Wonderland Trail Shelters facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Summerland Trail Shelter
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 Location in Washington (state)
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| Nearest city | Sunrise, Washington |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1934 |
| Architectural style | Rustic style |
| MPS | Mt. Rainier National Park MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 91000185 |
| Added to NRHP | March 13, 1991 |
Imagine hiking around a huge mountain! The Wonderland Trail is a famous path that goes all the way around Mount Rainier in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington. It's about 93 miles (150 km) long. Hikers on this trail climb over many hills, gaining about 22,000 feet in height! The trail was first built way back in 1915.
Along the trail, you can find special shelters. These shelters were built to look like they belong in nature. They are part of a design style called "rustic architecture." This style was popular with the National Park Service (NPS) when it was founded in 1916. The NPS wanted buildings to blend in with the beautiful natural surroundings. These shelters are even part of the Mount Rainier National Historic Landmark District. This means they are very important historical buildings.
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Shelters Built by the CCC
Many of the shelters on the Wonderland Trail were built by a group called the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC was a program during the 1930s that helped young men find work. They built many parks and buildings across the United States.
Summerland Trail Shelter
The Summerland Trail Shelter is one of these cool rustic shelters. It's located in Mount Rainier National Park and was built by the CCC in 1934. This shelter has strong stone walls and a roof made of logs. It's shaped like a "saltbox," which means one side of the roof is longer than the other. The shelter is about 15 feet by 16 feet. Even though the workers were new to building with stone, the shelter still looks like it fits perfectly in its mountain home. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 13, 1991.
North Mowich Trail Shelter
Another shelter built by the CCC in 1934 is the North Mowich Trail Shelter. This one is also designed to give hikers a simple place to rest on the Wonderland Trail. It's made of logs and is open at the front. This shelter measures about 14 feet by 14 feet. Like the Summerland shelter, it was also added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 13, 1991.
Indian Bar Trail Shelter
The Indian Bar Trail Shelter is another rustic shelter on the Wonderland Trail in Mount Rainier National Park. The CCC built this one a bit later, in 1940. It also has stone walls and a log roof, just like the others. This shelter is a bit bigger, about 23 feet by 26 feet. It even has a stone fireplace inside! The Indian Bar shelter replaced an older shelter that park rangers had built. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 13, 1991. In 2008, some repairs were made to the shelter to fix drainage problems and keep it in good shape.
Other Historic Shelters
Besides the CCC shelters, there are other historic buildings on the Wonderland Trail that helped rangers and hikers.
Sunset Park Patrol Cabin
The Sunset Park Patrol Cabin was built in 1922. It was made to give park rangers and hikers a place to stay. This cabin, located at Golden Lakes, is a log building about 16 feet by 18 feet. It even has a small porch! Inside, the walls are made of varnished logs, and it has a wood floor. This cabin was one of several built in 1922. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 13, 1991.
White River Patrol Cabin
The White River Patrol Cabin was built in 1927 by the National Park Service. It was originally called the White River Campground Ranger Station. Because it's right on the Wonderland Trail, it also worked as a patrol cabin for rangers. It's a three-room cabin with a log roof. It was updated in 1949. This cabin was also added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 13, 1991. In 1998, it was fixed up again. Today, this historic cabin acts like a small museum, teaching visitors about the park's many trails, including the famous Wonderland Trail.
Sunset Park Trail Shelter
The Sunset Park Trail Shelter was built in 1931 at Golden Lakes. This rustic log building also helps hikers on the Wonderland Trail. It has a "saltbox" shape, just like the Summerland shelter, and a porch across the front. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 13, 1991.
Images for kids
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Indian Bar Trail Shelter
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Sunset Park Patrol Cabin
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White River Patrol Cabin
