Klapatche Point

Klapatche Point is a remote backcountry viewpoint in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, reached via a long stretch of the Wonderland Trail through old-growth conifers and open subalpine meadows. Sitting at roughly 5,750 feet, the point overlooks Aurora Lake — a small glacially carved tarn — with an unobstructed westward view across the snowfields of Mount Rainier (14,411 ft), one of the most glaciated peaks in the contiguous United States. There are no roads, facilities, or services here; the point is the domain of experienced hikers and permitted backcountry campers. The combination of the still lake, open sky, and the volcano's bulk makes it one of the quieter and more dramatic corners of a frequently visited park.