Carbon River Rainforest Loop & Old Mine

Carbon River Rainforest Loop & Old Mine

At Carbon River Entrance there are bathroom, trash, and picnic table
Time on the trail 4 hours this included lunch and general exploring of the river
Length of trail: About 3 Miles
Elevation 300 Gain
Animals Seen on the trail: Squirrels

Don't forget to bring 10 Essentials for Hiking and entrance fee for Mount Rainier for your trip.
Carbon River Area Trails

As you will notice we did both hikes on two separate days my suggestion is if you are going to venture down the Old Carbon River Road you first take the kiddos on Rain Forest Loop it's flat and about a 1/4 of a mile long. There are little signs that tell you information about the local pants and history. I didn't get a chance to read them because my son was running the trail all 4 times we did it. Since he was only 2 at the time he was a little worn out by the end of it. He loved this trail because there are many bridges and there was plenty of interesting looking mushrooms to look at. 

Woody was our adventure friend last year

Last of the huckle berries from the summer

Adventure is always on the horizon

Now we off on our adventure to the old mine 

  

The Carbon River Road used to be open but in November of 2006 there was some extreme flooding that happened in the park and this is one of the areas.

The first mile of the trail is pretty flat with lot of shade.

As you approach the old mine trail head you will see an old parking lot

Sometimes you have to take a cute trail head photo.

The trail it's self leading up to mine is very well maintained. It does get a little steep but nothing to bad Little Dude was able to do it all on his own we a couple breaks.

In the early 1900's there where well over a hundred claims within the boundaries of Mt Rainier National Park according to the NPS website.The Carbon River Old Mine was one of the most aggressive mines in the northern part of the park but like many of the other mines within the park it. During 1908 and 1909 the Washington Mining and Milling Co. employed 7 - 15 people, they built several building and a mine shaft that lead back 250 feet. There was little if not any minerals found at this site. Operation of this site stop in 1913. In 1950 is the next time this mine is rediscovered by a Park Ranger named Aubrey Haines when W.E. Potthoff gave during a visit to the Carbon River Ranger Station he told Haines that he had worked in the mine in that area. After some searching Aubrey Haines found the mine in either 1950 or 1951. At that time he saw the several building that had remained unused for many years. By the 1980's the building were all going. Now there is no trace that there was building at all.

While hiking with my son I've learned some helpful trick to keep him happy.

Direction 

To get there, take I-5 South to I-405. From I-405 take SR 167 south toward Auburn. In 20 miles take the SR 410 Exit toward Sumner/Yakima. Follow SR 410 for 12 miles to SR 165. Take a right and continue on SR 165 for about 10 miles through Wilkeson and Carbonado to the Carbon River Road/Mowich Lake Road junction. Veer left onto the Carbon River Road and follow for 7.7 miles to the Carbon River Entrance of Mt. Rainer and parking