Mount Rainier National Park, washington
Attractions Guide

Mount Rainier National Park is centered around the colossal Mt. Rainier volcano, which towers nearly 14,100 feet (4,300 m) above the surrounding landscape and is among the tallest peaks in the continental USA. The volcanic mountain is covered in glaciers, forests, and meadows, and harbors abundant wildlife.

The national park consists of several different areas around the mountain, the most popular being the Paradise Area on the southern side of Mt. Rainier. Here you'll find the park's main visitor center as well as some excellent hiking trails.

Nisqually Vista Trail

The most rewarding easy hike in the Paradise area is the 0.9 mile (1.4 km) round-trip Nisqually Vista Trail, which ventures through the meadows before offering amazing viewpoints overlooking the southern side of Mt. Rainier.

Skyline Loop Trail

Very close-by is the park's most popular moderately challenging trail, the 5.3 mile (8.5 km) round-trip Skyline Loop Trail. This path travels through vast lush meadows alongside waterfalls such as Myrtle Falls, before arriving at Panorama Point, a very gorgeous and close-up viewpoint of Mt. Rainier. Throughout much of this trail you're rewarded with amazing views of the mountain.

Waterfalls

Just west of Paradise along the road are several waterfalls, including the powerful and mesmerizing Narada Falls. Further down the road you can admire the small but beautiful Ruby Falls, as well as Christine Falls, which sits just behind a stone bridge and looks picturesque framed beneath the bridge.

Reflection Lake

Along the eastern road from Paradise (Stevens Canyon Road) be sure to stop at Reflection Lake, which is named for the stunning reflection of Mt. Rainier that can be seen when looking at the lake.

Much further east along the highway from Paradise is another extremely popular trail, the 1.2 mile (1.9 km) round-trip Grove of the Patriarchs Nature Trail. This trail features a suspension bridge over a vibrant light blue river, as well as a walk amongst a tall scenic forest.

North of the Grove of the Patriarchs is another area of the park, which hosts several small serene lakes as well as the Naches Peak Loop Trail. This 3.3 mile (5.3 km) round-trip trail ventures through lush green meadows, with marvelous views over Mt. Rainier and several of the nearby lakes.

Closer to Mount Rainier on the eastern side of the mountain is the Sunrise area, which is surrounded by heavily wooded forests and mountain ridges. From the Sunrise Visitor Center you can access many more hikes, or drive up to the nearby Sunrise Point Lookout for amazing views over the wild landscape.

Two of Mt. Rainier's most incredible trails are located on the remote northwestern side of the mountain, which can only be reached by driving from the southern suburbs of Seattle. Both trails are moderately challenging with significant elevation gain. The trailheads for these hikes are located at the end of a long dirt road, which can be driven by most cars. This area of the national park is very far from the rest of the attractions, taking several hours to reach by car from Paradise.

The most highly recommended hike in this area is the 6.9 mile (11.1 km) round-trip Spray Park Trail, which travels through the dense forests, featuring an amazing viewpoint of Mt. Rainier before reaching the majestic Spray Falls. Upon reaching a certain elevation the forests disappear and open up into vast pristine meadowlands framed in front of Mt. Rainier, which towers above the gorgeous meadows. This trail ventures deep into the wilderness and offers a high likelihood of encountering wildlife.

The other extraordinary hike in this area near Spray Park is the 5.5 mile (8.9 km) round-trip Tolmie Peak Trail, which journeys through the lush forest before arriving at the Tolmie Peak Fire Lookout. From this lookout you can enjoy breathtaking views of Mt. Rainier towering above beautiful Eunice Lake and the vast forests below.

You might like to add on an extra 2 mile (3.2 km) round-trip hike to the Tolmie Peak Trail by journeying along part of the Wonderland Trail through lush meadowland, before turning back. This trail connects about halfway through the Tolmie Peak Trail. Eventually this trail reaches the Spray Park Trail, allowing for the possibility of a long-distance 15.8 mile (25.4 km) round-trip hike if you'd like to combine both trails, via the Seattle Park Trail and Wonderland Trail.