Indian Henry's Hunting Ground via Kautz Creek

Dogs No Dogs

Features Birding · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

An area favored for hunting by early mountain guide Indian Henry, the namesake hunting grounds are now the perfect area to view wildlife, and enjoy wildflowers.

Due to the open nature of this area, the views of Mount Rainier and surrounding peaks are amazing.

Current trail conditions are available park-wide from wilderness information centers, ranger stations, and visitor centers. Be sure to check the status of the Kautz Creek footbridge!

Indian Henry's Hunting Ground may also be reached by a separate trail from Longmire.

This route undulates often with very steep pitches making for difficult running conditions.

Park at the Kautz Creek Picnic Area and take the trailhead located across the road. From the trailhead follows Kautz Creek for about 1 mile before crossing the creek on a log bridge and enters old growth forest. In another half mile the trail begins a series of switchbacks and climbs steeply through forest for another 2 miles before emerging along the south flank of Mount Ararat. The trail enters a series of meadows before climbing a final ridge and descending to the ranger cabin in the meadows of Indian Henry's.

Near the trailhead there is evidence of the Kautz Creek flood of about 70 years ago with boulder fields and many large dead trees still standing. At Indian Henry's, meadows are generally in full bloom from mid -July through August. Fall colors are impressive generally from mid-September into October.