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Mount Rainier National Park

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Overview

Ascending 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier stands as an icon in the Washington landscape. An active volcano, Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S. spawning six major rivers. Subalpine wildflower meadows ring the icy volcano while ancient forest cloaks Mount Rainier's lower slopes. Wildlife abounds in the park's ecosystems, thriving in the wide diversity of environments. A lifetime of discovery awaits.

To learn more about Mount Rainier National Park, visit www.nps.gov.

Local Info

Visitor Centers:
Call the park at 1-360-569-2211 to confirm road and facility status or check the website for current information.
  • Longmire Museum: Hours vary by season. Open year round.
  • Henry M Jackson Memorial Visitor Center at Paradise: Hours vary by season. Open year round, but weekends-only in the winter (generally October-May).
  • Ohanapecosh Visitor Center: Hours vary by season. Generally open late May through early October.
  • Sunrise Visitor Center: Hours vary by season. Generally open July through early September.

Visiting Tips

Mount Rainier National Park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. During the winter, vehicle access to Mount Rainier is only available from the Nisqually Entrance, in the southwest corner of the park on the way to Paradise. The Carbon River Entrance is open, but the road within the park boundary is limited to foot and bicycle traffic.

Fees & Passes:
To learn more about park fees, click here.

Camping & Lodging

Most campsites are available on a first come, first served basis. You can reserve sites at the Cougar Rock and Ohanapecosh Rock campgrounds by visiting www.recreation.gov. If you plan to use the group sites at Cougar Rock or Ohanapecosh campgrounds between Memorial Day weekend and Columbus Day, you must make reservations.

  • Cougar Rock: Group sites are also available. Open late May to late September.
  • Ohanapecosh: Group sites are also available. Open late May to late September.
  • White River: Open late June to late September.
  • Mowich Lake: Must self-register at campground kiosk. Tents only. Open early July to early October.

There are two hotels located inside Mount Rainier National Park. Reserve a room online at Mount Rainier Guest Services or call 360-569-2275 for more information.

  • National Park Inn: Open year round. The Inn has 25 guest rooms, a full-service dining room, a general store, and a post office.
  • Paradise Inn: Open mid May through early October. The Paradise Inn has 121 guest rooms, a gift shop, post office, cafĂ©, and full-service dining room.

Food & Drink

Mount Rainier Guest Services operates two restaurants, two snack bars, a cafe, and a small general store within the park. Click here for current operating hours and more information about these facilities.

Outfitters, Tours, & Shuttles

Mount Rainier offers a wide variety of ranger-led programs. Most ranger-led programs are offered in the summer months, typically July-September, in locations throughout the park. However, guided snowshoe walks and other programs are offered in the winter at Paradise. Visit the park's website for more information on the current programs and to check out the event calendar.

REI Adventures:
REI offers over 30 national park trips led by expert guides capable of taking you off the beaten path to discover hidden gems that many visitors never see.

Check out REI Adventures' national park offerings here.

Other Activities

Mount Rainier National Park offers excellent opportunities for scenic drives, hiking, bicycling, camping, fishing, boating, and mountain climbing. Climbing Mount Rainier is a serious undertaking, even by its easiest routes, but with the proper planning, it offers an up-close view of the majestic mountain for which the park is named. Also, be sure to check out the many options for nearby rock climbing. In the winter, grab a pair of snowshoes to explore the trails or hit one of the designated snow play areas to go sledding.

Maps & Guidebooks

To download free park brochures or visitor guides, click here.

Gems in Mount Rainier National Park - 19

Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Add Your Gems

gem Favorite Hikers walk on the trail that leads to the Grove of the Patriarchs.

Grove of the Patriarchs

(34) Eatonville, WA
gem Favorite Reflection Lake

Reflection Lakes

(32) Eatonville, WA
gem Favorite Hiker looking out from Panorama Point while cresting the Skyline Trail. Mount St. Helens looms in the distance.

Panorama Point

(22) Eatonville, WA
gem Favorite Looking toward the Nisqually Glacier from the Glacier Vista Trail.

Nisqually Glacier Vista

(21) Greenwater, WA
gem Favorite Bench Lake at  Mount Rainier National Park

Bench and Snow Lake

(19) Eatonville, WA
gem Favorite Mt Rainier and Third Burroughs Mt

Burroughs Mountain

(12) Greenwater, WA
gem Favorite Comet Falls, Mt Rainier National Park

Comet Falls

(18) Eatonville, WA
gem Favorite This mountain's scale in incomprehensible...

Sunrise Park and Emmons Vista Overlook

(20) Eatonville, WA
gem Favorite Spray Falls

Spray Falls

(11) Eatonville, WA
gem Favorite Narada Falls

Narada Falls

(7) Greenwater, WA
gem Favorite Close to the saddle, looking back toward Rainier. The mountain was hidden by clouds on this day.

Pinnacle Saddle

(2) Greenwater, WA
gem Favorite Views from Echo and Observation Rocks, with the odd mix of red pumice and black stone.

Echo and Observation Rock

(1) Eatonville, WA
gem Favorite Christine Falls

Christine Falls

(16) Eatonville, WA
gem Favorite Mt. Rainer - clearly the focus of this park...

Nisqually Glacier Vista

(9) Eatonville, WA
gem Favorite A small creek a bit uphill off trail from the Carbon River Basin

Carbon River Rainforest

(9) Buckley, WA
gem Favorite Inspiration Point in the winter

Inspiration Point

(7) Eatonville, WA
gem Favorite Douglas Fir: 1293-1963

Longmire Museum

(8) Eatonville, WA
gem Favorite Almost at the top of Eagle's Peak on Black Friday 2015. Mt. Adams, Mt. St Helens, and Mt. Hood (on a clear day) are visible from this vantage (St Helens is the only one visible in the picture).

