Top 10 Things To Do in Mt. Rainier National Park

  • The View from Sunrise
    The View from Sunrise
    2008 Mary Janosik

    Drive to Sunrise

    NE/Sunrise Area
    Access: summer, by car
    Sitting at 6,400 feet, Sunrise is the highest point on the mountain that you can reach by car. Enjoy breathtaking views of Mount Rainier, the Emmons glacier, and four other volcanoes in the Cascade Range, Mt. Baker, Glacier Peak, Mt. Adams and Mt. Hood. Spend time at the Sunrise Visitor Center with exhibits on the natural resources of the park. Hike one of several family-friendly trails departing from Sunrise, leading to postcard views and scenic overlooks.

  • Narada Falls
    2008 David Nash

    See Narada Falls

    SW/Paradise Area
    Access: year-round, by car
    One of the mountain's most famous attractions, 168-foot Narada Falls, offers visitors exquisite views. Veiling over a wall of basalt, this glacier fed falls drops in a lacy display stretching over 75 feet at its peak flow. Those looking for more adventure will enjoy the nine mile Narada Falls Trail meandering through old growth forests, with views of Carter and Madcap Falls as well as its namesake falls. MORE INFORMATION

  • Wildflowers at Paradise
    2008
    Mount Rainier Guest Services, Inc.

    Wildflowers at Paradise: Nisqually Vista trail

    SW/Paradise Area
    Access: Mid-July to Mid-Sept, easy hike
    Walk amidst the clouds and discover the mountain's stunning landscape teeming with the colorful plants and animals of these high-country meadows. Departing from Paradise, enjoy walking this 1.2 mile paved pathway through vivid wildflower displays while taking in sublime views of Mount Rainier and the Nisqually Glacier. Perhaps one of the most widely acclaimed trails in the state -- it's not to be missed. MORE INFORMATION

  • Tipsoo Lake

    Tipsoo Lake: Chinook Pass & the Naches Loop Trail

    NE/Sunrise Area
    Access: summer, by car and foot
    The views at Tipsoo Lake on Chinook Pass, are simply postcard perfect -- some of the very best. Witness Mount Rainier's fabulous reflection shining in all its glory in this pristine alpine lake. Departing from Tipsoo Lake is the popular Naches Loop Trail. Explore colorful fields of subalpine flowers, pass beside two fragile, glassy ponds, and discover breathtaking views of Mount Rainier along this family friendly three hour walk. MORE INFORMATION

  • Mowich Lake Wildflowers
    2008 Mary Janosik

    Mowich Lake Wildflowers

    NW/Carbon River Area
    Access: year-round, easy hike
    Come and discover the unspoiled beauty of Mowich Lake, the largest and deepest lake in the Park. During the summer months it is home to fields oveflowing with colorful wildflowers as well as a bustling campground. In the winter, it is the destination of snowshoers and winter campers. Near the lake, discover old-growth trees, fabulous meadows, bubbling creeks, and dramatic cliffs.

  • Silver Falls
    2008 Gary Paulson

    Silver Falls on the Ohanapecosh River

    SE/White Pass Area
    Access: summer, easy hike
    See the clear, icy waters of the Ohanapecosh River tumble forty feet over breathtaking Silver Falls into a sparkling pool. A splendid sight to see, visitors will also enjoy the ambience of the tall forest and moss-carpeted floor. Find the falls along the family-friendly, three-mile Silver Falls Trail. Opportunities abound for enjoying the old-growth forest community seen along this trail. MORE INFORMATION

  • Grove of the Patriarchs

    1,000 year old trees in the Grove of the Patriarchs

    SE/White Pass Area
    Access: summer, easy hike
    The name tells the story: a virgin forest of ancient Douglas-firs, western hemlocks, and western red cedars, a place to become humble in the presence of living things that were already aged--by human measure--when the Normans conquered England. This is a short and easy walk along a nature trail that is snow-free June through October. MORE INFORMATION

  • Snowshoe Walks at Paradise

    Snowshoe Walks at Paradise

    SW/Paradise Area
    Access: winter, easy hike
    Join a Park Ranger and enjoy the art of snowshoeing through beautiful white, winter scenes. Learn how the plants and animals of the Park adapt to the season's abundant snowfall. Offered every winter, these walks provide the perfect opportunity to get outdoors and experience the wonder of the mountain's abundant snowfall and spectacular scenery. MORE INFORMATION

  • Wonderland Trail
    2008 Mary Janosik

    Hike the Wonderland Trail

    All Areas
    Access: summer, easy to strenuous hiking
    Sample the glory of Mt. Rainier on the 93-mile Wonderland trail. Pass by swift rivers and pristine waterfalls. Witness commanding views of ancient glaciers cloaked in icy majesty. Meander through meadows of pristine wildflowers and forests teeming with wildlife. Completely encircling the mountain, this trail presents the perfect opportunity to get to know the many faces of Rainier. MORE INFORMATION

  • Longmire
    The National Park Inn, Longmire

    Explore the Longmire Area & the National Park Inn

    SW/Paradise Area
    Access: year-round, by car
    It was this historic area that first brought visitors to Mt. Rainier. Today visit the historic National Park Inn, offering a cozy escape for overnight guests. Open year-round, visit the next door Longmire Museum, one of the oldest museums in the National Park System with several exhibits on the cultural and natural history of the park. Walk a short nature trail featuring an early homestead cabin and explore the mineral hot springs that first peaked James Longmire's interest in the area in 1883.