Mount Rainier Reviews

We did the sky trail loop from Paradise. It was one of the most beautiful hikes I've ever been on. The wildflowers and mountain views were stunning. Only problem was the parking shortage. Would definitely recommend arriving early to get parking, especially on the weekend. After the paradise trail, we visited Sunrise on the other side of the park and hiked several miles. It was beautiful, but we encountered two bears on the trail on the way back. I would not hike at Sunrise again without bear spray.

The park was absolutely beautiful. We tried to go on “easy” hikes, but even the easiest ones were too much for me. I think it was just the altitude and my asthma that held me back.
We stayed at the National Park Inn which was delightful. I didn’t have a problem with no phone, tv or internet service. Quaint historic inn!

Be wary of crowds, especially on the west side. I've been there many times, but not on a Friday afternoon, which resulted in a near-empty parking lot vs. an overflowing one that one would "experience" on weekends. It allowed for a much more relaxed visit where we could take things in more...the historic lodge with its high ceilings, fireplace, even the gift shop.

Be sure to stop at some of the pullouts along the way and take in the many scenic views. You may even be fortunate enough to see some deer! At times, there will be cloud cover, other times sun, it's unpredictable, as should be your stops. There are plenty of easy hiking trails, e.g. Trail of the Shadows, as well as those for the more hearty.

On the east side, the road to Sunrise is worth a look, but it's not open all year round, so check first before you go. It was closed for this visit in mid-May.

Just as I thought that I saw everything within this part, I noticed Mount Rainier, and I immediately pulled over to get its picture. Unfortunately, I did not see a lot of wildflowers. This mountain had some of its top covered by the clouds. This mountain was truly massive.

The view of Mount Rainier simply takes your breath away. There are various trails and hikes to do. I would recommend doing proper research before you get there. We didn't and regretted it! You may be lucky and see a Black bear like us :).

Had a great stay at the National Park Inn in Mt Rainer National Park.
Nice weather for hikes and the meals at the restaurant were excellent.
Our server for breakfast, Pia was a joy.

Mount Rainier has magnificent snow capped scenery. I spent 5 hours travelling to it from the east. The mountain came into visibility from many miles away. When I arrived at midday, despite having my America the Beautiful card, I was not allowed in because I didn't have a timed reservation. I was told that 36 reservations remained available, and could be obtained online at the ranger station 2 mikes south. This turned out to be nonsense. The only QR code online had a thick diagonal line through it, and in any case, was for tge following day. I had to content myself with views from the main 123 north/south road past the mountain. It was not very busy when I arrived on Friday 7th June. Vehicle reservations cannot be booked in advance. They are available if you happen to have online accessibility at 8am in the morning of the day you visit. To be honest, it's a money thing. Parks like Yellowstone have visitor shops selling food and souvenirs, and even gas at inflated prices within the park boundaries. You'll always be able to drive in there. Parks like Rainier and Glacier which doesn't have rip offs within the boundaries, are much more restricted.
In hindsight, you're best to arrange your itinerary to arrive at the park when the wardens are at home. Then you have the place to enjoy. The unrestricted period when you can gain access without being scrutineered is between 3pm and 6am. My schedule did not allow that period unfortunately. You'd think that gate wardens would be able to dish out any spare reservations on the gate, but you'd be wrong. Good views of Mount Rainier can be gained from highway US 12 on the east, or US 410 on the west, or online free from the comfort of your UK home 7000 miles away.

We went on a trail. There are trails of different sizes and, therefore, various age groups can be catered for. It's really worth getting to know the place, which is very beautiful.

This is an amazing place to go hiking with family and friends. It offers many amazing views and has a rest area and store at the bottom where you can buy hiking gear. Mount Rainier stands in front of a lake, so you can see the reflection of the mountain while hiking. It also has many roads leading up to the mountain, so you can drive up and stop at different spots that offer views of the mountain from a distance. It is a great adventure and it will help you learn more. I would definitely recommend going here with family or friends. It is an amazing experience you'll never forget!

First of all, it's a long drive to Mt. Rainier. And it can be cold up there on the mountain. So take some layers to wear and for god sakes bring the proper footwear! We got a late start and missed out on lunch at the Paradise Inn. It was too early for dinner. We had started out heading for Sunrise, decided to turn around and go for Paradise. There's a huge visitor center there and the Inn is there as well. Lots of folks milling around. On the way there, you can stop and take pics of the mountain as it gets larger and larger in the frame. The woods are thick with gigantic trees that are much older and wiser than you are, their grandeur is pretty awe-inspiring. But that pales in comparison to the majesty of the mountain. We got to Paradise, did a quick jaunt to the visitors center and then a "short" hike up to the waterfall. You can go on and on from there but it was already getting late so we came back down and bid adieu to the mountain. Our only regret is that we didn't have enough time there. We'll be back!

Became worth it once we drove up. It's hard to catch all of the mountain with all the fog and everything but the views of the range are incredible and worth the drive or hike.

We traveled to all three of Washington’s national parks with our one year old and while we loved all of them, Rainier was our favorite. The park has amazing views throughout. The mountain was foggy in the morning and we couldn’t see anything but it all burned away by the afternoon. When we went, some roads/trails were still closed due to snow (was mid June), so we will need to go back to see the rest of it!

Took the custom tour for Mt Rainier with Joel as our guide. Price decent and day was fantastic. Sun. Views. Wildflowers and saw bears. Great day visitor center and snack shop great. Hike up Sunrise great.
Above expectations
Tour can be purchased on trip advisor

Spent 3 days in the park. Had the most incredible weather on Saturday so did a very pleasant hike up sunset rim. Saw three bears from a distance as well as a mountain goat. Very impressed with volunteer rangers who were always on hand to offer tips and advice.

There is a ton of things to do and obviously no shortage of people that enjoy it. Even during the Covid 19 situation the park was crowded. Fortunately we headed up in the morning because by noon the summit parking was completely packed. There are numerous waterfalls and trails, great for the folks that like to hike.

We went to Seattle a few days before our Alaskan cruise and I'm really glad we did. The Mt Rainier National Park was stunning!

We did a short hike from Paradise Inn and the weather was beautiful. We hiked until we could see the glaciers. The trails were well groomed and can accommodate a wide range of skills levels.

Tip: If you're disabled military, you can get a free national park pass that's good for any park. Just ask when you enter.

Mount Rainier National Park is amazing. In the summer you have so many choices of things to do. At the top of list is to go hiking. There are many many trails from easy to challenging, from long to short. Driving around is beautiful but to really experience the you need to get out of your car.

This was such a beautiful place to visit. I had a hard time capturing the depth of the views with my phone but they were excellent. Originally my boyfriend and I went to the Paradise visitors center and attempted to hike a trail there, but we were unprepared for the amount of snow (we are from Pennsylvania so we didn’t realize how much snow there would be so late in the year at such an altitude!) and we didn’t want to rent snow shoes—however they were available and there was an instructor to help you with them. We ended up turning back and going to the Longmire visitors center and hiking the waterfall trail there which was absolutely beautiful and had much less snow for us! The drive up the mountain alone offers wonderful views and is well worth the $30 admission price for a vehicle. Mt. Rainier is definitely a place for nature lovers and I really hope I have a chance to come back and see more of it someday!

Majestic Mt Rainier, amazing views on a sunny day. This is definitely a must see if you travel to WA. The visitor center has great information and views, the gift shop is very well stocked; I bought two beautiful mugs.

Mt. Rainier is a wonderful day trip (longer if you like to hike). It is very pretty and has a lot of history. I was there when he wild flowers were coming out, so it was really pretty. The are surprise waterfalls, and they are easy to walk to for great photos. I did not see any wildlife, except for a large female deer, but it was still very nice. A peaceful place to drive, sit, and be with nature.

We loved the entire day, John from Customised tours was so good, a really nice man. The tour was a bus ride from downtown Seattle to Mt Rainier, all around the mountain, including reflection, lake, glaciers, Christine falls, old forest walk and suspension bridge, and more. Walked up mt Rainier with snow shoes, lovely day. Don’t miss the real thing, don’t get scammed. go to the tourist information staff at Convention building, get help. Scammers online!

The Scenic road from Paradise which passes by Stephens canyon to Intersection with 123 is very treacherous in spots. There are many sharp,steep drop offs with absolutely NO guard rails of any kind. In many cases there is not even a shoulder, literally no more than 6 inches. If you encounter an oncoming vehicle crossing the center line, in one of these areas, which is not uncommon on a scenic road, you are in critical danger. There is absolutely no room to swerve without going off the road, which means down the cliff. We went up to paradise from 123, but chose NOT to return, instead leaving the park via Longmire.

My wife and I came here over Labor Day weekend. The drive to the park was overcast and we were quite disappointed. However, around noon, the clouds broke and we just happened to be in a prime spot to see Mount Rainier in all her glory. Such an incredible sight! Definitely worth spending some time hiking through this beautiful park!

I can’t think of a nicer way to spend a day. There are trails galore for every level of hiking. The mountain is looming over you from every angle. The views are amazing. Wildflowers dot the landscape. Some of the more popular trails were very busy but there are so many it’s easy to find a quiet one-if you want.

Mount Rainier is a wonderful national park, but unfortunately it is managed very poorly. The current park superintendent (Greg Dudgeon) finds manifold ways to keep visitors out of the park and this places a great strain on nearby businesses. He plans poorly and it is obvious that he is ill prepared on many fronts. The White River dump station has been nonoperational for two years. The gate to Paradise closes at the sight of a snowflake. He instituted first-come-first serve camping at Cougar Rock Campground which hamstrings anyone planning to come there. I wish the federal park employees were paid on a prorated basis in which their salaries are decremented based on the number of hours a week the Nisqually/Paradise area is fully open. This superintendent has to go.

The beauty of this national treasure is indescribable. The hike up was breathtaking and awe inspiring. This is bucket list worth. A must go before you die!

Mount Rainier National Park is a great National Park, with outstanding scenery. The park is well laid out, and has numerous trails. The trails at the park are well marked and easy to follow, and the few facilities in the park are well kept.

The drive to the park is very scenic, with a great view of the falls driving into the park and a great view of Mount Rainier through most of the park. Visiting during the Fall Season is exceptional, due to all the colorful scenery. The initial trails park entrance are free and a great place to visit solo, or with family or friends.

