Mount Rainier National Park

Located 60 miles south east from Seattle, Washington. The park encompasses 236,381 acres of alpine wilderness and some of the most glaciated peaks in the United States. The most prominent feature of the park is undoubtably Mount Rainier. A stratovolcano towering above the skyline at 14’411 feet. On a clear day you can’t miss the icon peak but if it’s cloudy you won’t even know it is there.

Mount Rainier is popular peak for experienced mountaineers with roughly 10,000 attempts per year. Although, only 50% actual make it to the summit. Much of the danger ensues from the mountain being the most heavily glaciated peak in the United States. Climbers are nearly always at risk of taking a miscalculated step and crashing down into a crevasse that may be 100 feet deep.

I was pretty disappointed we were unable to find the main Mount Rainier National Park sign. Were you able to find it?

If you’d rather leave the ice ax and crampons at home and prefer to explore during the summer months you will have plenty of hiking trails to chose from. The Skyline Trail (5.5 miles RT) is one of the most highly rated in the entire state. It circumnavigates the Paradise area of the park and treats visitors with jaw-dropping scenery every step of the way. You may have to fight the crowds during July and August but the blooming wildflowers will make it worth your while. It is easy to see where the name Paradise comes from, on a clear day you will be blessed with views of Mt St Helens, Mt Hood, and Mt Adams.

If you’re looking for a real challenge the famous Wonderland Trail might be more your style. The 93 mile loop circumnavigates the entire base of Mount Rainier. Giving you a taste of everything the park has to offer. You will need to apply for a sought after permit to hike the wonderland trail and spend the night in the pristine backcountry wilderness. But it will be the experience of a lifetime that few have the opportunity to have.

For those who like chasing waterfalls, Narada Falls is an easy 5 mile trek. If you enjoy wildlife encounters the Mount Fremont Lookout trail is the one for you, the 3 mile loop is one of the best spot to see the elusive mountain goat.

Mount Rainier decided to hide in the clouds during our visit.

Mount Rainer National Park is not known for fishing like some of the other parks. So if you’re an avid angler, be warned this might not be the park for you. The park does offer a variety of ranger lead activity’s and also host annual wildflower excursions throughout the year.

As mentioned, Paradise is worth a visit and would be hard to miss. However, there are other developed areas of the park that offer unique perspectives. They will also lack the crowds during the high season. The Longmire Lodge, was the site of the original park headquarters and now features a museum for anyone looking to learn about the parks history. Sunrise, is also a great place to visit during the summer (closed during winter) at an elevation of 6’400 feet it is the highest destination reachable by vehicle in the park. On a clear day the view of Mount Rainier is out of this world and should be on everyones bucket list.

From my experience the park caters to people seeking an adventure. This park is unlike Bryce Canyon or Petrified Forest, which can be seen by touring the “scenic highways”. If you want to see everything Mount Rainier has to offer you will have to put on your hiking boots and leave the car behind. Be sure to plan accordingly as the weather can change extremely quick. Don’t get caught in a bad situation by being being under prepared.