Barrier Peak

Barrier Peak is a 6,521-foot (1,988 m) summit inside Mount Rainier National Park, Pierce County, Washington, positioned along the western Cascade Range. The peak takes its name from the role it historically played as a physical barrier separating the Cayuse Pass corridor from the broader Rainier backcountry. The standard approach follows the Owyhigh Lakes Trail, a comparatively uncrowded route that offers a quieter alternative to the park's busier thoroughfares. Runoff from the peak feeds tributaries of both the White River and the Cowlitz River. The summit provides open views across subalpine ridgelines, with Mount Rainier itself visible on clear days.