I can't express enough how truly awe inspiring Mt. Rainer is. It is so beautiful & majestic. The little gift shop should not be missed.

While visiting the Seattle area, it was a must that we visit Mt. Rainier NP. The two hour drive was easy and worth the trip....It did not disappoint. It is amazing how beautiful this volcanic Mountain is. Pictures do not do this nature’s beauty justice. The views are gorgeous and all the waterfalls are stunning, and the mountain top majestic. Allow as much time as possible to explore this beautiful area.

Mount Rainer is definitely worth the drive from Seattle. The mountain provides a majestic appearance and many excellent photographs. Yet, due to crowds at Mount Rainier I preferred hiking in the Tatoosh Mountains in Packwood, which are about 30 minutes away from Paradise, at the foot of the large trailheads for Mt. Rainier.

Honestly, I had no idea that Mount Rainier would offer so much beauty. My review is from the view of a Senior
Citizen, so I was pleasantly surprised that a good majority of waterfalls and hiking paths were easily accessible.
In two days time I was able to see so much nature and more to be discovered. The Park Rangers were very helpful with directions and supplied us with a map at the entrance stations. The first day it was cloudy and in the evening it cleared up, so we had a clear view of the mountain from many view points. The sky was clear and we could see the Milky Way, which was a great treat for those who love astronomy. No complaints, beautiful country and looking forward to return for discovering more waterfalls and hikes.

This park is amazing! It’s very dense! Snow? What’s a little snow in September? One of the roads was closed due to a foot of snow falling overnight so that was disappointing but we still got to see a big part of the park. The day we left the area we had a clear view of the top of the snowcapped mountain. What Breathtaking views.

This was my first visit to Mt. Rainier. I had seen many pictures of Mt. Rainier on calendars and such but was quite impressed with seeing it in person. We visited two days in a row. The first day we arrived late in the day and were able to visit for about an hour or so. We hiked a short trail and was able to see some beautiful views. We returned the next day but it was a constant rain and very cold so not as enjoyable. We only stayed an hour or so the second day. The good thing was the crowds were nonexistent. You can use your National Park Pass to get in if you have one.

What a wonderful time with our son visiting Mt. Rainier, weather was perfect for hiking in the low 70s. First we went to the Grove of the Patriarchs. Walking through the old growth forest took your breath away, imagining what these magnificent trees have seen, some were over a thousand years old! Took home rocks washed down from the glaciers, hugged huge trees. We then drove to Paradise Park where we hiked the trails through meadows, saw up close marmots and chipmunks. The view at the top was spectacular surrounded by mountains and a waterfall. I would highly recommend a visit here.

Beautiful nature trails. Just a warning: it gets insanely crowded on weekends in the summer. Get there at dawn to get a parking spot up in Paradise or you'll be in a long line of cars trying to get in with no where to park.

What an amazing place. Get there early to avoid the wait getting into the park. Parking will also become difficult as the day goes on. We went to the Jackson Visitor Center, watched a short movie on the Volcano and then started hiking. We started with the Skyline loop trail. This is a pretty easy hike with some elevation. We were able to see Myrtle Falls as well. Such a great place to see.

We spent 3 days walking around- fabulous trails and once the mist clear stunning scenery. Lots of choice of easy to medium & hard routes

The drive up to the top was amazing. Beautiful drive. All the sites, trees, scenery was breathtaking. Totally recommend a visit to the top of Mount Rainier.

Spontaneous day trip from Seattle. We have a toddler, 3 kids, and 2 teens. It was a 2 hour drive from Seattle and smooth ride all the way. We went to Grove of the Patriarch and across the road was Silver Falls. Both hikes were fairly short and doable with our toddler in arms. I usually get car sick on swirly roads, but this was straight runs. It gets more swirly as you head in to the base of the summit.
We left at 8am, got there at 10, did one hike. Bring your lunch, bathroom, then across the road to the next hike. We finished by 2pm. It was 78° when we left and we were sweating.

The road up shows a lot of snow but down in the hike, no snow. Beautiful day away from the city.

We did the Skyline Trail and veered off a little bit as well. I do not recommend for beginners or those who are not physically up for the task. Lots of incline and steps. Unfortunately for us there was lots of rain and fog, however the views on the way down were fantastic. I definitely want to go back to check out Mount Rainier on a clear day. We went in August so I recommend layers and packing appropriately.

Beautiful day trip around Mount Rainier starting at Chinook Pass sunrise and Paradise finishing with a meal at Copper Kettle in Ashford is great.

Just a spectacular national park. We made reservations to stay at the lodge. We were surprised to get here the end of June and see so much snow. The trails are slushy and slippery, there are even avalanche warnings.

We have a map and there are miles and miles of things to see, Waterfalls, mountains, and an Ansel Adams painting…. 

The roads and trails are well marked. People are from all over & very friendly. Lots of parking and places to pull it off. Clean bathrooms, gift shops & cafés,

We started at the park ranger station; I was surprised that it was not opened. There were a few rangers standing outside in front of maps. We were surprised that many roads are still closed and that there are avalanche warnings. With Covid there are not any naturalist or ranger programs scheduled.

So lucky to have come when things were opening up a bit AND on a clear, sunny day. The mountain at Paradise was stunning. Still snow and the end of May is too early for wildflowers but a wonderful experience exploring the park.

We drove all the way to paradise valley and stopped at many view points on the way. The whole drive was worth it with a lot of different views of the mountain. If you have a good amount of time you can go on different hikes the park has to offer, we didn’t see any wildlife on the drive.

Some of the most beautiful scenery, we drove up to Paradise Inn. At the entrance beautiful fir and cedar trees, lush green forest, awesome waterfalls and at Paradise Inn it was snow covered hills. Want to return there and stay in the beautiful timber Inn..

A ranger told me there’s July and August and then there’s winter—this is an exageration but it is better in summer. I’ve been in spring and early fall and it’s lovely then as well. The scenery is gorgeous and peaceful. Next time I want to take the train.

This is one of the best hike trail experience in my life. View is absolutely magnificent. Great trail network that let you walk around Mount Rainier with plenty of options depending how much walking you intend to do. Rangers and volunteers are scattered around if you need any help or advice. A must-stop if you are around this area.

No words can describe how glorious this creation of God. A must see when you visit Seattle. HEAVen Is the exact word to describe

We visited Mount Rainier National Park on our way back to Seattle from Olympic National Park. Checking the webcams, the mountain was "out" during our approach but the weather quickly turned to rain, and then snow! Our park time was limited because the roads to Sunrise and Paradise were closing due to inclement weather. We didn't see the mountain but loved the beautiful scenery and fresh air - and even got to see a rainbow! Definitely want to go back on a pretty day!!

We drove to the paradise point and stopped at all the overlook points and it was really gorgeous. Trails were open the day before we there and we and our 6.5 yr old enjoyed the trails.

After we couldn't go because of the heavy smoke, we finally made it to the Park. Naches Peak Loop is an absolute must-do hike. Part of it is on the PCT, where you can talk to the thru-hikers, part is in the National Park. Of course there are so many other hikes, but this is the best easy one to do because of the stunning views of the mountain.

Mt Rainier NP did not disappoint when it comes to the natural majesty of the mountain, what little we did see of her thru the cloud cover. Waterfalls are always a sight to enchant and just k owing and feeling that you are surrounded by natural beauty was enjoyment enough. I will say it was too early to behold the splendor captured in photographic record. If you have a choice wait for warmer, full summer fall time frame to explore. We have a choice but enjoyed the journey the weather notwithstanding. Go for it.

While visiting Seattle, Washington we decided to visit Mt. Rainier National Park. Boy were we glad we did! Be prepared fill up a few memory cards for your cameras on this trip.

Driving to the park takes the better part of the day so be sure to leave early. We entered the park and were greeted by one of the rangers there. While speaking with her, we found out that she was from Florida as were we. Talk about people getting around! The other thing you will find is that all of the rangers at the park are very knowledgeable at virtually every aspect of the park! If you have a chance, talk with them, they actually enjoy when you ask them questions!

Once you enter the park you immediately feel like you are in a special place. The quietness of the forest, the cool breezes and the beautiful sights around each corner. Be sure to take your time and stop at all of the provided safe places to pull off the road. There are a lot, but you'll miss out on some beautiful pictures if you opt not to stop.

We drove as far up the mountain as you can. There is a shop and a restaurant at the end of the road here, but be aware the prices are pretty high for the convenience provided. Stop and pick up lunch and snacks for the day before getting to the park if the thought of a $10 sandwich bothers you.

Once you get the to highest you can by car, there are numerous trails available for the more adventurous visitors. Be prepared for a hike though! You only get about 1/3 the way up Mt. Rainier at this point and the rest of the way up is by good old foot power.

When traveling to the northwest, be sure to bring your National Park Pass if you have one. If you don't have one consider getting one. We bought the lifetime pass a few years ago and it has more than paid for itself in the beautiful places you can see when using it!

Mt. Rainier was one of the things on my bucket list and I'm definitely glad I went to see it. It was well worth the trip!

What can you say ... this is the place up close , the mountain produces its own weather you can drive up to it and if you planned ahead you can stay in an century old log hotel . Hard to beat, i am in a wheelchair and the paved paths where wonderful , going back next year

Nature in its purest state, and as always with the NPS, it is very well highlighted.
The trails are very well marked and some viewpoints are breathtaking.

This park is a real gem

We were lucky with the weather on our 1 day at Mount Rainer.
After a fabulous stay at the nearby Cougar Rock Campground, we drove to the Paradise visitors center.
GET THERE EARLY!
It’s a big parking lot that fills up quickly, but we managed to score a space easily for our 27ft RV.
Grab a trail map and go!
We did the Skyline Trail, which was awesome.
Half of us did the full trail, and the other half opted to come down via the GoldenGateTrail.....both offer views that leave you speechless and
humbled.
As previously mentioned, we had great weather....it was not only
sunny & warm, but the wildflowers were in full bloom....just stunning and absolutely breathtaking. We even threw a few snowballs (in August!!!) from the leftover snow along the trail. The fun paths are clear and very well marked.
After the hike, we went into the visitors center, which was packed but had the most patient, helpful
Rangers to answer questions about the area.
Definitely a must-see!!!

