Suntop Tr1183
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Overall: 7
Aerobic: 6
Technical: 6
Steepness: 6
Flow: 7
Singletrack: 90%
Suntop Tr1183 can be ridden as an OAB, starting from the gate, located 3.5mi up FR7160, or as a loop when combined with Skookum Flats Tr1194.
Type
Loop
Length
Avg: 21mi
Ascent
Intense
Elevation Change
TH:2100'
Avg Ascent:5600'
Ascent Incline
14%
Duration
Avg: 6hr
Weather
Forecast
NOAA
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USFS
Trail
Review
White River Trails
About 1.5hrs from downtown Seattle, the White River area trails are extremely popular...and happen to also cover some great terrain.
Skookum Flats Tr1194 can be ridden nearly all year, although the glacial water flow of the White River demands some thermal protection most of the year. The higher elevation trails become available when the snow melts (April-July).
The other major rides in the area are Crystal Mt Tr1163, Noble Knob Tr1184, Palisades Tr1198, Ranger Cr Tr1197 and Suntop Tr1183.
A loop ride should be approached from the FR7300 Skookum Flats Tr1194 TH.
The first 3.4mi (1700' ascent) of FR7300/FR7315 can sometimes be avoided by parking at the gate (as part of a shuttle), but since there are no parking spaces at the gate, this only works on weekdays when traffic is light. The gate is sometimes open, allowing a shuttle to the Suntop summit.
Parking the other vehicle at the Skookum Flats FR7160 TH reduces a shuttle ride by another 5.1mi.
But for those seeking the full, near-epic Suntop Tr1183-Skookum Flats Tr1194 loop ride, deal with the road climb and get on with it.
Doe Falls Tr1174 is a little detour to a small springtime waterfall.
The Suntop summit includes a lookout, with great views of Mt Rainier, Crystal Mountain, Noble Knob, Huckleberry Ridge and Green Mountain.
OAB option: The 20.5mi, 6500' ascent Suntop Tr1183 OAB ride involves climbing FR7160 5.6mi (2400'), then an OAB on Suntop Tr1183, followed by a descent to Skookum Flats Tr1194 near the Ranger Creek landing strip, then riding Skookum Flats Tr1194 back to the TH.
For shuttle riders, the FR7160 gate is at the 3.5mi mark, avoiding 1600' ascent.
As with the FR7315 gate, parking is very limited.
The condition of these two roads may at times make them impassable by vehicle, limiting shuttle opportunities.
Parking at these gates on the weekends may be impossible, hazardous to the vehicle, or merely considered rude.
Mount Rainier National Park Hiking: Huckleberry Creek Trail is nearest to the Suntop Tr1183 TH, accessed by continuing south on FR7300 to FR7340. Northern section maps are on the Christoff Tr1171, Crystal Mt Tr1163 and Skookum Flats Tr1194 pages.
For much more information, check out the Mount Rainier National Park Trail guide, which includes descriptions of all trails and a variety of maps.
Directions: NW Forest Pass required right at the Skookum Flats TH. SR410E 24.8mi from Enumclaw to Huckleberry Cr FR73. Turn right (south) onto FR73 and go .9mi to FR7315, then 2.4mi on FR7315 to the gate. View Larger Map. No Map?.
Loop Directions
Suntop to Skookum
- TH: Ride FR7300 .95mi from the Skookum Flats TH to FR7315 and climb 5.7mi to the intersection with Suntop Tr1183, at a sharp bend in the road. Go left onto the trail, or climb .8mi to the summit and start the trail from there (mile marks assume a ride to Suntop summit).
- 8.6mi: Reach the ride summit, after a steep 1.6mi climb since leaving FR7315. The trail then traverses some cliff exposure before reentering old growth forest.
- 10.6mi: Cross Buck Creek, which is more of a stream since this is near the headwaters. The switchback descent from this point is broken up by occasional shifts in terrain.
- 11.7mi: First of three FR7160 crossings. At 11.9mi, bear left at the fork in the trail.
- 12.2mi: Doe Falls Tr1174 intersection, followed by a double crossing of FR7610, near a sharp bend in that road. The trail then leaves the ridge and steeply switchbacks to the valley floor. At 13.3mi, the trail runs alongside a jeep trail then crosses it, before reaching Doe Creek at 13.7mi (go right at the fork).
- 14.5mi: After crossing a jeep trail and going left at the fork, cross the stream and reach the Ranger Creek landing strip road. Go right to the Skookum Flats Tr1194 intersection at 14.6mi, then go left on Skookum Flats Tr1194 and ride it to FR7160.
- 15.7mi: Cross FR7160, go left then right at the first two forks, then cross Doe Creek at 15.9mi. At 16.9, cross the wooden bridge at Buck Creek, then reach the Buck Cr Tr1169 intersection, bearing left to stay on Skookum Flats Tr1194 and ride back to TH.
Trail Index
This Ride
Doe Falls Trail 1174, Skookum Flats Trail 1194, Suntop Trail 1183
Area
Bone Lake Trail 1172.1, Buck Creek Trail 1169, Christoff Trail 1171, Crystal Mountain Trail 1163, Dalles Ridge Trail 1173, Deep Creek Trail 1196, Divide Trail 1172, Grass Mountain Trail 1170, Hen Skin Lake Trail 1193, Noble Knob Trail 1184, Palisades Trail 1198, Ranger Creek Trail 1197, Silver Creek Trail 1192, White River Trail 1199
Hiking
Doe Falls Trail 1174, Huckleberry Creek Trail, Snoquera Falls Trail 1167
Campgrounds
The Dalles Campground, Silver Springs Campground, Corral Pass Campground, White River Campground
Trail Rankings
Ranking consistently applied to all of the listed trails.
- Overall Rating: Ride quality and challenge
- Aerobic: Ascent challenge
- Technical Difficulty: Terrain challenge
- Steepness: Average incline
- Flow: Uninterrupted riding
- Elevation Change: Total elevation gain
- Ride Difficulty: Terrain challenge
