Guide to Visiting Mount Rainier National Park
About Mount Rainier
Towering at 14, 411 ft. (4392 m) Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous United States. It is also an active stratovolcano and the tallest volcano in the Cascade Mountain Range.
The mountain spawns five major rivers and is surrounded by the jagged Tattoosh Range with Mount St. Helens in the near distance. It dominates the landscape of western Washington State standing nearly three miles higher than the lowlands to the west and one and one-half miles higher than neighboring mountains.
Mount Rainier is indigenously known as Tahoma, Tacoma, Tacobet, or təqʷubəʔ.
The area offers endless adventure.
Lodging
National Park Inn – This historic lodge in Longmire is a great place to call your base while exploring the area. Amenities include a restaurant and an outdoor patio area with BBQ grills.
Paradise Inn- Located 19 miles inside the park from the southwest Nisqually Entrance, the historic inn is perfectly positioned in the Paradise area. Originally built in 1916, the lodge has been designated as a National Historic Landmark and has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Paradise Village – This hotel is in nearby Ashford and has family rooms available as well as patios and balconies in some rooms.
Car Camp
Cougar Rock Group Campground, on the southwest side of Mt. Rainier National Park, is conveniently located near Paradise.
Group campsite reservations can be made on this page. Individual campsites are reservable via Recreation.gov.
Best Hikes in Mount Rainier National Park
Sourdough Ridge Nature Trail
Silver Falls Loop Trail
Grove of the Patriarchs Loop
Tolmie Peak
Comet Falls Trail
Skyline Trail
Bench and Snow Lakes Trail
Mount Fremont Lookout Trail
Skyline Loop Trail
The Skyline Trail Loop is a gorgeous hike around Mount Rainier’s south side. It’s a beautiful hike that leads you through grassy, snow-covered/dirt trails.
The 5 ½-mile hike departs near the entrance to the Jackson Visitor Center and takes about 5 hours to complete, depending on pace.
This hike has an elevation gain of 1450 feet.
Nisqually Glacier
The Nisqually Glacier is one of the most massive and accessible glaciers on Mount Rainier.
The 2.2-mile Nisqually Vista Trail gives you access to the glacier.
The trail takes around 45 minutes to complete (depending on pace) with a 400ft elevation gain.
The Nisqually Glacier is the primary water source for the Nisqually River that carves its way through Washington State all the way to the Puget Sound.
Narada Falls
Narada Falls drop about 188 feet in two tiers of 168 feet and 20 feet.
Narada is a Hindu word meaning and "pure" or "uncontaminated".
The Narada Falls parking area is located approximately 17 miles east of the park’s southwest entrance and is open year-round. There is a view of the top of Narada Falls from the upper pullout.
Depending on the weather, the trail to the lower viewpoint can be hazardous due to snow and ice. These wintery conditions can linger into the summer months so plan accordingly and be prepared.
Narada Falls is the largest waterfall accessible by car in the park, and one of the most impressive.