Beautiful scenery, many beautiful waterfalls. Plenty of easing access points. Worth your time. Have your camera ready.

We went during the summer and we were told that lines getting into the park would be long, however we didn’t have any issues. There was road construction connecting park of the park on the east side so we just stayed on the south side of the mountain. We went to sicksecker point and got our feet went in the water by Narada Falls. We hiked around Reflextion Lake for a beautiful view of Mt Rainer.

Came here with family in mid September, shame about the fog - we can't really see the tip of the mountain, but we managed to do three hikes beginners route and enjoy the amazing views! It was raining on and off but managed to see a deer out in the wild!

Will come back again in the summer if I have the chance!

A favorite introductory National Park with an amazing array of easy to access beautiful views, flowers, and wildlife! I love taking first time NP visitors here because of the diverse array of views for a first-time outdoor visitor. Say hello to the shrill calls of the marmots for me when you visit!

For anyone thinking of going to the park in early November like we just did - it is totally worth it. We had to turn around at the entrance because after Nov 1, all folks are required to have tire chains available in their vehicle. We drove 3 or so miles back to Whittaker's outdoor supply shop to rent the chains (for $15) for the day. We headed back to the park, and because of the time of the year, only the road to Paradise Park was open - and actually, there was snow up at Paradise Park (maybe and inch or 2, but enough to cover the trees and ground, although the road was plowed and just wet at the time.) There was plenty for us to see and do, and plenty of trails to hike. It rained and drizzled on and off, but with waterproof boots, raincoats, hats, and gloves, we were ok. It was overcast, but still beautiful. We spent about 3 or 4 hours in the park, but could have spent more time if we weren't a little rushed to get on our way.

I don’t know how to review a mountain. But if you are visiting Mt Rainier National Park, you certainly want to see Mt Rainier. We entered the Park at the Nisqually entrance and I told the ranger “we are running late, it’s a clear day and I want to see the peak”. She said “Just head up to Paradise, it’s just 19 miles straight up this road.” Well, the road isn’t straight, it’s a series of switchbacks, because… it’s on the side of the mountain. Mt Rainier dominates everything, each viewpoint is more astounding than the last. It is so impressively massive, the pictures just can’t capture it’s true essence. It truly deserves to be in this National Park.

We took a short hike down to Sunshine Lake and back up again. Even though Rainier was in the smoke cloud the scenery was still stunning and we didn’t see another person there! Full of nature and wildlife!

My husband and I took a half day trip to this National Park. It was about 30-45 minute wait to get in. It was a beautiful drive that it very slow and windey. The drive is a bit scary, though, as it has no guardrail and your car could got tumbling down a steep cliff with one wrong move. Despite the scary drive, this park features stunning views of Mount Rainier which is the highest mountain in the Cascade Mountain Range. We saw numerous stops along the way for hiking trails and stops at waterfalls. To finish off the trip, we drove to Sunrise Visitor Center which unfortunately closed before we made it. Even though it closed before we made it, the drive up to Sunrise gets you to the highest stop that you can drive to at 6100 feet.

We have totally enjoyed our time here. And we got all kinds of beautiful pictures. There are hundreds of beautiful trails. We did try to find Carter falls never found it. Sign said 1.2 miles but we never found it and know we walk over that. Other then that we loved it.

Beautiful place and well maintained. All roads within the park are newly paved and very smooth, which is good because they have a lot of curves! Rangers, when encountered at trail heads were all cheerful. Honestly, national parks, no matter what, tend to be majestic and wonderful and the same is true for the mountain, as I call it.
There were a few things during our visit I wasn't loving. I'm quite a planner, but somehow I missed that timed entry reservations are needed in the summer of 2024. But they aren't free - they are $2 per reservation, and they do run out. They say it's because of limited parking at Paradise and Sunrise, and I saw the limited parking situation first hand. Literally, it felt ALL the cars were at Paradise. In the rest of the park, we encountered hardly anyone, so its' a very strange distribution of crowds, and a very strange paid timed entry system that I didn't feel was well advertised or mentioned much. I was lucky I happened upon the NPS website a couple days before arriving to check road conditions and then saw it. So, that's not great. I don't see the park reservations really solving the problem. If the parking at the paradise lot is the problem, then run a shuttle or something for $2.
The other thing, and this was my fault, but if you visit in June, even if it's late June (We were the last week of June), entire sections may still be closed. For us the Paradise Valley drive was closed, as well as the entire Sunrise section of the park, including the gondola. This was a disappointment. We were really looking forward to that and didn't realize it would still be closed until July 4 (which, coincidentally, is when timed entry reservations were set to go live for that section of the park, and part of me wonders if it was ready but they had to sync it up with the reservation system).
So, in summary, it's a lovely park. Mount Rainier is majestic... I can't argue with this. The park has waterfalls, meadows, mountains, and even hot springs which is pretty cool. Nature gets 5 stars. I just do not like the paid timed entry system.

This national park is gorgeous! We’re not hikers but we still enjoyed our visit. Pretty waterfalls, trails for hiking that were not difficult. Amazing views and wildlife to see. We saw a marmot, a buck, doe, and her fawn, and chipmunks that are almost as large as eastern gray squirrels! Park rangers were polite and knowledgeable.

I love going to nationals parks and this one is a beauty! Plan for the weather and dress in layers, the weather up here will not be the same as it is in Seattle; you can see local weather forecasts and webcams of current conditions on their NPS website. It was foggy and cool the day we went but that didn’t take away from the beauty of the park’s meadows, mountains, wildlife and waterfalls. You are not guaranteed to see the mountain summit, it’s at over 14000 feet and is often obscured by clouds. On our visit it didn’t clear until we’d left the park and we saw it from afar on the drive back to Seattle.

New this year: reservations are required to enter the park between 0700-1500, this is to aid with traffic flow and tourist congestion in the park. You won’t be able to do this as a ‘last minute’ item during those times unless, by chance, the slots aren’t all full day-of. Honestly, seeing how crowded parks have gotten in the last few years, I’m a fan of reservations to keep numbers more reasonable and to improve user experience for everyone. If you want to visit, plan ahead.

If you have any mobility issues, I’d call ahead to determine if this park is suitable for you. We went to the Paradise portion of the park and stopped at several waterfalls along the way. Some trails were paved, but most were very steep and the dirt trails and uneven wooden walkways would not be suitable for wheelchairs or strollers.

What a great surprise and treat! The entire perimeter is lush and beautiful and the many viewpoints are worth the stop. Unlike most major mountains around the country, Rainier just keeps getting bigger, better and more beautiful as you wind your way to the summit lodge. Even more amazing is when you leave the park and head back toward Tacoma or other spots. Suddenly the mountain you never noticed before seems to be around every bend of the road. A must visit!

Beautiful views. Nice hikes. Very friendly staff and rangers. We drive up from the SW entrance via 706 / the Nisqually Entrance to Paradise. I’m not too keen on crazy steep Cliff drives so I wanted to do a simple and safe drive. This drive isn’t bad and as far as I can remember, there wasn’t a single spot where you were on the edge of a cliff with a sheer drop off without some rock or metal guardrail. Highly recommend if you can handle regular mountain twists / turns but are squeamish (like me) of edge driving.

Mt Rainier National Park was absolutely one of the highlights of our recent trip to Olympia. Photos simply do not do it justice. The unusually warm, sunny weather certainly didn't hurt either!

It was worth the drive.We got to see some cute marmots.Birds it out of our hand.Paradise trails were absolutely beautiful

We visited the national park and stayed for several days begin Summer, at the Paradise area.
The snow pack at higher elevations limited most activities, but several 100 feet lower, many hikes and equivalent views were available.
Mt. Rainier provide several opportunities for unobstructed views. What a treat!
Wether you like to stay near your car or venture in the wild. There is something for everyone with many great views.

Mt Rainer has short growth season due to its high altitudes. In July and August, it’s gorgeous wild flowers. In September, it’s stunning fall colors.

This is a beautiful national park and Mount Rainier is a must see if in the area. Definitely worthy of a drive or his to see this mountain.

It was so good and fun. I went there with my family. You can feel all the nature in your lungs. Fresh air, beautiful waterfalls and more. I highly recommend you to go guys

Whether you are a hiker or just a mere site seeker this is a park not to be missed. The views are stunning the ride up the mountain to the paradise area was worth the drive. A word of advice the parking at the paradise area can be a bit tight and hard to find during the peak hours and season. Get there early or be very lucky as I was.

Even with the haze and smoke from the wild land fires this was a terrific day. It's about 2 hours from Seattle and worth investing a whole day. We took tons of pictures, hikes to three or 4 waterfalls and just had a great time. The visitor center is rustic and you need to walk over the old Inn. I can't imagine how beautiful this is in mid-winter.

I first visited this spectacular mountain many years ago. It felt like coming home to see it again.
It is 65-miles SE of Seattle.
It’s 14’er, at 14,410 feet, and the tallest in the Cascade Range.
It has the most glaciers of any mountain in the US, more than 25, and yet steam still escapes from its top.
Named ‘Tahoma’ by the Northwest Indians, it was named ‘Rainier’ after a British Rear Admiral. The area was made a National Park in March 1899.
Today, we found it improved as far as facilities go, and just as enjoyable as it was long ago.
Parking is plentiful and free at the Jackson Visitor Center, where you will find clean restrooms, helpful rangers, and a nice café offering sandwiches and pizza slices.
As we enjoyed walking some short distances and driving some others, the mountain gradually came out from behind the summit clouds. It is simply without words to see it. As the Park Service says, I think I found My Park!'
PS to the National Park Service: This visit was made possible by the National Park Pass. Thank you.

We rented a car in down town Seattle and drove out to Mount Rainer National Park. It was easy to get to and we made many stops along the way. The park is just breathtaking with rivers and waterfalls and snow topped Mount Rainer. Half way up the mountain you can stop at Paradise and grab a bite to eat, go hiking, pick up some souvenirs. We saw deer walking along the pathway that we were on they were so beautiful. the colors were coming out on the mountain and it made the views even more breathtaking. If you are visiting Seattle try to get out to see this spectacular national park.

