At a glance
- 4.6 mi round trip
- 525 ft
- Out & back
- Easy
- National Forest
A good warm-weather pick thanks to shade and river access. The full Skookum Flats Trail (#1194) runs about 8.5 miles one way; a Northwest Forest Pass is required to park.
Skookum Flats is the warm-weather dog hike near Mount Rainier. The trail (#1194) stays in the trees and parallels the White River, ending at Skookum Falls — a combination of shade, flat grade, and moving water that is hard to beat on a hot afternoon.
Per the Washington Trails Association, the standard out-and-back to the falls from the north trailhead is about 4.6 miles round trip with roughly 525 feet of elevation gain. (The full Skookum Flats Trail is longer — about 8.5 miles one way, point-to-point — but the falls are the usual turnaround.)
With your dog
Dogs are welcome on leash. This is popular with hikers, runners, and mountain bikers, so keep your dog close on the busier stretches. The river makes it a great cooling-off hike; bring a collapsible bowl and let your dog wade at safe, calm spots.
Getting there
The trailhead is along the Highway 410 / Chinook Pass corridor near Greenwater, paralleling the White River. A Northwest Forest Pass is required to park. Because it is lower and shaded, Skookum Flats is often accessible a little earlier and later in the season than the higher Chinook Pass trails.
Gear for this hike
Ruffwear
$49.99Ruffwear Roamer Bungee Dog Leash — research review
The Ruffwear Roamer is a 1-inch webbing bungee leash offered in two length ranges that combines Wavelength stretch webbing, a padded adjustable handle with a side‑release buckle, a traffic handle for quick restraint, and an anodized 6061‑T6 aluminum Talon Clip. It’s presented by Ruffwear for running, hiking, hands‑free walking and biking and can be worn at the waist, carried by hand, or looped around a post without unclipping; the waist fit adjusts up to 48 in. The longer 7.3–11 ft option is noted as not ideal for crowded or high‑traffic sidewalks.
Ruffwear
$24.99Ruffwear Quencher Packable Dog Bowl — Research Review
The Ruffwear Quencher Packable Dog Bowl is a collapsible square bowl designed for food and water on the go. It is made from a durable water-resistant shell fabric with a lightweight waterproof lining and includes reflective trim. The Quencher comes in three capacities (Small 0.75 L, Medium 1 L, Large 2.5 L), folds flat for pocket or pack storage, and—because its fabric construction is not rigid—must be held or placed on level ground to maintain shape. Ruffwear provides a limited warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.
Ruffwear
$34.99Ruffwear Bivy Collapsible Dog Bowl — Research Review
The Ruffwear Bivy is a single-size (1.5 L) collapsible bowl designed for portable feeding and hydration during outdoor adventures. It uses a welded durable fabric (not silicone) intended to create a watertight seal, has a non-slip bottom, and—according to the Amazon listing—stays open while in use and folds flat for transport. The product carries Ruffwear’s limited warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.
Related
Sources & research
Read our research methodology and editorial standards →
- Trail reference Skookum Flats