Visiting Mount Rainier National Park: Everything You Need to Know to Plan an Epic Getaway!

Mount Rainier often referred to as the crown jewel of Washington, is one of the most well-known landmarks in the state and a haven for nature lovers, hikers and people seeking adventure from all over the world. From beautiful waterfalls to tranquil alpine lakes and meadows, to views of the majestic mountain herself from all corners of the park; there is no shortage of stunning scenery to behold. The park is spectacular in every season, with a dazzling display of wildflowers in the summer to vibrant colored foliage in autumn. You can even go snowshoeing here in the wintertime, however certain areas on the park may be closed or restricted during that time. Mount Rainier National Park sees about two million visitors per year, making it one of the most visited national parks in the country.

When planning your visit to the park, it may seem daunting, as the park encompasses over 236,000 acres! No need to worry though, as I am going to tell you everything you need to know to plan the perfect trip within this blog. The primary focus of this post will be to cover all of the best hiking trails in the park, however I will also include some spots for scenic viewpoints and stop-offs as well.

There are five main areas of the park, which I will go into more detail about below. These include:

• Longmire.
• Paradise.
• Ohanapecosh.
• Sunrise.
• Mowich Lake.

Keep reading for information on all the best trails, views, places to stay and photography spots. Welcome to Mount Rainier National Park!

Important Things to Know Before Your Trip

There are four main entrances to the park and this is very important to know, because depending on which area you will be going to, you will want to choose that particular entrance point. This is also important when planning your lodging (if you aren’t planning on camping or staying within the park). I strongly urge you to check the current road conditions on the nps.gov website before your trip because an impromptu road closure could add several hours to your driving time (and roads close OFTEN here due to weather)!

• Nisqually (southwest) entrance is located near Ashford, and closest to the Longmire and Paradise sections of the park. This is the most popular way to enter the park and one of the only entrances open mostly year-round. During winter, you won’t be able to enter the park via other entrances due to heavy snow and ice.
• Carbon River (northwest) entrance is located near Carbonado, and closest to the Mowich Lake area.
• White River/Sunrise (northeast) entrance takes you to the Sunrise section of the park, with the closest city being Enumclaw.
• Stevens Canyon (southeast) entrance is located closest to the city of Packwood, giving you access to the Ohanapecosh and Box Canyon areas of the park.
• There is a road that runs through the middle of the park connecting the Paradise section to the Stevens Canyon section called Paradise Valley Road. This road is one-way only, so plan for additional driving time on the way back, as you will have to circle back around the mountain. If this road does happen to close, it is about a two hour drive from the Stevens Canyon to Longmire entrances.

Mount Rainier does have an entrance fee to get into. You can purchase an annual Mount Rainier pass if you plan to visit this specific national park often for $55. A one-time pass is $30 per vehicle and is good for 7 days. If you visit multiple national parks and national forests per year, I highly recommend purchasing the annual national park pass called The America the Beautiful Pass, which is $80. You can purchase any of these passes online, or on site at the entrance stations.

Dogs or other pets are not allowed on any of the trails at Mount Rainier National Park. They can only be in a car, parking lot or campground; and must be leashed and under the owner’s control at all times. If you are planning on hiking here, it’s best to leave your furry friends at home.

Longmire Area

Nearest to the city of Ashford and entering via the Nisqually entrance is the Longmire section of Mount Rainier. There are plenty of dining and lodging options in the city of Ashford, making this one of the more popular areas of the park to visit, and the most accessible during the winter months. If you plan to stay within the national park, the National Park Inn located directly in Longmire is available for lodging. This inn is open year-round, and reservations can be made here. There is also dining and a small gift shop in this plaza as well. The Cougar Rock campground is also located in the southwest area of the park.

The first stop is a spectacular hike, that is quite difficult, yet reaps amazing rewards in terms of views. The Comet Falls parking lot will be off to the left side of the road and leads to a magnificent two-tiered 320 foot waterfall. Although the hike is only 3.2 miles round trip, it is a somewhat grueling 1,279 feet of elevation gain, that will get your heart pumping and your calves burning. As you continue uphill, you will pass several smaller waterfalls and have a nice view of Mount Rainier in the distance. As you come within a tenth of a mile from Comet falls, you will see a second impressive waterfall named Bloucher Falls to your right.