It's a beautiful road heading in if you like driving in the mountains. Unfortunately, the road and the mountain was fogged in. I was standing at the visitors center and literally did not see the mountain. I chose Mt. Rainier over Yellowstone and drove far out of my way to see it, so I'm still a little salty. Aside from Mother Nature giving me the finger, the visitor center didn't open until something silly, like 10 a.m. These places need to open at 8 a.m. at the latest.

Mt Rainier is my favorite thing about WA State. It’s the highlight of every visit to the Pacific NorthWest.
If you have not been to the park it’s way worth Your time, money, & effort.
Both the paradise and sunrise sides are beautiful as have a lot to see. I love the water falls and riverbed on the paradise side. Many trails and things to see in the park. Your could spend a week here and probably not see it all.

Beautiful park with well maintained trails to suit everyone.

Old guy easy trails for me as well as overnight mountaineering for the enthusiasts are here.

Beautiful scenery for all.

Great escape from humanity and back to nature.

Loved it.

We've been to Mount Rainier many times, but we happened to be there this year when the flowers were blooming and the Skyline Trail was largely free of snow so that we could hike along the big loop for the first time. With many photo stops and a picnic along a creek, it took us 6 hours to complete the loop, although we could have finished it in 4-5 hours. The trail becomes a bit challenging when it goes through the rocks, and the few small patches of snow were a bit slippery. But we enjoyed the hike a lot more than previously due to the uncommon combination of blooming flowers, largely dry trails and a sunny but cool day.

We went in winter month but it was so warm and we took a tour and walked on it with snow shoes. It is magnificent.

Mt Rainier is absolutely stunning and the National Park is full of amazing views. Drove around for hours taking in all it had to offer. Great day out in nature for all the family.

Mt. Rainier is a wonderful place but is now over run with too many people. Like many of our National Parks, Mt. Rainier is being loved to death.

Wonderful place for nice walk! Choose your distance. At almost 80, we did about 6 miles without difficulty.

While we were there we hiked up to Comet Falls, visited the Paradise Visitor Center, Had a great view of mountain at Longmire Lodge.

My Rainier Park was a very enjoyable day with plenty of scenic stops. Each stop was a different experience that we enjoyed without taking on back country treks

Never had been to Seattle; so when we booked our cruise out of Seattle. This was a must do day trip. Well worth the drive to this amazing National park

We went to Seattle to take the Amtrak Pacific Coast line to LA and we went to Mount Rainier for a day trip. It was a beautiful place and a lot to see along the road. We did not know where to go first so we picked Paradise center first and then the Sunrise side. Driving from one to another was beautiful but it took almost 2 hours. Both places have restroom facilities but the Paradise is much better. We should go to Sunrise first since the sun would hit the Mount Rainier and it would better for taking pictures. We went in September so the traffic was good except when we drove back to the hotel. Seattle and Tacoma traffic is terrible !!!

Absolutely stunning landscapes all around you carved by the volcano that is the Mount Rainier. The 14K feet behemoth stands tall with glaciers melting to create waterfalls and streams. Mindblowing view all around you.Trails are very well maintained around the Paradise and the Sunrise area. Eastern side is the drier side so you have better chances of seeing the mountain towards the sunrise side while the Paradise side can get you dramatic cloud and mountain scenes galore. All this and only 2-3 hours away from Seattle.

The first day we went it drizzled and we couldn’t see anything. We hated to miss out so we drove back the next morning and the view was beautiful. (Our teen didn’t think round 2 was worth it so she stayed in bed.) Next time we will know to check the web cameras before heading up the mountain. Also, best to go early in the morning to avoid slow traffic. Dogs are not allowed on any of the trails so we drove thought the park instead of stopping to hike. If limited on time, I think the views in the North Cascades were more stunning than Mt. Rainer but if you have time, do both. 😁

We had only 2 days but would’ve loved to spend a week!

Climbed to Camp Muir (10,188 ft) on 1st day starting at 7am and enjoyed the snow mountain steep climb through the clouds and beautiful view of all peaks around, after passing above the clouds. If you are not going for the summit @ 14k ft, you can be back to Paradise by 5-6pm.

Next day, went on the opposite side to Sunrise region of the National Park. Scenic & absolute beauty, with a number of treks to pick from depending on the time you have. Take a 3km one or 14km, each has amazing views, Lakes and friendly people on the path.

They offer a 14 day trek that goes around the mountain. It may be worth it if you have the time!

While visiting Seattle, we took a day trip to Mt. Rainier. Depending on traffic, it is approximately two hours from Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. The Nisqually Entrance is the closest to Seattle and near some of the most scenic viewpoints in the park.

While in the park, we hiked to Silver Falls, because it was only 1/2 mile each way. It was a pleasant hike to a small falls. If you have more time, there are many other hikes.

This was a nice way to spend the afternoon and get out of the hustle and bustle of Seattle.

Awesome national park. Views were spectacular. We were lucky to visit on a clear day and it was special.

If you want to see the nature with human architecture which includes the roads, infrastructure, hoteling, restaurant. It is a complete package offered by the management. Paid USD 30 which is worth every penny.

I was visiting Seattle and we decided to do a day trip to Mount Rainier. About a 90 minute to 2 hour drive depending on traffic. To our surprise at the entrance, we were told we needed a reservation to enter the park. So we had to turn around and we stopped at a restaurant a mile back in the road, made a reservation and had lunch. Mount Rainier is beautiful with plenty of hiking trails.

Signed up to visit Mt. Ranier. The Day was beautiful and we passed through Puyallap Wash. It is a 50-60 mile trip to get there. RON was our tour guide and he knows his stuff. Ron is knowledgeable on the mountain, the Glaciers, the rivers, The water falls, The plants, trees and Old world Forest. Well the weather up on Ranier was foggy and socked in. We could maybe see up 500 feet. The weather at Paradise was very cool & damp. Ron would explain How Ranier gets snow up on the Mountain all year long. More snow than anywhere else. The History of the mountain, the Snow, Glaciers and run off are for any outdoors man. Very good trip..! ( saw Ranier from Puget sound and that was special)

IT WAS AWFUL GETTING INTO THE PARK!!! REALLY!!! we had to wait in traffic almost 2 hours when we headed to the park Sunday June 24th at 11:00 AM. There were only 2 rangers checking people in- no provision for people who had passes and did not need to pay. A message to EVERYONE traveling to a NATIONAL PARK- TAKE CASH FOR THE ENTRANCE FEE- it takes so much time to process people paying with cards. UGH... that being said...

To be standing in front of one of the most dangerous volcano's in the world is pretty awesome- went to the visitors center - read everything- watched movies-
We stayed at the National Park Inn- When I made reservations we didn't know if the hotel at Paradise would be open so we took the hotel closer to the entrance. If we were staying in the park a little later in the season we would have definitely stayed at the Paradise Inn- we did get to the top and we went into the lodge for breakfast- great buffet and beautiful lodge
So close to the mountain with beautiful views...

I took my two granddaughters both are eight (8). I looked up the price and went any way, thinking they must have a one day pass. They didn't. $30 dollars to get in for maybe an hour in the park is ridiculous! If you're going to be there the full seven (7) days then fine. But with an autistic child who already was done after the 1/2 hour wait just to get to the entrance, I knew she'd be ready to go after maybe an hour. So we turned around and stopped in Elbe and had a picnic there and saw the trains. $30 ridiculous. When my other granddaughter and I came up from Texas we saw Shoshone Falls for free and it was beautiful. Next time I'll take her to Leavenworth. We can shop.

Go early! We stayed just outside of the park, and got to the parking lot around 9 am. The lot was already half full. The weather was overcast, but by the time we hiked around it cleared up. Hard to believe how big the mountain is. We had a great lunch right at Paradise lodge. Great experience even for the novice hiker.

This time we decided to go to Paradise at Mount Rainier National Park. For early July, the webcams showed us that there is relatively little snow on Mount Rainier. Consequently, we hoped for Wldflowers, which we actually found on our hike. It was actually a sea of flowers. We are also amazed by the Waterfall Trail, which led over residual snow fields in the upper area. The parking lots at the Visitor Center were already closed around 11 a.m. partly due to overcrowding. From 11 July you will therefore need a Time Entry Permit, which you have to book online.

Just beautiful and stunning . Mt. Rainier can be seen from the city on a clear day . Get to the mountain as early as 7 AM so you can get parking easily and make sure to take sunscreen. hats and plenty of water, some snacks . The best trail is the paradise loop ( challenging one ) but stunning views . The trail becomes bit trickier as you climb , but the views on the top are just out of the world. You can see cascades , St.Helen , Baker and olympic . It does take around 5 hrs if you do it slowly . Restrooms are only near the parking lot . There are restroom on one of the trail but that is one on top of the mountain , you have to take a different trail . Once you are done with the trail go to the reflection lake , where you can see the reflection of Mt.Rainier on the lake . You need atleast 2 days to fully see the mountain and hike other trails . Go on a weekday where there is crowd but little less than weekends . Ideal days would be Mon / Tuesday .

The was probably my favorite mountain we visited while vacationing in the area. Words can’t do Mount Rainier justice. We did the Skyline trail and it was beyond words. Mount Rainier was visible at the start of the hike, but it was soon covered with fog and clouds, but to us it only added to the mystery. I can’t recommend this place enough. Get there early because it got very crowded when we were there.

We visited this National park on a Sunday on Labor day weekend. There was a lot of traffic getting into the park around 1 pm and the parking areas were busy but the easy and moderate hiking trails were not too crowded. The views are just stunning! It definitely worth the extra time to get into the park! We also got very lucky with the weather: no rain, clear skies, even the peak was not covered by a cloud.

We visited Mt Rainier across a few days staying in Tacoma (for our Tolmie Peak hike) and Packwood. We came early August and the wildflowers were in full bloom. We had really great weather for a couple of days and cloudy weather for a couple of days.

The Skyline Trail was our favorite hike and Mount Fremont Lookout Trail was our second favorite. Of course, pick a good day to do these hikes. Both of those days for us were gorgeous.

We went to all 3 Washington National Parks and Mt Rainier was definitely our favorite.

My daughter and I drove to Mt Ranier paradise visitors center through winding roads and steep cliffs. When we arrived we got out and walked for a couple miles over to myrtle falls.

