Dog-Friendly: no pets
Playlist: Epic, Latin, Ooyy
A Look Back at the Tatoosh Range
The first time these jagged peaks caught my eye was during a memorable visit to Camp Muir back in 2011. In 2012, I had the chance to climb Eagle, Chutla, and Unicorn Peaks with the Seattle Mountaineers—visiting both the far-west and far-east ends of the Tatoosh Range. Ever since then, I’ve wanted to connect the dots across this rugged ridge south of Mount Rainier.
Because of the strict no-pets policy in Mount Rainier National Park, this outing sat on the back burner for years. So a Tatoosh Range Traverse felt long overdue. After climbing Liberty Cap on Mount Rainier five years earlier, I knew it was time to return. Without a car shuttle, starting at Reflection Lakes made sense, and Pinnacle Saddle was the perfect entry point into the heart of the range.
Planning the Tatoosh Range Traverse
Each peak on the traverse revealed a different perspective of the surrounding Cascade Range. The one constant was Mount Rainier, an awe-inspiring presence throughout the entire day. From Pinnacle Saddle, the jagged summits looked deceptively close. According to other reports, one peak needed a rope, two were exposed scrambles, and the rest were simple walk-ups.
The Tatoosh Range Traverse itself is relatively short compared to bigger alpine linkups. Still, a decent portion of my day was spent on camera setups and video footage. Each high point offered sweeping views of Mount Rainier National Park and the Tatoosh Wilderness, and beyond. Pinnacle Peak, the tallest of the group, occasionally blocked the views but added drama to the ridgeline.
Starting with Pinnacle Peak First
Several cars were in the lot when I left the serene Reflection Lakes. Despite a cool, cloudy morning, the weather forecast promised a sunny day. The quiet forest with one stream en route quickly gained views and reached Pinnacle Saddle in under two miles. Since Pinnacle Peak is quite popular, I decided to climb it early, ahead of the crowds.
After a quick pause, I attained the crest from the pass before realizing my mistake. I then took the ridge trail briefly to a rocky fork and continued upward. The climber’s path ascended south of the crest and upward toward the visible summit block. It was more straightforward than I anticipated and relatively short.
Reaching a Cloudy Summit
The route headed northeast, reaching a yellow-colored rock ramp with decent steps. It climbed to the crest, where the terrain noticeably steepened. Even so, holds in the chute were solid, without the loose rocks found lower down. For safety, I wore my helmet for the final 100 feet, including a short scramble below the broad summit.
A thick mist moved in just as I topped out. High clouds obscured the surrounding peaks, and Mount Rainier remained hidden during my stay. Below, hikers trickled in along the zigzagging trail. Luckily, the mist lifted before I left, though the volcano stayed shy. I greeted two climbers as they ascended the route.
Tatoosh Range Traverse: Lane Peak
As I chatted with two hikers from Renton on the pass, Mount Rainier suddenly poked out of the clouds. The ever-changing scenery was breathtaking. Heading west, the ridge trail passed a tiny pool below Plummer Peak before diving steeply through muddy ground. I briefly lost the path beyond the saddle with Denman Peak by staying too high.
Descending toward the west saddle, the trail soon reached Lane Peak’s south shoulder before dipping again. A narrow gully above the grassy slopes led partway through the cliffs. Bypassing the prominent northwest-trending chimney, I followed Rick’s track into a steep gully on the south side. The final push to the summit revealed a narrow, exposed ridge.
Lane Peak Summit Views
As with Pinnacle Peak, this summit featured a short climb and a sheer drop to the north, but a much smaller and fin-like summit. Mount Rainier partly slipped back into the mist just as I arrived, but the views were still impressive. From here, I had an intimate look at the west end of the Tatoosh Range and beyond.
To the southeast, Denman and Plummer Peaks appeared as my next goals, with Pinnacle Peak behind them. After carefully retracing steps down to the trees, I greeted two climbers scouting the route by the cliffs. The decent trail soon brought me back to the saddle, where I paused to admire the massive volcano before continuing.
Easy Scramble up Denman Peak
Denman Peak was one of three walk-up summits along this part of the Tatoosh Range. The southwest face offered a simple scramble to gain the ridge, where a boot trail led along the wooded crest. The path offered a straightforward finish, allowing me to enjoy the views and capture footage along the way.
