Puyallup

This hike starts at the wilderness boundary and immediately comes to a T-junction with the Glacier View trail turning left and Paradise Trail turning right. There is a cairn which likely was a support for a trail sign. The trail sign is now a small wooden sign on a tree. Note the cairn so you can easily find the spur back to the parking lot when you return. 

Paradise Trail follows a ridge where one can catch glimpses of Mt. Rainier through the tress. The trail soon drops to Beljica Meadows which is full of wildflowers in the spring/early summer. The trail stays in the trees just above the meadows, and there are several lakes in the long meadow. 

The trail starts to climb and is soon joined by the Lake Christine trail (249) coming in from the right. Continue steadily up and over a ridge, then down to Goat Lake at about 2.5 miles. A nice campsite is on the end of the lake and the trail goes through it.

From Goat Lake, the trail rises steeply, passing into the National Park in another 0.5 miles. Continuing into the Park, the trail continues up and over a ridge, then steeply down a short distance to the junction with Gobbler's Knob side trail. Up another 0.4 miles to the old fire lookout for fantastic views of Mt. Rainier and all the Cascades including Mt. St. Helens.

Elevation gain on the 1.5 miles from Goat Lake to Gobbler's Knob is about 1100 vertical feet, not including the elevation lost on the short downhill. Overall elevation gain from the parking lot to Gobblers Knob is about 2300 vertical feet. 

Note that Trail 248 in the wilderness area and wilderness rules allow dogs on leashes and pack animals. Pets and pack animals are not allowed on the Park portions of the trail to Gobbler's Knob.