Dog-Friendly Mount Rainier Hike: Exploring the PCT from Chinook Pass

When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. See our Affiliate Policy. After spending two and a half weeks exploring Olympic National Park and the Olympic Peninsula, it was time to start the 2,600 mile road trip back home to Alabama. The route back gave us a chance to explore one of our favorite National Parks again: Mount Rainier. We visited the year before in 2023 without our dogs, and this time, we wanted to experience Rainier with them. The only problem? Mount Rainier National Park isn’t exactly dog-friendly (dogs are only allowed in a few specific places and trails) so we looked for a relatively short hike that was dog friendly while also giving us a beautiful view of the mountain. The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and the Naches Loop Trail which branches off it perfectly fit what we were looking for. The catch was that dogs aren’t allowed on Naches Loop. So we came up with a plan. We’d hike the PCT together up until the Naches Loop turnoff, then take turns hiking part of Naches Loop solo while the other stayed back with the dogs. This little 3 hour adventure turned out to be one of the most peaceful and rewarding afternoons we’ve had in the park. If you’re looking for a similar hike with your dog, here’s how our adventure went, starting at Chinook Pass. Parking and Starting the PCT at Chinook Pass We hiked on a beautiful and cool day in early August, 2024. I don’t know if we could have picked a more perfect day. The sky overhead was a brilliant blue with cottony clouds floating above the mountains. We drove over from Sequim, the Lavender Capital of North America, that morning before reaching Chinook Pass Overlook Trailhead, just north of Tipsoo Lake. If you’re visiting Olympic or Mount Rainier National Park, check out hotels in Sequim here; it’s a great base for exploring both areas. The Chinook Pass Overlook Trailhead parking lot is fairly small (it can fit 18 cars and 5 RVs or trailers) and was mostly full when we pulled up around noon, but we were able to find a spot. We stopped at the Chinook Pass Comfort Stations which are just across the street (and also has a parking lot which fits another 26 cars) for a quick bathroom break before making our way to the PCT. Mount Rainier Weather The trail was busy which wasn’t surprising for such a beautiful day. We ran into a lot of hikers and a handful of other dogs along the way. Melted snow higher up in the mountains created little streams that crossed the trail here and there which was perfect for our older dog, Toby, who loves cooling off in them. What made hiking with them easier was connecting their leashes to our hiking packs (the park requires that dogs are on leashes no longer than 6 feet). That way we could hike over rocks using our hiking poles in both of our hands (check out the other hiking gear we use). Google Map needs advertisement cookies to load. These cookies cover both our site and the embedded content. Or View on Google Maps Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail with Our Dogs Our two dogs, Toby and Lily, are both small poodle mixes who (when they aren’t napping on the couch) are happiest outside, surrounded by grass, trees and new smells. The stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail leading to the Naches Loop was perfect for them. Toby, who gets hot and tired on longer hikes, surprised us by making it the entire 3 miles (1.5 miles one direction) without needing to be carried, especially considering we used his pet carrier at Cape Flattery a week earlier! Lily, on the other hand, treated the whole thing like a warm-up to play time! We hiked 1.5 miles south along the PCT before reaching the Naches Loop junction, and every step we took was gorgeous and filled with wildflowers. When we visited in June 2023, we were too early in the wildflower season and the flowers hadn’t bloomed yet (wildflower season is from late July through August). The park felt so much more alive and vibrant during this visit. In August, the wildflowers were in full bloom, with yellow, white, pink, blue and purple flowers lining the trail. Because the PCT is dog-friendly and Naches Loop is not, we decided to make a little “base camp” just before the trails split and one of us would hike up Naches Loop Trail as far as we could, enjoy the view and come back within 30 minutes. We spread out a blanket in a quiet, tree covered spot that overlooked Dewey Lake and set a 30-minute timer. I hiked up Naches Loop Trail first. With only 30 minutes to explore, I basically ran up the trail. In just under ten minutes, I made it about 0.4 miles in and had an absolutely jaw-dropping view of Mount Rainier in front of me. Even from that distance, the scale of the mountain felt surreal. I took as many photos as I could (and quite a few hikers were more than happy to take pictures of me on the trail) before heading back to trade places with Minerva. We set another 30 minute timer and I watched her climb towards Mount Rainier. While waiting with the dogs, the breeze and mountain quiet made the wait surprisingly relaxing (minus the flies and mosquitoes that seemed to find me immediately). View of Mount Rainier from Naches Loop Trail Details & Tips for Dog Owners Trailhead: Chinook Pass Overlook Trailhead Total Distance: ~3 miles with dogs (closer to 4 total including taking turns hiking part of the Naches Loop trail) Time: Around 3 hours including solo Naches segments, but we got distracted by the view Restrooms: Chinook Pass Comfort Stations nearby Difficulty: Easy to moderate Dog Policy: Dogs are allowed on the Pacific Crest Trail but not on Naches Loop Trail Best Season: July through early September (for wildflowers and snow-free paths) Parking: Limited but manageable; looks like it fills up fast What to Bring: Water (we usually bring 5L, 2L with Minerva and 3L with me), snacks, wide-brimmed sun hat, mosquito repellent, and a blanket to relax on during the Naches Loop swap Dog Essentials: Leashes clipped to your backpack, collapsible bowls, water and dog-safe bug repellent Toby loves to lead the way A Top Dog-Friendly Hike Trading off turns on the Naches Loop was something new for us. We usually experience these kinds of adventures and moments together, so it felt strange not having Minerva hiking alongside me when I first saw Mount Rainier at the top of Naches Loop. Still, we made it work as a team. The hike was not strenuous, we got a beautiful view and were able to explore one of our favorite National Parks with our dogs. Making our way back to the Chinook Pass parking lot By the time we packed up and started the drive east toward Spokane, both dogs were fast asleep in the backseat (though I’m sure Lily desperately wanted to play ball). If you’re looking for a dog-friendly hike in Mount Rainier National Park that gives you a beautiful mountain view, this section of the Pacific Crest Trail and a quick hike up Naches Loop is an awesome choice. You get the best of both worlds where you’re able to explore the mountains, wildflowers and a gorgeous view of Rainier while being able to take your dog along ~75% of the hike. It’s easily one of the best dog-friendly trails near Mount Rainier if you’re exploring with pets. Just bring a blanket, your bug spray, a few good snacks and go make your own awesome dog-friendly adventure!