Rising into the sky, looming in the distant clouds from Seattle stands Mount Rainier. For over a hundred years, visitors have been traveling to hike and explore Mount Rainier National Park and it is no wonder. It quickly became one of our favorite National Parks and I dream of going back. If you are ready to start planning your trip (or just want to dream!) then keep reading to learn about the different areas of the park and which would be better for you to visit, what to bring on your trip, where to stay and more!
Table of Contents
Tips for Visiting Mount Rainier National Park
- Pack layers and bring sunscreen – your are at a higher altitude.
- Talk to rangers about the best hikes and trails are open – some close during the winter.
- Bring snacks for the trail.
Paradise Region (Hikes & More Things to do!)
There are two main regions in Mount Rainier National Park. Paradise is the most popular area and has the most things to do. It is also a closer drive from the nearby cities, close to the Longmire area, and open for more time during the year. If you are trying to decide where to visit, I highly suggest heading to Paradise.
Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center
I was impressed by the visitors center at Mount Rainier National Park. The hours vary depending on the season, but it is generally open from around 11am-5pm. It has a large display and educational area, a scaled down 3D display of the park, a gift shop, park rangers to talk to and you can get a Junior Ranger badge. It is located in the parking lot for Paradise at the trailhead, so you cannot miss it. If nothing else, you can find a bathroom with plumbing and all National Park goers know how valueable that is!
Skyline Loop
This hike is the most popular hike in the Paradise area and is a 5.5 mile loop. The trailhead is in the main parking lot, so it is easy to find. The trail can get busy since it is so popular and I suggest checking the conditions of the trail depending on when you go. We went at the beginning of July and the trail was still 15% covered in snow. It was fun and an adventure because of it, but make sure you are prepared.
Paradise Inn
Paradise Inn is absolutely precious, the epitomy of a cute little ski lodge. It is located just off of the main Paradise parking lot and I would highly recommend staying here if you are considering staying in the park. We stayed here two nights and loved it. However, even if you aren’t staying here, it is worth checking out. There is a restaurant, a market, and a gift shop. A huge fireplace to relax by with plenty of tables and comfy chairs to relax. They have educational activities led by rangers if you have time, but make sure to check the schedule.
Myrtle Falls
This hike is a short detour off the Skyline Trail down to a waterfall. We ended up not doing this hike, because we had planned to see other waterfalls and by the end of our hike, we were pretty tired and hungry. However, if you have better planning and timing than we did, I highly recommend taking this trail.
Longmire Museum
The Longmire Museum is located in the Longmire area of the park, a short drive from Paradise. The museum is very small and in walking distance from the National Park Inn. We stopped on our way out and saw both, but just walked through since we were on a schedule. It does have some interesting information, but is not a must-do.
National Park Inn
National Park Inn is the other option in the park if you are wanting to stay overnight. We stopped by just to check it out on our way out of the park and it is definitely much smaller, less busy and feels older than Paradise Inn. It also does not have as many popular trailheads. However, it is a short drive from Paradise and still a great option if you are wanting to stay in the Park. It was also cozy and have a cute sitting area with board games and a fireplace.
Comet Falls
Comet Falls is located between Paradise and Longmire with the trailhead starting from a parking lot off the side of the road. It is a there and back trail with a total length of 2.6 miles. Along the trail you will witness multiple falls and the gorgeous landscape of the Pacific Northwest. We did not do this trail since it was not located close to any others, we did not take time to hike it. If we had more time in the park, we would have added it to the list.
Reflection Lakes
This hike/area is a short drive from Paradise and if famous for it’s… Reflection of Mount Rainer. It is suppossed to be best seen during sunset or sunrise, so plan accordingly. There is a short trail that connects the lakes and two parking areas. We parked at the first lot you come upon when driving from Paradise and walked the trail. The best view of the reflection is at the second parking lot, so I would suggest just going there. It’s some of the most beautiful photos we got on our trip, you have to go here!
Sunrise Region (Hikes & More Things to do!)
The Sunrise Region is not open as much throughout the year, because being at a higher altitude, it recieves more snow and roads get closed. Make sure to check the Mount Rainier National Park website for road closures to see and plan if you can or want to go to this area. It had just opened the week before we went to visit in early July.
Before heading to Sunrise, we had researched the different trails and knew which ones we were plannig to hike. However, when we got there and started talking to Park Rangers, they suggested that we change plans. So, always check trail conditions!
Mount Fremont Trail
This is the trail that the rangers suggested that we hike. Because of this, it ended up being very busy with a lot of people, so this was not ideal. However, the trail itself was nice and had a good variety. You hike 2.8 miles up to an old fire lookout with sweeping views. Along the way, you hike along a cliff side, through trees, by lakes and along snowcaps. It has great variety with options to do short detours along the way.