It was just some stupid mountain. The visitor center was really lousy, and you get really dizzy and nauseous there. THIS PLACE IS CRAP, -100000/10! NEVER AGAIN, NEVER!

Words cannot describe how beautiful this area is. We used our America the Beautiful card to get in. This area is about a 2hr drive from Seattle, but was worth the drive. We hiked up to the glacier, amazing views of the surrounding mountains, the wild flowers were coming out. Excellent exercise. Would love to come back , wear walking shoes.

I highly recommend going to Mt Rainier National Park, it is located South of Seattle.
Amazing views, breathtaking scenery. We did not have enough time to check the whole park, as we only had half a day, so I would recommend going to at least a day or two. We ended up going to Paradise. There is lots of parking, although it gets full quickly, a restaurant and hotel.
Lots of walking paths and hikes in the area. Some of the walks are paved, so they are easy to access.
Beautiful wildflowers that time of year and we spotted a few animals too.
The road going up to Paradise has a few stops with nice views and photo opportunities.
Going to Mt Rainier was definitely worth the drive and I would go back.

The day was a bit cloudy and rain in the late afternoon, but it didn’t stop us. Thankfully we stoped and hiked Carter Falls. Not only is there a nice waterfall at the end (moderate hike with steps and incline) you get a very nice view of the mountain from the riverbed. I am glad we stopped because this was the only time we could actually see the mountain. Paradise has tons of really good trails to keep you busy. Be aware the parking lot is not huge and only 2 hour parking. Get there early for a spot.

Note: I did not recently visit the park in March, but plan to in July. Since this website doesn't allow a post with out specific times, this was the only way I could inform other travelers of this crucial information.
This is a heads up to anyone visiting Mount Rainier National Park in Washington state, U.S.A. For 2024, there is a pilot program that has 2 hour reservation arrival times between 7 a.m. and 3 p. m. You need that reservation to get into the park between those hours, from May through September. If you arrive before 7 a.m. or after 3 p.m., you won't need the time slot reservation. See the park's website for details.

We came up from Sunrise and it’s still all packed with selfie takers. To truly enjoy the mountain and the serenity, pack water and food, start early to beat the crowd, hike up, close enough you can almost touch the icy mountain, listen to the stillness of the wind. Or backpack in for a few nights like we did. Camp sites will be tight for 2 families and not ideal. The trail is bare, not like in pictures if you missed the blooming.

I have just came back from Mount Rainier National Park in northern California. It is in my humble opinion one of the top 10 parks I have visited so far.

Mount Rainier is a wooded area (mostly) with great lakes, amazing trails, picturesque panoramas, and beautiful falls. I stayed there for three days and definitely return. For hikers, this is a challenge place to explore. For nature lovers, any location is full of action and interaction. For photographers, it is a photogenic garden on earth.

Make sure to visit Paradise with its surrounding colorful flowers. It is the only Paradise on earth.

Mt. Rainier National Park is beyond beautiful! I would recommend getting there early, traffic was pretty backed up once it hit 11am (weekend).

Really nice place to visit. View is snow with snow all around. View points and falls at different location on the way are also must watch.

We rented a car and made the 2 hour drive out to Mt Rainier from downtown Seattle. We had wonderful weather and the drive was easy except for a short line at the park entrance. We hiked the Comet Falls trail. It was longer than expected but resulted in beautiful waterfall views. Make sure you bring water with you. I also recommend buying some Rainier cherries along the roadside too. Normal prices for National park entry apply.

Before setting sail for an Alaskan cruise we spent some time visiting the Seattle area. We had an amazing day doing intermittent hikes to waterfalls and enjoying the amazing weather inside the park. Not many animal sightings (one deer) but it was well worth the trip. Highly highly recommended.

What can you say. Every turn is more breath taking then the next. We loved the trip around the park. A little smoke from the east from the forest fire. So many great hikes. A day is not enough

Mount Rainier is so impressive to see up close and far away. It's breathtaking as the other reviewers have mentioned, I don't think you can be disappointed any time of year. It's beautiful in all the different seasons. We first took the cable car at Crystal mountain resort to see it from afar, then we went to one of the hiking trails where you drive to the top and can hike around the woods and appreciate more incredible views. 100% should be included in your trip to Washington state.

It is a long way from the entrance to Paradise visitor’s center. Very foggy/cloudy near the top. Lots of hiking trails, not many vistas.

I love this mountain. I grew up in Her shadow.
I had a chance to go up the mountain on a visit from Canada. I spent $40 CDN on a day pass, and planned to take my leashed dog up there for walks while my local family is at work.
Got to Sunrise entrance at 10 am. the park was already full and they were admitting on a "one car out, one car in" basis. We waited almost 40 minutes. No problem, it'll be worth it, right?
Got to Sunrise Point (a stunning viewpoint) and parked. I grabbed my dog, took a couple pictures and headed to a trailhead to be met with a no pets sign. I proceeded to the (full) parking lot at the lodge. There was no parking, and the trail I saw also had a no pets sign. All my dog would be allowed to do is walk on a baking hot asphalt parking lot (IF we could've found parking)
Took a detour into White River campground and it said it was also full, but I'd expect that in July. But the trailheads I saw around there, and on the rest of the way out to the main highway all had the same no pets signs.
A waste of 40 bucks, several hours, and half a tank of gas.

Waited in Ashford for 3 days for the sun come out. Worth the wait! Paradise area opened during weekends. A lot of people went backcountry ski near panorama views on skyline trail. Must Snow shoe the trail when weather is good! Can the mount rainier submit from a close view! Memory for lifetime!

My family has been visiting Mt Rainier for over 40 years. We usually visit Paradise as they have great trails with a number of waterfalls. Sunrise has some good trails, but I did not like it as well. The visitor center at Paradise has a place to eat as well as a gift store and a lot of valuable information about the Mt. and its trails. The best time to visit is the end of July when the wild flowers are at their best. It is good to check the weather before going as sometimes it is cloudy and may obscure a view of the Mt. Great place to take the whole family. On the Sunrise side you can take a backpack trip to Glacier Basin where there is a scenic camp site for a number of people and it is only about 5 miles to the camp. You do need to get a camping pass at the Ranger Station to camp there. On the way to paradise there are a number of lull outs with great views of the Mt. For a complete experience I recommend going up Highway 12 from Yakima and coming back Highway 410.

It is a spectacular place, but can be crowded. So plan your visit well and go early or during the week. The restaurants and the exhibits in the visitor center were closed because of vivid, so plan according. The place is a must visit though.

Wow...What a tour!!!Lucas our driver and guide showed us many spectacular sites..We saw deer and elk during the trip. The waterfall viewes, the hikes through the woods while snowing was breathtaking. Highly recommended. Thank you Lucas for giving us an amazing day in a wonderful place.

Mt Ranier is simply stunning to see. But the signage around the park is dismal. Very hard to determine route to visitor center and where to park. Sandwich boards in the roadway below the visitor center said that lot was full, so cars were a mass of confusion trying to turn around and find parking elsewhere. Only to find out after walking 30 + min to get to the visitor center parking lot that it wasn’t full at all! Very frustrating. Additionally, That 30+ minute walk from where we finally found a place to park to get to the visitor center was horribly confusing without any signage for directions. We took a number of paths that turned out to be wrong ways and had to backtrack. Once we got to the Visitor Center it was a chaotic mass of people. Had to stand in long lines to speak to a ranger and to buy something in the gift shop. This was our worst experience for the many National Parks we have gone to. This park needs massive improvement to their signage and may need to go to timed entry.

It's a great sight to see. It's as grand as the Grand Canyon! Definitely worth a visit if you're in WA. We only had half the day to enjoy the sights around the mountain and wished we could have spent a whole day there, if you can start early in the morning it is definitely a worthy thing to do so you can really soak up the sights as you go around the mountain. Because we only had the afternoon to visit we kind of rushed from one spot to another and really didn't get to soak up the whole experience... but it was worth the rush to get to the upper park area and walk the paths up towards the mountain. Be prepared with a jacket/hat (when it's windy it can feel cold) Such a beautiful sight. The landscape is amazing. Just be careful driving the crazy curvey roads. If you're afraid of heights this is NOT for you. The most of the roadway is winding and without guardrails. ENJOY! and if you're a photographer this is one of the best sights to take in. Find your own place to take an amazing photograph there are zillions of options so don't just take a shot because someone says it's a great spot to get a great photo... find your own personal best.

Went there to see this magnificent area. Lots of trails to take. The views are phenomenal. So worth the drive. A must visit if you come to Washington.

Visited mount rainier in September. We drive up the mountain and stopped at each sight got out and walked. There were plenty of places to pull over to take pictures. I highly recommend Narada falls and paradise. At paradise there were restrooms and a little restaurant to get hot chocolate and few food choices. From paradise you could go by foot and hike up even more. I will say it was a steep hike! Highly recommend!

Sunrise in July or August is a must-do! Got tp Sunrise at 9 am, left at 2 pm and still had enough time to stop at Tipsoo Lake for a short hike and a lot of lookouts through the rest of the park before leaving at 6 pm.

Driving up to the mt u pass by the inn . Stopped for lunch. Good food. poutine, elk burgers, yum. Windy road thru beautiful scenery to the base station,with store,food,info about the mt. Just awesome. A must see if in the area.

Heads up It costs $30. also last car up the mountain is 430 and gates lock you in at 530. None of this I knew ahead so I had to rush. Having said that it was snowy and beautiful. The views are spectacular.

Mount Rainier national Park is a treasure. There are endless possibilities for hiking, camping and enjoying this natural wonder roughly two hours south of Seattle.

If you are lucky to come here on a clear day, I recommend going up to Paradise Inn and walking one of the easy trails that lead through the gorgeous meadows up the side of the mountain. You will be rewarded with spectacular views and a renewed sense of awe.

A huge park. Plan on driving 30 minutes to a hour to get to your destination after entering the park but well worth it. Waterfalls, alpine meadows, incredible forests trails all wait to be explored. The skyline trail from the Paradise Center is a highlight.