The broad summit expanded in all directions except the west, with Mount Rainier serving as a stunning centerpiece. From the top, neighboring Pinnacle and Plummer Peaks felt incredibly close. After a brief stay, a quick scramble down the south side returned me to the saddle by the talus.
Enjoying the Views From Plummer Peak
After regaining 200 feet, I left the trail from the small pool and moved south toward Plummer Peak. A short rock scramble connected me to the beaten path to the summit. Four hikers were on top—the only summit where I encountered anyone this day. It was unsurprising, given the peak’s proximity to Pinnacle Saddle.
Jack, who drove up from the Bay Area, arrived shortly after, and the first group left a while later. The panoramic view included Butter Creek Valley and the town of Packwood in the distance. After two more hikers reached the summit, I returned to Pinnacle Saddle and greeted a group before heading east.
Tatoosh Range Traverse: The Castle
From the busy saddle, I returned to the fork below Pinnacle Peak and continued east along the ridge trail, initially obscured by dense trees. The unofficial path had not seen much maintenance, and spotty cairns offered little guidance. I carefully pieced together the route through a broad, rocky gully below The Castle.
Moving southbound, I had stayed too low and missed a sharp bend around the ridge. After squeezing through dense shrubs, I corrected my course and located the trail on the other side. The path continued north to The Castle’s east shoulder, where a small stream trickled down the rocks. With my helmet back on, I traversed talus to reach the short cliffs.
A Sheer Summit and a Rappel
With the sun in my eyes, I scouted a route to the ridge and spotted an anchor overhead. I then worked through class 4/5 rocks to reach the narrow crest. A short ridge traverse from the west past two rappel stations brought me to the pointy summit. I crossed a notch to the less-exposed northern high point to enjoy my time above Pinnacle Glacier.
After savoring the views, I returned to the lower anchor, which I had first decided to downclimb. However, feeling tired and needing video footage, I put the rope to use and soon reached the platform straight below. It was an exhilarating end to The Castle, a peak that demanded focus on navigating the sheer terrain.
Foss Peak (Manatee Mountain), the Final Goal
The trail near water pools below The Castle was initially undefined, requiring some route-finding. It stayed north of the forested crest before tapering into talus above a small lake below Foss Peak. The path normally crosses the outlet, where running water remained. Meanwhile, Mount Rainier unexpectedly appeared behind the water, creating a stunning backdrop.
To the south, Butter Creek Valley stayed in sight from the southern aspects of the range throughout the day. I relocated the path about 400 feet below the summit, but lost it again among rocks. Eventually, I found the overgrown trail near the top. The final walk-up to Foss Peak was steep but straightforward, a fitting finale to the traverse.
Looping Back Toward the Trailhead
Some trees west of Foss Peak partially blocked the view, but otherwise, the summit offered an open vista. Mount Adams appeared from the mist in the afternoon, visible behind Unicorn Peak. But the top of Mount Saint Helens remained shrouded in clouds, a treat to see another Cascade volcano.
I wasn’t keen on retracing the ridge trail to Pinnacle Saddle. Instead, I opted for a loop below the north side of The Castle and Pinnacle Peak for varied scenery. Back at the lake, I dropped into the north basin and traversed west through massive talus, eventually finding a steep, muddy trail east of the main route.
Finishing the Tatoosh Range Traverse
Boot prints could still be seen on the overgrown trail with steep drop-offs, which made me ponder its purpose. A marmot’s piercing call echoed from an adjacent rock field on the other side of the forest, while pikas darted between nearby boulders in the ravine. Eventually, I joined the main path at 5000 feet, with a short stretch leading me back to the road.
By the time I reached Reflection Lakes, more cars had arrived, and the chatter of lakegoers carried across the water. It was rewarding to finally link the middle section of the Tatoosh Range, filling the gap between Eagle and Chutla in the west and Unicorn in the east. This long-awaited Tatoosh Range Traverse left me eager for the next adventure in Mount Rainier’s rugged southern skyline.
- National Park Service: Paradise Area. ↩︎
- Pacific Adventure Club: The Tatoosh Range: Trails, Peaks, and Panoramas. ↩︎
- Wikipedia: Tatoosh Wilderness History. ↩︎