Mt. Rainier Owling and Ptarmigan Hunt
WHEN: Friday, October 10 – Saturday October 11, 2025
TIME: Friday evening owling in Mount Rainier National Park
Overnight at Whittakers Bunkhouse, Ashford, WA.
Hiking the Skyline Trail on Saturday
DESTINATION: Pebble Creek, Panorama Point, Mt. Rainier National Park
LEADERS: Lin Stern and Maia Jewell
REGISTRATION: This trip will be limited to 3 cars with 4 occupants each. Please register with Lin Stern at lindseysarahstern@gmail.com
DESCRIPTION: Friday evening will be spent looking for owls in Mount Rainier National Park. Recommended lodging is at Whittakers Bunkhouse in Ashford, Washington.
Saturday will be birding and hiking from Paradise to Pebble Creek in search of White-tailed Ptarmigan, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, American Pipits and other alpine specialties. The hike starts in Paradise and ascends steeply to Pebble Creek. This alpine creek marks the boundary between the front country trails that crisscross Paradise meadows and the trail-less zone of tundra above.
Pebble Creek is halfway between Paradise and Camp Muir. The trail is 4.4 miles roundtrip with 1,760 feet of elevation gain. The highpoint is 7,180 feet. The trail is well-traveled but is steep and at high elevation.
Bring food and water for the day, hiking poles, binoculars, and layered clothing as the weather can be unpredictable.
SSBA has loaner binoculars for our field trips. If you wish to borrow some, please contact us at bhas@southsoundbirds.org a few days ahead of the trip.
Photo credit: Northern Pygmy-Owl, by Mick Thompson.