We visited on Friday, July 27th. We left our hotel at Sea Tac at 5:10 so we would have a jump on the traffic. We went through Enumclaw and were at Sunrise pretty early in the morning, not a lot of other people there. The visitor center wasn't open, but the ranger station was and she gave me a detailed map of Mt. Rainier and said it would be about an hour and a half drive to Paradise. At Sunrise - you have to go back the same way you came then turn to be on the road to Paradise. We stopped a few places for photos - then we entered through the Stevens Canyon entrance and walked the Grove of the Patriarch trail, unfortunately we thought the end was at the bridge, but we found out it went a little further after we returned. Next stop was right around Lake Louise - a beautiful spot for photos at a little waterfall right before that and then the photo of the Lake is one of my favorites. Not too far from there and we were at Reflection Lake - I was so excited at this point. We got out and walked for a few mintues and took some great photos. Before we knew it we were at the Paradise entrance. Luckily here it becomes a one way road and makes a loop. The parking area was full so we had to park a little ways down the road and walk back up, but it wasn't bad. We grabbed a snack (chips,frozen yogurt) and ate outside - if you want to eat at the visitor center be prepared it is very expensive - sloppy joe for $10. We spent some time here for a while - there is a small gift shop upstairs - grabbed a t shirt, magnet, and knife for my son and we were on the way. By this time, there were cars parked way down the hill. We weren't too far from Longmire, we did stop there but only long enough for my husband to find out how far we were from a gas station. Looked like an interesting stop - this is where the National Park Inn is located. As we were leaving through Nisqually - there wasn't a line going in at that point. It was around 2:00. I didn't really think that we would be able to drive the loop and I am so glad that we did. Suggestions - if you see something interesting, stop and enjoy because you will want to be there once you are back home. There are several overlooks/pull offs - take the time to see what is there. If you are inclined to hike some trails then do so - we aren't big hikers but did want to see the mountain and are happy with what we got to see. Make sure that you have a FULL tank of gas - we were at 3/4 and were getting nervous before we got out of the park - there are NO gas stations in the park. Ashford is the closest one when you get out of the park and the ONLY one for a while. Take snacks and some drinks. Do the loop it is fabulous. Don't worry too much about the wildflowers, there weren't as many as I expected, maybe we were a week or 2 early. And lastly - leave early and enjoy the day!

This is a must see! Amazing views. We saw lots of wildlife. The view is breathtaking. If you are in the area do not miss this!

This review will be for the park in general as there is only so much you can say about a mountain, even if it is an awesome one. There's lots to do here, from scenic lookouts, waterfalls to rest by, hikes of all ability levels, a large visitor center and more. One of the highlights for me was the grove of the patriarchs which was a collected area of extremely old, large trees. The drive through the park was peaceful and had great views around every turn. Be on the look out for animals as I spotted a few marmots on the side of the road while driving, and was even able to pull over for pictures, they seem to be somewhat used to people coming by.

We came from Seattle and had only 1 day to visit, but what we saw was wonderful & worth the long day and long drive to and from Bellevue.

I highly recommend visiting Mt. Rainer National Park.
We visited on Dec 23, 2019. We checked out Longmire and then hiked to Carter Falls. We did not go past Paradise or attempt to scale Mt. Rainer, so we experience only a small amount of the whole national park. We had two adults, a 14 year old & an 11 year old and our experience was terrific.

There was no snow at all on our trip from Seattle to the Nisqually entrance. But by the time we reached Longmire, there was beautiful, fresh snow everywhere. It was stunning and picturesque. The National Park Inn is a good spot for lunch but there’s options all over Rainer.

The air is so fresh it tastes good to breathe. We continued from Longmire to Carter Falls and hiked over a stream and along well marked trail that boarders a brisk mountain stream to see the falls. They are lovely. You will need good boots and winter clothing this time of year but the hike is not difficult if you’re an average hiker in ability. It was well worth the 45 minutes to an hour it takes to hike from the parked car to the falls. Give yourself 2 hours for this round trip so you can take pictures and soak in the natural beauty. There were several other families and couples doing the same hike at Carter.
I would not attempt this if you are disabled, elderly, have small children or do not have proper footwear.

Also, be aware: You need chains for your vehicle tires to enter the park this time of year. You may not need to put them on your tires until you drive a few miles into the park, but we were asked at the entrance to show our chains. We didn’t need them to reach Carter Falls, but you will need them eventually if you climb in elevation toward Mt. Rainer.

We loved the limited amount of Mt Rainer that we experienced and plan to return in the summer.

Cheers,
BL

If you are visiting Seattle, taking a day (or two) to visit Mt. Rainier is well worth the 2 hour drive down. Visited Paradise, hiked skyline trail, and stopped at the reflection lakes. All well worth a visit. The views are awe inspiring.

Pictures do not do justice to Mt. Rainier. Every view of the mountain is breathtaking. There are several awesome hikes that are not too long. You can see glacial rivers, 1000 year old trees, waterfalls, and mountains! I highly recommend everyone see this in their lifetime.

Paradise Washing is one of the most beautiful places in America. It has some of the best views of Mount Rainer which is not only the highest peak in Washington State, but also the highest peak in the Cascade mountain Range that stretches from British Columbia, Canada to Sonoma County, California. There are many great trails you can see from here, the most popular being the skyline trail. You get the best views from here and can hike up to Camp Muir, which is the base camp for those who wish to summit Mount Rainer. Camp Muir, named after John Muir the father of the National Parks, who said this about Mount Rainer, “…the most luxuriant and the most extravagantly beautiful of all the alpine gardens I ever beheld in all my mountain-top wanderings.” What a quote from the man who has pretty much seen every major mountain top in the USA. Whether you are spending a day or a month in this area, you will not be disappointed. Also be sure to go to check out all the nearby falls. 

This was amazing. I live in CO so I am use to looking at the Rocky Mtns everyday. There are many mtns over 14,000 ft. but they are in a range and not independent. Mt Rainier is by itself and just hits you in the face when you first see it. We came in from the west side and it was breathtaking.

I spent three days in the park and with changing weather everyday. I observed the mountain with blue skies and a snow-capped peak, then with rain clouds moving in and swelling streams, to rain and fog with limited visibility on the third day. What an incredible experience. Drive through the Nisqually entrance, up and down the mountain and then exit to the north or east to Yakima. You will be impressed with or without the changing weather.

Can you believe it? We had a snowball fight and made a snowman in the middle of July. That was unbelievable. The gargantuan snow-capped mountain offered my family beautiful hiking trails filled with wildlife. When I got tired of walking, I stayed i the Visitor's Center working on my laptop while my family enjoyed exploring the trails. It was the best scenery I have ever worked in front of.

We took the family up to Mt. Rainier for a day trip. Park entrance fee was $30 for the week. We drove up to Paradise, had a nice picnic lunch, the weather was awesome but there was smoke from forest fires from miles away, so the view was semi-obstructed. I guess it's all about timing. We hit the gift shop in the hotel and the nearby trails. We'll definitely go back again later. I'd suggest checking out a few of the waterfalls.

Great park, beautiful different areas to visit. To see all its beautiful you must do the hikings, by car you only see some views that are not the most beautiful. Parking is difficult so arrive early.

This place is amazing, in fact in 30 years of hiking we've never had a better day! The scenery is unbelievable, a different vista at every turn and best of all, we saw chipmunks, deer, foxes, deer chasing foxes! Amazing. This must be the best $30 you'll ever spend.

Such beautiful scenery, absolutely surreal! Photos don’t do justice to this gorgeous mountain and valleys. Natural at its best with snow capped mountains, lakes and waterfalls. Go to Sunrise point which is the highest point in the park for panoramic views and a hike in the meadows. After that head to Paradise meadows where there are various trails with different difficulty levels. You can see a waterfall if you follow the Wonderland trail. Be prepared with hiking shoes and a jacket as the weather can get pretty chilly at higher altitudes and glaciers may be present.

An absolutely amazing adventure that I will hold onto for my entire life. We made our way up via the Emmons Glacier route, camping at the ranger station on the way up. We were guided by RMI which made it extra-amazing.

We got there at 1820. I was able to catch the last movie of the day, got my passport stamped and then bought my magnet. The store in the ranger station closes at 1900. The store in Paradise Inn closes at 2000 and the magnets are cheaper. We hiked to Myrtle Falls and had the most amazing view of Mt. Rainier, us on a bridge, waterfall to the side and flowers in the field. We only got to spend a couple of hours here and are planning to return at some point in the future. We will stay at Paradise Inn when we return...really beautiful and very helpful staff (and we weren't even staying there). It costs $30 to enter the park. FANTASTIC drive to get there!!

Popular park for hikers but also by car you have beautiful view points. Unfortunately no wildlife seen.
In the park little to no possibility to buy drinks or food so take that with you. Hotels scarce in the park and very expensive also the food there.

Sunrise is limited open but definitely worth a visit.
Paradise is like the Alps and has beautiful hiking trails long and short

Take plenty of water and wear comfy shoes.. go as early as possible as parking at paradise fills up fast

Mt Rainier has been named my new favorite mountain after visiting in mid September, the colors were magical and the crisp fall air was so refreshing. This National park needs to be added to your bucket list no question!

This trail is rated as moderate, hiking shoes with decent support recommended, but tennis shoes okay. Most of trail is exposed to sun so beware while on trek.

We were told a bear was spotted that afternoon on another trail, however we didn't see any. You may see Marmots soaking in the sun along the way, we saw a ton!

A gem of the US National parks with pristine care, amazing hikes, great rangers, biodiversity extraordinary . We are so lucky to have ancient trees and beauty so easily accessible.

This was so beautiful and fantastic.. I loved every minute and even the lodge restaurant was good.. the service people were so helpful and answered all your questions

Mount Rainier is a must see it was breathtakingly beautiful!! We hiked 40 miles in 4 days it was incredible!! A must see!

We went for a mild but mostly up hill hike toward the mountain and while our fitness level was not great we survived and loved it. So worth it! Earn a Junior Ranger badge, ask the rangers anything about the mountain, and the trails. Breathtaking views.

We took a tour through Yonder Sky to Mount Rainier for a full day of beauty, nature and great hikes. Our phenomenal tour guide Daniel, who owns Yonder Sky, was able to show us all of the hidden gems. We made at least eight stops and hit every key attraction and circled the entire mountain. Daniel was very knowledgeable and made sure that we got the best views of the nicest places on the mountain.