Glacier Lookout
The Glacier Lookout Trail leads to exactly what you would think, a Glacier Lookout with a goregous ice blue lake at he bottom. We did this trail after Mount Fremont and it was the perfect combination. After hiking the mountain, you get to dip down more into a “valley” with trees and flowers and bees buzzing around. This was my favorite trail of the day, so I highly recommend putting this on your list!
Tipsoo Lake
Between Paradise and Sunrise, you can make a short detour to Tipsoo Lake, but is it not just one lake, but several small lakes fitted with bridges and cute walking trails. I personally felt that it was a little underwhelming after all the amazing hikes we had done that day. However, if you are looking for shorter trails or are traveling with kids, it is a very approachable area.
Burroughs Mountain Hike
This 4.7 mile hike was what we had set off to Sunrise to complete. However, we did not get to do it, because it was still very much covered in snow and required snowboots with spikes. We did not have these and ended up on another trail per a Park Rangers suggestion. I read great things about it when researching hikes, but make sure to check the status of the trails before taking off.
Sunrise Day Lodge
Sunrise Day Lodge, although titled a lodge, actually is not available for overnight guests. However, it does include a gift shop and market, along with actual bathrooms to prepare you for your hikes.
Grove of Patriarchs
If you like big trees and you cannot lie, then this trail is one you cannot deny. Unfortunately, the famous area with the massive trees is inaccesible at the time, because there is a broken bridge and it has been down for years. However, there is a trail that follows the river and you still get to see some ridiculously huge trees. It is an easy in and back trail, but it pretty long, so make sure you know how far you plan to go and can handle.
Where to Stay When Visiting Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park has multiple options if you are wanting to stay in the park. If you are wanting to stay outside of the park, it might be more difficult to find lodging as there are not many towns close by to the park. However, Seattle is about 2.5 hours away and you could find somewhere on the outskirts of Seattle and get closer to the park. Inside the park, there are options for you can camp with an RV/trailer or in a tent. There are also two lodges that provide accomodations for guests.
Paradise Inn
Paradise Inn is where we stayed and absolutely loved it. I highly recommend staying here if it works with your schedule and budget. They have more affordable options and is definitely worth it. I dived into more details above!
National Park Inn
National Park Inn is the second in-park option if you are wanting to stay in Mount Rainier National Park. It is smaller with less going on and more affordable options than Paradise Inn. It is still a great option though with close proximity.
Overall, I always suggest staying in the park whether you camp or find lodgings, because it fully immerses you in the beauty of the landscape. Look into all the options before you decide!
What to Bring When Visiting Mount Rainier National Park
Okay, get ready for a long list, because with the diversity of Mount Rainier National park, that means a diverse array of clothing. However, I will try to only list my favorite and must-get’s.
- Hiking boots (I LOVE my keens and highly recommend getting hiking specific insoles, they saved my feet).
- Hiking pants (Prana pants have been my go-to brand and I am loyal. Pricey, but worth it, trust me.)
- T-shirts or tank tops for summertime hiking
- Merino wool long sleeve for colder temperatures (I find smartwool to be really flattering and comfortable)
- Hiking socks (Darn Tough has some really cute designs & high quality)
- Rainjacket (I lean towards Northface, but you can find more affordable ones)
- Hiking packs (my husband convinced me to get an Osprey and I won’t go back)
- Sunhat
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Quick dry underwear (Found these on amazon and they are great with 100%cotton – I wear them all the time!)
- Light jacket to layer (a great Lulu Lemon dupe on amazon – here)
- National Park Pass (if you are going to visit more than 3 parks in a year)
- First aid kit
- Snacks
- Swimsuit
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Our Experience
Then we started making our way to Mount Rainier National Park. On the way we stopped at a Safeway to get food and water. It took 2.5 hours to get to Paradise Inn, where we are staying in the park. The drive was gorgeous but very curvy with switchbacks and no shoulder. It made me nervous and a little queasy. We finally made it to the inn and check in to get our room.
It is really adorable, a cute mountain inn. Our room is modest, but it is clean and comfortable. We picked up some sandwiches from their little cafe and then got ready for bed. We have an early day tomorrow so we wanted to get in bed early.
Day 4
Was a doozy. Everything hurts. We started off today bright and early waking up, getting ready and leaving Paradise Inn at 6:15am. We were headed to the Sunrise Area. It just opened for the season yesterday and we can only get to it on the weekends because of road construction, so we got really lucky to be able to go at all. On the way, we saw a young brown bear on the side of the road and stopped, then it ran across the road.
Our plan was to do Burroughs Mountain, but because it is so early in the season, snow is still on the path and we were told it might not be the best to do. Some volunteer rangers told us they recommended Mount Fremont so we headed up that trail.