Top of Eagle Peak

(2) Eatonville, WA
gem Favorite Taking the shade in Box Canyon trail.

Box Canyon

(14) Eatonville, WA

Recommended Routes in Mount Rainier National Park - 34

Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Add Your Recommended Routes

Favorite Mt. Rainier towards the beginning of the Skyline Trail.
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

Skyline Trail

5.3 mi 8.6 km • 1,493' Up 454.98 m Up • 1,485' Down 452.66 m Down

Eatonville, WA
Explore in 3D
Favorite Mt. Rainier and Eunice Lake From Tolmie Peak Lookout Tower
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

Tolmie Peak

6.1 mi 9.8 km • 1,429' Up 435.64 m Up • 1,429' Down 435.51 m Down

Eatonville, WA
Explore in 3D
Favorite Looking across the Chinook Pass highway towards Sourdough Ridge
Intermediate Intermediate

Naches Peak Loop

3.6 mi 5.9 km • 608' Up 185.3 m Up • 612' Down 186.43 m Down

Eatonville, WA
Explore in 3D
Favorite Reflection Lake
Difficult Difficult

Wonderland Trail

83.8 mi 134.9 km • 23,428' Up 7141 m Up • 23,448' Down 7146.9 m Down

Eatonville, WA
Explore in 3D
Favorite Crossing the Ohanapecosh River
Intermediate Intermediate

Silver Falls Loop

2.9 mi 4.6 km • 440' Up 134.17 m Up • 426' Down 129.72 m Down

Tieton, WA
Explore in 3D
Favorite Mt. Rainier towards the beginning of the Skyline Trail.
Difficult Difficult

Camp Muir

8.8 mi 14.1 km • 4,594' Up 1400.19 m Up • 4,592' Down 1399.68 m Down

Eatonville, WA
Explore in 3D
Favorite Great Sunrise on Mt. Rainier from the approach trail
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

Spray Park

6.5 mi 10.5 km • 1,627' Up 495.85 m Up • 1,623' Down 494.68 m Down

Eatonville, WA
Explore in 3D
Favorite A view of Mount Rainier from the trail.
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

Mount Fremont

6.0 mi 9.7 km • 1,016' Up 309.77 m Up • 1,016' Down 309.55 m Down

Eatonville, WA
Explore in 3D
Favorite The view of Rainier from Relfection Lakes.
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

Pinnacle Peak

3.3 mi 5.3 km • 1,568' Up 477.88 m Up • 1,567' Down 477.69 m Down

Eatonville, WA
Explore in 3D

Mount Rainier National Park Hiking

  • 252 Miles 405 Kilometers of Trail
  • 34 Recommended Routes
  • 19 Gems Gems
  • 16 Easy Trails Easy Trails
  • 70 Intermediate Trails Intermediate Trails
  • 35 Difficult Trails Difficult Trails
Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Share what you know about this area!

Areas Within Mount Rainier National Park

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Trails in Mount Rainier National Park - 87

Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Add Your Trails

0.3 mi 0.5 km #1Grove of the Patriarchs
Easy Easy
Eatonville, WA
Easy Easy
Eatonville, WA 31 
2.7 mi 4.4 km #2Comet Falls Trail
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Eatonville, WA
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Eatonville, WA 14 
0.7 mi 1.1 km #3Upper Skyline
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Eatonville, WA
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Eatonville, WA 14 
2.2 mi 3.5 km #4Muir Snowfield
Difficult Difficult
Eatonville, WA
Difficult Difficult
Eatonville, WA
3.9 mi 6.2 km #5Burroughs Mountain Trail
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Eatonville, WA
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Eatonville, WA 14 
1.4 mi 2.2 km #6Mount Fremont Trail
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Eatonville, WA
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
Eatonville, WA
0.7 mi 1.2 km #7Narada Falls
Intermediate Intermediate
Eatonville, WA
Intermediate Intermediate
Eatonville, WA 15 
0.1 mi 0.1 km #8Emmons Vista Trail
Easy Easy
Eatonville, WA
Easy Easy
Eatonville, WA
1.0 mi 1.6 km #9Silver Forest
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate
Eatonville, WA
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate
Eatonville, WA
3.0 mi 4.9 km #10Naches Loop Trail
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate
Eatonville, WA
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate
Eatonville, WA

Photos of Mount Rainier National Park - 440

Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Add Your Photos

Mount Rainier from Tolmie Peak Lookout
Feb 26, 2015 near Buckley, WA
Looking across the Chinook Pass highway towards Sourdough Ridge
Mar 5, 2015 near Eatonville, WA
Mt. Rainier towards the beginning of the Skyline Trail.
Feb 6, 2016 near Eatonville, WA
Experience wildflower scents for days along the Tolmie Peak Trail.
Feb 3, 2017 near Buckley, WA
Mt. Rainier and Eunice Lake From Tolmie Peak Lookout Tower
Dec 30, 2018 near Buckley, WA
Mt. Rainier from a tarn on the way up to Plummer Peak Near The Pinnacle Peak Trail
Dec 30, 2018 near Greenwater, WA
Tipsoo Lake Under The Stars With Mt. Rainier
Dec 30, 2018 near Greenwater, WA
This is from Tolmie Peak in MRNP. This fire lookout is located in the NW corner of the park and overlooks Eunice and Mowich Lake as well as Ipsut Pass and Spray Park.
Jul 23, 2023 near Buckley, WA

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