The second stop off as you drive through the Longmire area towards Paradise is Christine Falls. This parking area is approximately 1 minute down the road from the Comet Falls parking lot. As you can see in the photo above, you actually drive over the bridge above the waterfall. This is more of a viewpoint, rather than a hike, and you will park in the small parking area on the right side of the road and walk down a few steps to the viewing area. You can actually walk up the road to the bridge if you want to get a closer look at the waterfall, however keep in mind this is a heavy motor traffic area and cars may not see you as they come around the corner. If you are doing the Comet Falls hike, you will actually see and hike above Christine Falls on your ascent up-trail.

Technically in the Longmire area, Narada Falls is only about 1 mile or so from Paradise. Considered to be a horsetail falls, this 159 foot beauty is often seen with a giant rainbow reflecting in the sunlight. There are several ways to view this waterfall. First, you can enter the parking area and look down on it from above. This option is the least amount of effort, but has the most limited view of the waterfall. You can take a short 0.3 mile hike down to the next viewing platform to get a front-facing view of the waterfall, however expect to get a little wet because the spray from this powerful cascade is massive. If you are feeling extra adventurous, you can hike all the way down to the base of the falls. There is also a 2.4 mile hike you can take to Narada Falls from the Henry M. Jackson Visitor’s Center in Paradise as well.

Other Hikes in the Longmire Area:

• Carter Falls.
• Trail of the Shadows.
• Twin Firs Loop.

Paradise Area

By now you have reached the epicenter of the national park, and the area that most visitors find to be the most beautiful (although this is subjective, because every place here is so picturesque). This is also the most crowded area of the park, so if you are visiting on a weekend during the summer or autumn (the two most popular times), plan to be here by 7:00 a.m., or you likely won’t be able to find parking.

Due to the heavy snow on the mountain in this area, you won’t start seeing the ground thaw out until mid-July. Once the snow starts melting you will be amazed with a spectacular display of wildflowers all along the mountainside in the alpine meadows. Some of the animals you might see here include red foxes, black and brown bears, chipmunks, mountain goats and marmots. The area remains snow-free typically until late September and sometimes early October.

The starting point for many of the hikes here is the Henry M. Jackson Visitor’s Center, and many of the trails span out from here. Lodging is also available at the historic Paradise Inn, for which you can find information about reservations here. Keep in mind that once you pass the Visitor’s Center, the road becomes one-way, and you cannot turn around. If you are still looking for parking, take care not to pass this point.

Myrtle Falls

The first hike in this area leads to a majestic waterfall with a jaw dropping view of Mount Rainier in the backdrop, called Myrtle Falls. This short walk starts at the Paradise Inn and is 0.8 miles out and back. If you are planning to do the Skyline trail, which I will discuss next, you will pass Myrtle Falls along the way.

If you only have time for one hike at Mount Rainier National Park, the Skyline Trail cannot be beat. It is not only the most scenic in the park, but is rated one of the most beautiful hikes in the entire world. Be prepared for crowds here, because everyone wants a piece of the view this trail has to offer. The total hike is 6.2 miles in length, with 1,788 feet of elevation gain, so it is no walk in the park! Fortunately, the higher you climb, the more the crowds start to thin out.

This trail not only allows you to get surprisingly close to the mountain, but boasts the absolute best views of wildflowers and fall foliage in the whole state of Washington. There is a network of connecting trails here, so if you don’t want to do the full hike, you can loop back down via the Golden Gate Trail for a shorter trip. Panorama Point is also an excellent turn-around point for those wanting to shorten their trek

Once you have completed your hikes here, you will pass a multitude of gorgeous viewpoints as you make your way past the Paradise area towards Sunrise and Ohanapecosh, down the one-way Paradise Valley Road. These include Inspiration Point and the Reflection Lakes (featured below).

Other Hikes in the Paradise Area:

• Nisqually Vista.
• Pinnacle Peak.
• Bench and Snow Lakes.

