Grove of the Patriarchs

The grove survives because of its island. Cut off from the surrounding slopes by the river, it was largely spared the wildfires that periodically swept the valley, so the trees kept growing for centuries while forests elsewhere burned and started over.

The result is a rare pocket of very old growth. The largest redcedars are enormous, their trunks broad enough that several people together can barely reach around them, and their age is measured not in decades but in many centuries.

The trail is mostly flat and follows the beautiful Ohanapecosh River, whose water runs a clear blue-green over pale stones. It is a gentle walk suitable for most visitors, and interpretive signs help tell the story of the ancient forest.

Because the grove sits across the river, reaching the island has traditionally meant crossing a footbridge, and river floods and bridge conditions can affect access from year to year. It is always worth checking whether the trail and any bridge are open before you plan your visit.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

The Grove of the Patriarchs is a stand of ancient old-growth trees on a small island in the Ohanapecosh River, in the southeast corner of Mount Rainier National Park. Protected from wildfire by the surrounding river, some of its western redcedars, Douglas firs, and western hemlocks have been growing for more than a thousand years, making them among the oldest and largest trees in the park. A flat, easy trail leads through the forest to the grove, where the giants tower in a cool, hushed, cathedral-like setting, making it one of the most beloved short walks in Mount Rainier.

Some of the trees in the Grove of the Patriarchs are estimated to be more than a thousand years old, which is why the grove carries that name. The ancient western redcedars in particular are enormous, with trunks so broad that several people linking hands can barely reach around them. The grove survived for so long because it grows on an island in the Ohanapecosh River, which shielded it from the wildfires that periodically reset the surrounding forest. Walking among these centuries-old giants offers a rare and humbling glimpse of what an ancient Pacific Northwest forest looks like.

Access to the Grove of the Patriarchs can change from year to year, because reaching the island has traditionally required crossing a footbridge over the Ohanapecosh River, and river flooding and bridge conditions can affect the trail. For that reason it is important to check the park's current trail and access information before planning your visit, since the crossing may be closed or altered at times. The southeast corner of the park is also reached by seasonal roads that close with snow for much of the year, so the grove is generally a summer and early-fall destination.

The Grove of the Patriarchs is near the Stevens Canyon Entrance on the southeast side of Mount Rainier National Park, in the Ohanapecosh River valley close to the gateway town of Packwood. Most visitors reach it via State Route 123 and the Stevens Canyon Entrance, with the trailhead a short distance inside the park. The roads into this corner of the park are seasonal and close with snow for much of the year, so the grove is best visited in summer or early fall. Always check the current road and trail status before you go, since both the access road and the river crossing can be affected by conditions.

The Grove of the Patriarchs sits in the southeast part of Mount Rainier National Park, within reach of some of the park's south-side highlights via Stevens Canyon Road. To the west lie Reflection Lakes, with their mirror view of the mountain, Narada Falls on the Paradise River, and Paradise itself, with its wildflower meadows and historic inn. The nearby Ohanapecosh area offers old-growth forest and the clear river. That makes the Grove of the Patriarchs a natural stop to combine with the scenic drive along Stevens Canyon toward Paradise on a visit to the eastern side of Mount Rainier.