Paradise

Here are four relatively short hikes that can be done leisurely in a morning or afternoon or combined for a pretty full day at Paradise:

• Nisqually Vista Trail, 0.95 mile loop little elevation gain, considered easy.
• Dead Horse Creek Trail, 1.03 miles (2.06 RT to Skyline Trail), considered moderate with 650’ elevation gain.
• Moraine Trail, 1.17 miles (2.34 RT), considered moderate but the spur trail to the moraine is not maintained and thus more difficult, elevation gain/loss is +455’, -118’.
• Alta Vista Trail, 0.86 miles (1.72 RT) taking the high route (upper portion of loop), considered moderate but portions of the trail are surprising steep (18% grade), elevation gain/loss is +570’, -70’.

Do ‘Em All. The hikes can easily be done as a loop. Do the Nisqually Vista Trail either at the beginning or end of the combined hikes. Start at the lower parking lot, hike the Dead Horse Creek Trail to the junction of the Moraine Trail (approx. 0.70 mi.), take the Moraine Trail (0.96 mi. out and back), complete the Dead Horse Trail to the junction with the Skyline Trail. Take the Skyline Trail south to the junction with the Alta Vista Trail (approx. 0.25 mi.). Return to the lower parking lot. Including the Nisqually Vista Trail the total distance is approx.4.0 miles with about 1,050’ elevation gain.

The trailhead for all hikes is from the lower parking lot (see map). The entrance (46.78406 N, 121.73975 W) is reached approximately .20 mi. before the Jackson Visitor Center and is approximately 1.9 mi. from the turn off of the Paradise-Longmire Road. If starting from the visitor center either walk down the road to the lower parking lot or take a crossing trail