Ohanapecosh Area

As you head towards the Ohanapecosh area and Steven’s Canyon you will take a scenic 22 mile drive through the heart of the national park to our next destination. Along the way you will pass Box Canyon, and arrive at the next stop, which is the Grove of the Patriarchs Trail. This hike is located off of the Eastside Trail parking lot. This tranquil and mostly flat walk will take you through an old-growth forest filled with towering Cedars and Douglas Firs. There was previously a suspension bridge crossing the Ohanapecosh River, that took you to the most scenic area of the trail, including the one shown in the photo below. Unfortunately, in 2021 the bridge was washed away in a flood, so this part of the trail is currently closed.

The next hike takes you to a lesser-known waterfall within the park called Silver Falls. What this cascade lacks in height, is made up for by sheer force, as this powerhouse of a waterfall pummels through the gorge of the Ohanapecosh River. With icy blue waters and moss-dripping trees, this is truly a hidden gem of the park. There are two ways to access this waterfall, one of which is a moderate 2.9 mile hiking loop starting at the Ohanapecosh campground. The second route which is much easier, and shorter, is by taking the Laughingwater Trail to connect to the Silver Falls trail, which cuts your hike down to 0.6 miles round trip. The GPS coordinates for the parking area are: 46.751570, -121.557490.

There is no lodging in the Ohanapecosh area of the park, however there is a campground located here, as well as the nearby city of Packwood, WA with additional lodging.

Sunrise Area

Best accessed via the Sunrise/White River entrance of the park, Sunrise is the highest reachable point within the park, with breathtaking views of the surrounding valleys below. Sunrise Road is only open from mid-July to late-September due to heavy snowfall. The Sunrise Visitor’s Center is the central hub of the area, and most of the trails span out from this parking lot. There is no lodging in this area of the park, but there is a campground nearby, which is the White River campground. You can find information about this here.

The first trail on this side of the park is the Naches Peak Trail. Located off route 410 (Chinook Pass), you will start in the parking lot for the above pictured Tipsoo Lake. This is actually my second favorite hike in the park (behind the Skyline Trail) because it is a shorter distance and you not only get stunning views of the mountain, but pass by several alpine lakes along the way. This is another great hike for wildflower viewing in the summertime. The overall trail is 3.3 miles roundtrip, with 636 feet of elevation gain.

The next hike on this list is the Mount Fremont Lookout Tower, accessed via the Sourdough Ridge trail. At 5.7 miles and 1,112 feet of elevation gain, it is a moderately strenuous hike. This is probably one of the more popular fire lookouts in the park, so expect to see others on the trail. You will start at the Sunrise Visitor’s Center, and along the way pass by the beautiful Frozen Lake. This hike offers incredible views of the valley below, however there are some steep drop-offs, and the last section of the trail is quite rocky. Naturally sunrise and sunset are the best times to do this hike, but even when starting at 3:00 am, there are going to probably be plenty of others with the same idea!

This next trail is kind of an explore at your own pace kind of excursion. You can follow the entire 5.5 mile rim trail, with 1,115 feet of elevation gain, if you wish to complete the full loop. You can also connect to the nearby Silver Forest trail if you want to just see viewpoints of the mountain. There is a network of connecting trails here, including the Sunrise Nature Trail and Emmons Vista Overlook. Any way you choose to venture, there are no shortage of amazing views to be found.

Other Hikes in the Sunrise Area:

• Palisades Lakes Trail.
• Burroughs Mountain.
• Glacier Basin Trail.
• Crystal Lakes Trail.

Mowich Lake Area

Mowich Lake is probably the most distant and somewhat difficult area of the park to access, as it really isn’t close to any of the other sections of the park and requires a long drive around to the other side of the mountain. The nearest major cities are Carbonado, Pullayup and Buckley WA.

Mowich Lake is its own recreation site, so you will see kayakers and SUP riders aplenty here during the summer months. One of the other reasons this area is harder to access is that the long road back to the lake is extremely washed out and filled with large potholes. Higher clearance vehicles will do better here, but you do have to drive slow due to the awful road conditions, making the drive down the road a little under an hour. The total distance is 17 miles to drive down Mowich Lake Road from the Carbon River Road junction. There is a small campground at this site, so if that’s your thing, it is recommended to book beforehand, as there’s only 13 campsites available and they fill up fast. You can find information about all the Mount Rainier campsites including cost, reservations and locations here.