It was really steep at times, over a snowy area, across rocky paths and on the ridge. The trail was 2.8 miles to the Fremont Fire Tower with sweeping views. It was hard. But a lot of people were doing it so we stopped a lot and made it. On the way we saw marmots, chipmunks and birds. We stopped for some snacks and then headed back down. It took us 4 hours total.
Once we got back down, I shed some layers, we went to the bathroom and got a sandwich from the snack shop to split. After refueling, we headed to another trail that went through the meadows. We saw wildflowers starting to bloom, butterflies dancing around, tall and strong pines and beautiful Mt. Rainier in the background. It was my favorite part. We followed the path to Glacier Lookout for a view of the mountain and a lake, then headed back another direction. It was 3 miles total and took us about 2.5 hours.
Now that I was thoroughly sore and aching, we headed down the mountain. We stopped at Tipsoo Lake, which is a short flat trail outside of the park. I would not recommend this unless you were only doing short hikes. Then we stopped at the Grove of Patriarchs area. Although that trail is closed from the bridge being down (it has been for 2 years), there is one that goes along the river and you still get to see a lot of big beautiful trees. Honestly, I loved the trail, but did not enjoy it much because I was hurting.
Then, we finally headed back to Paradise Inn. Once we got back and brought stuff in, we put our name on the Paradise Dining Room list and looked around the Inn and store while we waited. We both got burgers. They were alright, filling and fueling. I had to send mine back to get cooked more. After dinner I sat by the fire in the lobby and relaxed while Reid took a shower. Then I got ready for bed and the next day!
Day 5
Today we started off sleeping in a little more and then I got up to get coffee from the little shop at the Inn. I got a vanilla latte and it was actually very good. Then I went back to the room and continued to get ready and eat breakfast.
Todays trail was the Skyline Trail that started at Paradise, so we walked out of the Inn and onto the trail. It was 5.5 miles, but it ended up being around 6 miles for us. The trail was around 15% snow, so there were a lot of time we had to divert off the trail and over snow to keep going.
The altitude change was about 1,500ft and was intense. It started off going straight up through trees and a pretty good marked path. Then it started getting snowy and at one point people had made a slide by sledding down the snow, so we both slid down. It was fun and probably our favorite part. We had to stop a lot to breathe, especially when we got closer to the top. I could feel the altitude difference and had a harder time breathing. Finally we made it to the top and they had an actual toilet. Reid had peed in the woods already, but I went there.
We stopped and ate snacks along the way. On the way down, it was much easier, but there was more snow. We had to trudge through it at one point where you couldn’t tell where the trail was, you could just see it off in the distance. It was also muddier, because the snow was melting with it being hotter in the day.
By the end, my calves were sore and my feet were killing me (still hurting btw), but we made it. I didn’t know if I would at some points. It took us 5.5 hours, 6.22 miles. Probably the best trail we did, because it had everything. Big trees, flowering meadows, snowy banks, mountain ridges, adorable creatures.
After our hike, it was about 4:00 and we went to the visitors center. We looked around, I became a junior ranger and we learned some things – like Mt. Rainier was the 5th national park established in 1899. Then we went to the room, cooled off and rinsed off a little and relaxed. Then we got in line for the dining room at Paradise Inn to eat dinner.
We got sat immediately because we waited in line for a table. We ordered a burger and fries and a mushroom pasta and split both. Then we got a chocolate cake with berry icing.
After dinner, we relaxed in the room and during golden hour we went to Reflection Lakes to get a good view of the the reflection of Mount Rainier. We walked the trail and then finally found a good spot. Reid had a blast trying to get the perfect picture. Then we went back to the room and got ready for bed.
Day 6
Another travel day! Today we slept in and then got ready for the day and packed up all of our stuff. After loading up and checking out, we headed to North Cascades National Park.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How many days do you need in Mount Rainier?
I think if you were to make a day trip from Seattle, you could feel like you saw the park by visiting the Paradise area. However, this was our favorite park out of the three surrounding Seattle, so I recommend taking more time.
What is the best month to go to Mount Rainier?
Part of the park is closed during the winter months, so make sure to check the Mount Rainier website for road closures. Additionally, wild flowers only bloom during certain times of the year, normally July/August. We visited during the summer, early July, and it felt like the perfect time of year. The wildflowers were not in full bloom yet, but we did see some and all of the roads were open.
Which side of Mount Rainier is better?
The two main sides of the mountain I went into detail about above, so read that for more details. However, if you are only visiting one side, I would suggest Paradise. I personally think it has more to offer in diversity and hikes. It also has a better visitors center and is easier to access.
Is Mount Rainier worth the trip?
100%, yes! Mount Rainier National Park is gorgeous, breath-taking. One of our favorite National Parks yet, it is a must-visit.
I hope this travel guide to Mount Rainier National Park is helpful for you as you dream or plan a trip to the park. Let me know your favorite National Park below in the comments!
Laurel McDaniel
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