National Park Trekkers
Trail toward Mount Rainier, Mount Rainier National Park
All parks
Washington. Established 1899.

Mount Rainier

A glacier-covered 14,410-foot volcano ringed by wildflower meadows and old-growth forest.

Trail toward Mount Rainier.Photo by Stephanie Bergeron on Unsplash
Hours
Open 24 hours, all year
Entry
$30 per car
Reservations
Not required
Size
236,381 acres

Mount Rainier Weather Now

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Mount Rainier is an active stratovolcano and the most glaciated peak in the lower 48 states, with about 25 named glaciers. It rises 14,410 feet, towering over everything around it, and makes its own weather. Established in 1899, it was the fifth national park in the US. Old-growth forests of Douglas fir and western red cedar fill the lower valleys.

Most visitors drive to Paradise or Sunrise and walk into subalpine meadows that burst with wildflowers for a few weeks each summer. Paradise is one of the snowiest places on earth where snowfall is measured regularly, averaging more than 600 inches a year. The 93-mile Wonderland Trail circles the entire mountain. About 10,000 people try to summit each year, and roughly half reach the top.

The park and surrounding area

TacomaAshfordPackwoodEnumclawEatonvilleMount Rainier
  • Park boundary
  • Other parks
  • Major highway
  • Road
  • Rivers and lakes
  • Town

Plan your trip

Best time to go
Late July through mid-September, when the high roads are open, snow has melted from trails and wildflowers peak.
How long to stay
Two to three days covers Paradise, Sunrise and a few good hikes.
Getting there
Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) is about 2 hours from the Nisqually Entrance. Portland International (PDX) is about 2.5 to 3 hours away.
Wildlife
Visitors may see hoary marmots, black-tailed deer, mountain goats on high ridges, Douglas squirrels and the occasional black bear.

Plan and book

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Where to stay

Tours and activities

What to pack for Mount Rainier

A first day, start to finish

  1. Enter at Nisqually and stop at Longmire
  2. Christine Falls and Narada Falls
  3. Paradise visitor center and the Skyline Trail
  4. Reflection Lakes
  5. Box Canyon on Stevens Canyon Road

Don't miss

  • Paradise and the Skyline TrailA 5.5-mile loop climbs from the Paradise visitor center through wildflower meadows to Panorama Point, with close views of the Nisqually Glacier.
  • SunriseAt 6,400 feet, the highest point you can drive to in the park, with a full view of Rainier's east face and Emmons Glacier.
  • Reflection LakesA roadside stop on Stevens Canyon Road where the mountain mirrors in calm water on clear mornings.
  • Naches Peak LoopA 3.2-mile loop from Tipsoo Lake at Chinook Pass through meadows known for late summer wildflowers and huckleberries.
  • Narada FallsA short, steep path from the parking lot leads to the base of a 168-foot waterfall on the road to Paradise.

Know before you go

Do

  • Arrive before 9 a.m. on summer weekends, when Paradise and Sunrise lots fill.
  • Check the road status page before you go, since GPS can route you to closed gates.
  • Carry tire chains from November 1 to May 1; every vehicle is required to.

Don't

  • Walk off trail in the subalpine meadows; plants there take decades to recover.
  • Feed the gray jays, chipmunks or marmots, however bold they get.
  • Count on cell service, especially on the east side of the park.

The park is open 24 hours a day, year-round, but in winter vehicles can only enter at the Nisqually Entrance and drive to Paradise. Stevens Canyon Road, Chinook and Cayuse passes, and the Sunrise and White River roads close for winter (typically mid-October to late May or June). The Paradise visitor center is open daily in summer and on weekends in winter.

On a busy summer day, start at the Stevens Canyon Entrance on the quieter southeast side and drive west to Paradise.Trekker's tip