Comet Falls
- Height
- 300 ft
- Hike
- 1.9 mi each way
- Elevation gain
- 1200 ft
- Road
- Paved
- Permit
- Required
- Dogs
- Not allowed
Comet Falls drops about 300 ft on Van Trump Creek in Pierce County, Washington. Reaching it is a 1.9 mi hike each way with 1200 ft of elevation gain.
Closures and warnings
NPS: wait until snow has melted; trail can be treacherous into summer. Stay on maintained trails; wet rocks and cliffs are hazardous. As of September 28, 2026.
The falls
| Height | 300 ft |
|---|---|
| Flow note | NPS: highest drop falling over 300 feet |
Access
| Hike | 1.9 mi each way |
|---|---|
| Elevation gain | 1200 ft |
| Road | Paved |
| Parking | Comet Falls Trail parking two miles above Cougar Rock Campground on the road to Paradise; limited spaces, often fills |
| When it fills | Parking often fills quickly; no additional parking nearby |
| Fee | Mount Rainier National Park entrance fee applies |
| Reservation or permit | Required |
| Managed by | National Park Service (Mount Rainier National Park) |
Rules
| Dogs | Not allowed |
|---|
Common questions
Common questions
Is Comet Falls open?
NPS: wait until snow has melted; trail can be treacherous into summer. Stay on maintained trails; wet rocks and cliffs are hazardous. As of September 28, 2026.
How tall is Comet Falls?
Comet Falls drops about 300 ft.
How long is the hike to Comet Falls?
It's a 1.9 mi hike each way with 1200 ft of elevation gain. The road in is paved. Parking: Comet Falls Trail parking two miles above Cougar Rock Campground on the road to Paradise; limited spaces, often fills. Parking often fills quickly; no additional parking nearby.
Do you need a reservation for Comet Falls?
Yes. A reservation or permit is required.
Is there a fee at Comet Falls?
The fee is Mount Rainier National Park entrance fee applies.
When is Comet Falls flowing?
NPS: highest drop falling over 300 feet.
What are the rules at Comet Falls?
Dogs are not allowed.
Nearby
Camping nearby
Public land
Comet Falls is inside Mount Rainier National Park and Mount Rainier Wilderness .
Sources
3
- https://www.nps.gov/mora/learn/nature/waterfalls.htm (accessed September 28, 2026; backs manager / waterbodyName, waterfall.heightFt / flowNote, access.hikeDistanceMi / elevationGainFt, access.parking / parkingPattern / hazardNote)
- https://www.nps.gov/places/comet-falls.htm (accessed September 28, 2026; backs access.hikeDistanceBasis)
- https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/fees.htm (accessed September 28, 2026; backs access.permitRequired)