The Carbon Glacier Viewpoint is one of the most awe-inspiring spots on the Wonderland Trail, offering a rare up-close look at one of the lowest-elevation glaciers in the contiguous United States. Located just past the Carbon River suspension bridge and not far from Ipsut Creek Camp, the viewpoint gives you a striking vantage of the Carbon Glacier’s craggy, bluish-gray snout as it spills down from Mount Rainier’s northern flank.
The glacier is massive and active—its icy surface often groans and cracks, and meltwater gushes from its base to form the Carbon River. The area is filled with evidence of glacial force: loose rock, silty runoff, and a raw, ever-shifting landscape. From the trail, you’ll see dramatic ice cliffs, crevasses, and towering lateral moraines.