There really are no words that can convey the true splendor of Mount Rainier, so all I shall say is: Go!

We only had a few hours, so it was a whirlwind tour on a beautiful day. Visitors Center was closed (bummer).

The views are amazing. Lovely weather. worth the trip. Had a cruise booked so did not have alot of time. Would like love to go back and explore this place again. Loved this and also Oregon.

If you drive the Paradise loop be prepared for some panic inducing roads. Terrifying if you have any fear of heights or cliffs.

Mt. Rainier National Park rises out of the Cascade Mountain Range 14,411 feet and dominates the weather and scenery in the Pacific Northwest, just a short drive from Seattle, WA. The park contains a great trail system taking trekkers to meadows, waterfalls, mountain streams, wildlife, 25 major glaciers and iconic alpine settings such as the morning view of Rainier from Reflection Lake. We love the four-mile, round-trip hike up to Comet Falls, which you can extend to a seven-mile round-tripper to Van Trump Park.

If in Seattle, drive to Mount Rainier National Park. I promise you won’t regret it. Coming from California where everything is brown, the green trees and colorful meadows are so refreshing! Take the time to immerse yourself in nature. I promise you won’t regret it.

Spent two days hiking with my daughter. The trails were great. We stayed at the National Park Inn. It was so nice, even though we didn't have air conditioning.

I'm sure Rainier is a great park...if you can ever see it...and if they let you in. We drove up the east side of Rainier as the last stop on our "volcano" tour. We had already seen Lassen, Shasta, McLoughlin, Crater Lake, Thielsen, Bachelor, the Three Sisters, Washington, Jefferson, Hood, Adams, and St. Helens...some from afar, and some from closeup, all of them without being blocked by clouds. And then our luck changed and there were clouds. We did catch a glimpse of the whole of Rainier just before the clouds came in and covered it up, but alas...no pics. You know what they say...(Note: we did see Rainier clearly from Renton later in the day). Our issue was when we tried to drive up to Sunrise visitor's center, nope! All cars were stopped at the White River Entrance. They appeared to be letting cars in one at a time whenever a car left, but the wait looked to be about an hour so we just left and continued on our way. I can understand this if the parking lot is full, but our intent was not to park, but just to enjoy the drive up to the visitor's center and maybe catch a glimpse of Rainier. Make sure you plan better than we did...we foolishly thought this would work on a Saturday in July. Good luck.

Two entry points Paradise and Sunrise require a timed entry pass, only between 7am and 3pm, obtained via the government’s recreation site or app. At our time of visit passes could only be reserved the day before at 7pm. They sell out, get yours at 7pm to pick your desired time slot, 2 hour wiggle room. Park is beautiful and well maintained. Something for every activity level.

This place is so worth the drive! It was about 2 hours from Tacoma where we were visiting. Lovely drive and what a gorgeous place! We did Paradise and although we went in the fall we still had a beautiful day and appreciated the fall colors of the meadows. Would love to return in the summer.

This hike was the last one of the season for us and was so worth the trip and long line to enter. I would recommend not given up the first stretch of the hike...It gets much easier. I heard many people on the way down wanting to stop and so i gave them a few words of encouragement because it is so worth the hike up. Bring your wallet it has a souvenir shop.

This was well worth the money.. I booked through viator...John tour guide was awesome. We had great views of the mountain. This was my first visit here!

So many things to say but if I ramble on no one will read it! This was our first visit and we truly enjoyed it. The beauty was beyond comparison during our visit in July of 2019. The wildflowers, the mountain, the air, and the views make hiking a joy but even if you are not into hiking with a little effort you will enjoy this park. There are 4 or 5 different areas of the park so plan on spending multiple days if you want to see if all. I would definitely suggest the Paradise and Sunrise areas.

We visited Mt Rainier National Park in July 2019 and had an amazing experience. The park is truly stunning and we were really lucky to have excellent weather during the three days we stayed there.

We were able to see the Mt Rainier on all the three days and in addition to the mountain - the hiking and the wildflowers added to the positive experience

There are multiple areas of the park that need to be covered and so a little planning will go a long way. I recommend at least 2-3 day trip to experience the key areas such as Paradise, Sunrise, Tipsoo Lake etc.

If you are visiting the pacific northwest and if you love nature/national parks, I strongly recommend that you include Mt Rainier National Park into your planning!

Our flight flew by Mt Rainier on our descent into Seattle - covered in snow, it was majestic. Could not wait to get there. We made it to Paradise and went into the Visitors Center. Watched a brief video on Mt Rainier and looked around. There was still snow on the ground so we weren't able to proceed any further.
Stopped by to see Narada Falls - didnt get to hike down to the bottom due to snow on the ground. Loved hearing the sound of water and birds chirping on a beautiful sunny day,
We are novice hikers so we went on the short 3/4 mile Trail of Shadows in the Longmire area - it was beautiful. Walking through the snow dappled woods was so peaceful. Definitely recommend for novices and children.

Visited Mt Rainier on Saturday July 25, 2020. Arrived at the park around 8:30 and waited at the entrance for about 30 minutes to get in. We went to the Sunrise Visitor Center and took the Fremont Lookout trail to First Burroughs and ended with the Sunrise Rim Trail. The Fremont Lookout was out and back to a midpoint, and then we took Burroughs to Sunrise Rim for a loop back to the Visitor Center. The total trip was around 8 miles and took us exactly 4 hours.

We were a little cautious about which trail to take because we heard there was still a lot of snow on other trails. On the trails we took, there was only 1 snow section headed back on the Sunrise Rim Trail. We didn’t have picks or boots, only hiking shoes, and felt okay with walking across it.

Overall, the hike was beautiful. We had amazing views of the snow capped Mt Rainier throughout most of the trails, and the wildflowers were abundant.

It seemed like there would be a lot of people hiking based on the crowded parking lot, but since there are so many trails it didn’t feel too crowded on the hike. Most people wore masks when others passed, and there were a lot of times we were alone on the trails. Also, bathrooms outside the Visitor Center were really clean.

Highly recommend these trails & hiking Mt. Rainier!!

When you're in Seattle, you can always see Rainier on the horizon. Worth the trip to see it close. You need to make a timed entry reservation, so go to recreation.gov (or get the app) to find out more. Those usually go on sale a month or two in advance and again the evening before. Those passes are $2 and it's abother $30 to enter the park. We stopped at Narada Falls, which is beautiful and has several trails below it. We then drove up to the Paradise lot and the Jackson Visitor Center. The are several trails behind there and we did some of the Skyline trail, which starts out paved and ultimately has several terrains. It is impossibly steep at the beginning, but levels out at some point. It goes fairly far up the mountain before coming back down, and the views bothlooking up to Rainier and across to other peaks are just amazing. We went on a warm July day, but there are nice breezes as you ascend. A must-do if you are in the area.

Loved to do the skyline and Myers falls with two boys 7/9 years old. Couldn’t believe how much snow remained here. Parking lot was packed and waited almost 30 minutes for a spot.

Mountain weather changes rapidly. If you are lucky enough to have clear skies, they might not last beyond 1pm. Go early. Bring layers. My visit was in September with temps in the low 40's but it warmed into the 50's. With hiking, I was warm in a t-shirt. The paths near the visitor center are paved and wide. If you don't plan to hike, just bring tennis-shoes. Look at the map for the levels of difficulty. If you want to get closer to the glacier at higher altitudes, the trails are less maintained and you will need hiking boots. Don't forget extra water and snacks (and sunscreen). You will be going uphill and will need energy and hydration. Feeding wildlife is not a good idea. The squirrels and chipmunks are used to people and they will jump on you. It might sound cute, but it's not. It will cost $30 per car to get in. Passes are available, but seem most cost-effective for seniors. Look up the entrances on google before you go. Some entrances close at different times of the year as the weather changes. The northwest entrance is closed to vehicles at all times. Fill up your gas tank before you get into the park, and be prepared for no cell service, which could mean no maps. The closest entrance from downtown Seattle is just over 100 miles. This is a must-see!

Love everything about it. The nostalgic buildings, the scenic drive, the waterfalls, the hiking, the glaciers - it’s all just so beautiful it’s hard to describe - majestic, maybe, or glorious or the grandeur of Mt Rainier - just go explore and experience it.

It was the first time my son saw snow!!
It was an amazing drive!!! Great views. When we stopped, it was snowing and we had fun playing with the snow!!!
Really love this park and it doesn't matter the weather, it is always amazing to drive there.

I have visited this NP 3 times.
2 times in Summer and once in Fall.
As you have 2 Visitor Center: SUNRISE or PARADISE, one to the north and one to the South, one does not know which to select, since they are very distant from each other; and it is very difficult to try to see both in the same day.
For better and more stunning views, visit SUNRISE. As it is higher than sea level, it offers you better scenery, more snow even in June.
Last June 2025, I was in PARADISE, and although it was beautiful, I consider it more beautiful SUNRISE.
Plus a little less crowded with tourists. It's closer to Seattle, and you can sleep in Enuwcloud, a charming little town.

On PARADISE's side, you'll stay in Packwood. Pretty nice, country and quiet. A little more expensive, but it's also good choice

I live in the mountains, but the sheer size and beauty of Mount Rainier is jaw dropping! We didn't give ourselves enough time to fully explore the park because this was actually a side trip. The best views of the mountain are from the Sunrise visitor center or going over to the Crystal Mountain ski resort and taking the gondola to the top. We initially entered the park from the Stevens Canyon entrance and stopped at the Ohanapecosh Campground. You don't pay to get into the park to get to the campground, but you have to pay to be parked there for more than 30 minutes. Once you pay for parking, this will cover the cost of the park entrance fee if you go up to the Sunrise visitor center.
There is a Silver Falls loop trail that is a 2.7 mile hike from the Ohanapecosh campground. Most people start at the southeast trailhead where the river will be on your left. We left from the southwest trailhead and had a peaceful hike without seeing many people. This route will bring you to the falls higher up than the other trail that leads you to observation decks.
We explored up river to see more of the falls. The river in July still had plenty of power so the spray from the waterfall was refreshing after the hike. My daughter was not happy to be hiking because she was tired, but once we reached the falls, she was excited and happy I made her go.
The water is that minty turquoise color as is typical in the Pacific Northwest and western Canada. So pretty!