Tolmie Peak is one of the most iconic hikes in Mount Rainier National Park, due to the insane views near the top. Along this 5.6 mile out and back trip, you will stroll through a pristine forest with a total elevation gain of 1,541 feet. The summit of Tolmie Peak takes you up to an old fire lookout tower, which is still in use today. Along the way, you pass by the vibrant Eunice Lake, sitting in the basin of a sub-alpine meadow. This is a perfect resting point before making the final ascent to the top.

This area is known to have an abundance of wildlife, including bears, so it is highly recommended to hike with bear spray in this area. Once at the top, you have a bird’s eye view of the mountain, as well as the now tiny appearing lake below. This spot is very popular for sunrise and sunset, so expect there to be others on the trail.

Spray Park

Spray Park is an insanely beautiful area also located in the Mowich Lake area. The main trail here is called the Spray Park to Mount Pleasant Trail, which a moderately strenuous hike totaling up to 6.9 miles roundtrip with 2,198 feet of elevation gain. This is a fantastic area for hiking with waterfalls, wildflowers and plenty of wildlife. I have personally seen mountain goats and black bears along this trail.

The main attraction of this hike is the aptly named Spray Falls, which is a towering 354 feet tall! Despite the long and arduous journey to get here, this is absolutely the most impressive waterfall in Mount Rainier National Park, by far! In fact, it is up there with the best waterfalls in the whole state of Washington. If you are just wanting to see the waterfall and not wanting to hike all the way up the mountain, you will only hike 2.3 miles from Mowich Lake campground (totaling 4.6 miles roundtrip).

Other Areas of Interest Outside of Mount Rainier National Park

You could easily spend days, if not weeks, exploring all of the beautiful areas within Mount Rainier National Park. However, if you have extra time to spare and are looking for scenic hikes nearby without the crowds, look no further because these are my top recommendations.

Want to visit a lesser-known fire lookout with amazing views of Mount Rainier? The Suntop Lookout is an excellent alternative, however it may not be fully accessible during certain times of the year. There is a series of two gates, which determine how far you will need to hike to reach your final destination. If they are both open, then you can drive all the way to the top. If the first is open, but the second is closed, you will need to hike approximately two miles. If both gates are closed, then the hike up is about 16 miles long. This area is located off of Highway 410 (Chinook Pass) heading towards Buckley WA. Downloading directions beforehand is key, as there’s no cell reception out here!

If you are staying in or near Ashford (near the Nisqually entrance to the park), there is a very cool waterfall trail located in the Charles L Pack Experimental Forest called Little Mashel Falls. This trail is best accessed from the Bud Blancher Trailhead, and leads to three different waterfalls: upper, middle and lower Mashel Falls. This above pictured middle falls is the most picturesque of the three, and there is even a small recess cave you can go in behind it. The entire three falls trail is 4.6 miles total, but this can be significantly shortened if you plan to just visit one or two of the waterfalls.

Last but not least, is another fire lookout tower outside of the park, which is located in the nearby Gifford
Pinchot National Forest. The High Rock Lookout trail is closest to the city of Ashford (again, near the Nisqually entrance). The hike is 3.2 miles long with 1,299 feet of elevation gain. In 2021 the fire lookout was dismantled for restoration, but there are plans to replace it in 2023. Nonetheless, the views from the top are just stunning!

In Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed reading my comprehensive blog about visiting Mount Rainier. The national parks are such a treasured part of the United States’ history and if we take great care to protect these lands, undoubtedly they will be here for many years to come!

Remember to be respectful of the public lands, stay on maintained trails and follow Leave No Trace Principles. If you do encounter wildlife on the trail, do not approach it and keep a safe distance. There are bears in certain areas of the park, so it might be helpful to carry bear spray with you.

There are no gas stations within the park, and you may be driving for several hours to reach different areas. Always fill up before entering the park to avoid finding yourself in a precarious situation. There is very limited, if any, cell phone service in the park, so downloading trail maps and directions beforehand is very helpful! Rangers are also available at many of the popular trailheads to help with questions and tips.

If you found this blog to be helpful when planning your epic adventure, please reach out via the comments or contact form on my bio page.

Happy Wandering!