Wonderland Trail — Longmire to Narada Falls

This segment of the famous 93-mile Wonderland Trail circumnavigation departs Longmire's historic 1920s lodge complex and climbs through some of the park's finest old-growth Douglas fir and western red cedar, passing trees that exceed 500 years in age and 8 feet in diameter. The route crosses the Nisqually River on a log bridge before ascending through Carter Falls — a 60-foot cascade that crashes over basalt columns — and continues steeply to Madcap Falls, where the river narrows to a thundering 10-foot slot. The trail reaches the Paradise River valley and climbs to Narada Falls, a 168-foot veil of glacial meltwater that produces a permanent rainbow on sunny afternoons. Shuttle logistics require leaving a second vehicle at the Narada Falls parking area. The elevation gain is front-loaded in the second half, making the return to Longmire a gentler option if hiked in reverse. Roosevelt elk frequently graze the open flats near the Nisqually crossing in morning and evening hours.