It is a pretty good drive to get to and there can be a wait to get through the gate (we were an hour in line) but the area is beautiful and the visitors center is nice!!

Upon entry it's like $35 for 7 day entry fee. But if your a Senior, it's $20 for yearly pass. After 4th year of purchasing pass, the 5th one is FREE for the rest of your Life!

We recently took a day trip to Mount Ranier while visiting Seattle. It was well worth the drive. We’ve been to many of our national parks but we’re still amazed by Mount Ranier. We were there in July and there was still some snow on the ground at the mid to upper elevations. We saw all that we could in a few hours but could of easily spent a few days there. If back in Seattle I will return to Mount Ranier. In the summer months there are lots of visitors there but it wasn’t unpleasant.

It was 68 when we started up the mountain, and halfway up the temperature dropped to 38, there was a ton of snow and fog, like a whole different world. Must have taken 200 pictures ! This was Memorial Day, 2019, and half of the roads were still closed. Worth the visit.

We have been to Mount Rainier many times. We were there yesterday. We had read on their website that the Trail of the Patriarchs was closed. What we didn’t know was that the road to Paradise was closed past one-quarter of a mile from the entrance to that road. The ranger at the Paradise entrance station recommended the hiking trail across the street from the Trail of the Patriarchs. We hiked that trail and we highly recommend this one. In fact, don’t miss it! It has waterfalls that are stunning. The road to Sunrise was also closed. We still enjoyed our time at the park, although we would have liked seeing all of the things we have been accustomed to seeing.

The mountains are calling and I must go! Beautiful mountains and scenery. Some of the roads were closed so we had a bit of a drive to get there. But we seen beautiful areas on the way. Some of the rock roads were quite bumpy, take it easy. So many areas for beautiful photo opportunities. Look for the falls also.

I think the weekend I spent in the Mount Rainier National Park is among my 10 best weekends ever. I took the "Skyline trail", from Paradise, which is 16 miles long. It was a really nice experience.

Some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen. Especially the reflecting lakes and the Vale of the Patriarchs.

This incredible mountain is a stunning sight. Well worth the drive to Paradise, the views are extraordinary. Once there, choose a hike that fits your fitness level or just relax over an outdoor lunch at the excellent visitor center. A well done 15 minute movie is worth the time.

My husband and I took a trip to Seattle with the intent on seeing the national parks. Mt Rainier blew us away! We went at the end of June which was fantastic because it wasn't crowded yet as the prime season begins July 1st. Not all the trails were open yet, but we had plenty of hiking to keep busy.

Watch out for the bicyclists while driving around - they are everywhere and some ride 3-4 across in the road (instead of behind each other).

My family and I visited Mount Rainer National park on our trip to Seattle. The park is located less than two hours from Seattle and I highly recommend the trip for anyone visiting the area. The views of the mountain are stunning. There are several lookout points throughout the park, and you can also visit sunrise or paradise if you want to drive deeper into the park. There is also a view from the gondola ride at crystal mountain, which is what we chose to do. I recommend to check the weather before arriving, you need a clear day to view the mountain. We used the webcams at the crystal mountain website to plan our trip, because we could tell their were clouds blocking the view in the morning. We waited until the afternoon to visit once it cleared up. Highly recommend visiting this park!

Great location to hike climb or just sightsee and a stroll. Cool lodge and services. We hiked several trails and it was great visit.

Our time at Three Bears Lodge was memorable. Mt. Rainier in July was spectacular and our cabin had everything that we needed. Sometimes the cell phone service wasn't great, but the customer service at Three Bear's Lodge was flawless!

We drove to Paradise. We went on an easy hike. We couldn’t believe there was still so much snow on the trail in July. The trail was mostly completely covered, and we just had to follow the footprints. Every once in a while we would be able to see part of the actual trail. We had a great time hiking and sliding in the snow, but we ended up cutting our hike short because the trail seemed to lead to a big drop off. It was still fun. We visited the gift shop which was cute. We stopped to admire a waterfall on the way back to Seattle.

This park is so big and offers so much to do. You really need to give yourself plenty of time and realize it will take a lot of time to travel to the various areas of the park it you want to see them all. Paradise is beautiful, but get there early.

We were just thrilled with the trip to Mt. Rainier! There are so many beautiful sights on this park. Well worth the entrance fee. Get an early start so you can take advantage of the whole day sight-seeing. It's gorgeous! We took these pictures at Paradise!

There are dozens of activities to choose from nature trails to climbing to the top. There are hundreds of miles of hiking trails.

One of the greatest parks in the US. The road around the mountain is enchanting, with a variety of alpine scenery. Drive to Sunrise Ridge is spellbinding. Great trails and camping. Lodges not the best rooms, but great locations. A must see.

This area is very badly affected by rancid smoke. The guy in the garage on WA12 said if we could see the mountain from the viewpoint we would have great views from the top. Got to the viewpoint and could just about see a silhouette of Mt Ranier through the smoke. We decided it was not worth paying $30 to drive to the top. I would seriously think whether to come here until the smoke clears. Must be a real health hazard at the moment

The national park is well laid out. Great variety of hiking for all levels of hikers. Crowded on Saturday but attribute that to clear skies and warm temperatures. Very family friendly. The only drawback is that the visitor center doesn’t open till 10:00. Great weekend hiking. WiFi at visitor center only and only when open.

Wonderful views throughout the entire park and may hikes to choose from. A group of 15, ages 3 to 40+, went on a hike to Comet Falls. This is a medium difficult hike, lots of roots and rocks on a very steep trail, but two 3yo managed to hike most of the way without being carried.

Absolutely loved visiting Mount Rainier. One of the best views I have ever seen. The only down fall, was the visiting center is only open on Saturday and Sunday during the off season.

If you want to hike the trails make sure to bring your snow equipment, most trails have snow until mid summer.

We hiked to Glacier Vista and the views were continually stunning. Come to
Paradise Visitor Center and the staff Rangers will help you choose the trails the fit your goals. Just a wonderful place!

A stunning park to visit, would not have paid the entry charge though, $30 , have annual pass so glad we visited the main thing to see is reflection lake in front of Mount Rainier, a much photoed place, immediately recognised it there are trails to do as well,

This has been on our bucket list, so glad we finally made it! Be prepared for cool weather, even in the summer. Absolutely no cell phone service for miles, so if you have info you want to save, be sure to print out for yourself beforehand...

Words and even photos cant do the Paradise trail any justice! This is certainly a must see. We hiked the entire circular mapped trail in about 6 hours and stopped several times for unbelievable photo ops and breathtaking views. Take lots of snacks, water, sunglasses, and sunscreen.

The drive up to Paradise Valley was nice. It was a clear sunny day for us. And, we are early. So no jams and no stress. We reached Paradise Visitor Centre by 9am but oh my, the car park was almost full. Still, we easily found a car park. Some paths were still covered in rather thick snow. But we got to see Mount Rainier up close and personal.

We were there 2 days and had hazy, smoky, and somewhat cloudy days the last 2 days of August at Mount Rainier. On the East side the second day, you could barely make out the outline of the mountain due to haze/smoke.

We used the Paradise park entrance. Got there right after 7:00am and the Paradise main lot was already full and closest secondary lot was already filling up. Easy and Moderate hikes, gorgeous waterfalls, lakes, and tremendous wildflowers. Get there early if heading to Paradise area. Left Paradise entrance around 4:00pm to see a huge traffic jam/line-up waiting to enter the park ... so glad we got there early and secured a parking spot

It was our first time visiting Mount Rainier on March 29, 2021. I've never seen anything so magical. It was beautiful in every corner of the mountain. It just snowed the prior day which made it look like the snow was as soft as clouds. We took a tour with a group of 15 people and our guide was pretty amazing. He made every effort to stop where we can take a few photos and just enjoy the beautiful view. It definitely has to be in one of your list to do if you're ever here in Seattle. It's also not far from the city which makes it more worth it. I promise you, you will not be disappointed. It will be one of the most beautiful places you'll ever see.

There are many National Parks with mountains but there is probably no park that is so defined by a single mountain as Mount Rainier. Please understand within the park there are other mountains like the Tatoosh Range. However, in no way, no where does anytime have the impact and majesty the way Mount Rainier has at Mount Rainier NP.

With that said, be sure to have multiple days at the park as there is a lot to do, but the real reason is you may not get to see the mountain every day, even when the forecast says sunny skies. Our first day at the park, you could not see the mountain at all due to a thick fog. At first the only parts that were not in the fog was the low base like Longmire. By the end of the day, we were able to see clearly at Paradise Inn and Valley, but you still could not see the mountain until sunset. I still remember the first time we saw because it is that impactful.

When we awoke the next day, the skies were clear, and we had an amazing hike on the Skyline Loop the morning before we left. It was the most incredible experience and one of my favorite hikes in the NPS. A couple of tips would be to stay at Skyline or at least within the park. This ensures you have easy and quick access to take advantage of weather breaks. The second tip is to be totally flexible with your plans. There is good hiking at the base, Twin Firs and Trail of Shadows, and mid-mountain, Snow Lake Trail. Be sure to have options that allow you to see and do different things in different weather. However, be sure if you have a break to do the Skyline Loop and see the mountain up close. It is beyond words.

This is a beautiful and quite large national park with so much to visit. On the weekends in the summer it can get pretty crowded, so you should get there early to park. We started off at Paradise where we did the Nisqually Vista trail which is quite easy and offers amazing views of Mt Rainier itself. We then drove to Sunrise where we did the Silver Forest Trail which offers a different perspective of the mountain. Finally, we headed to Longmire where we did the trail of shadows, another easy yet very interesting trail. It goes through the forest in what was the original Longmire resort founded by early settlers. While there are no views here, the nature itself is very interesting. You see natural hot springs, lots of wildlife including deer and very tall trees as well. All in all there is so much to do and of course can't be finished in one day.

We took the tour on a tour bus. Our guide was amazing both in his knowledge and his ability to lend a helping hand to whomever needed it. He knew the park quite well, both historically and photographically and would stop whenever anyone wanted to get photos. We showed us amazing waterfalls, dry rocky river beds, and where the bathrooms were. He took pictures of us with our cameras. It was a foggy day and we never got to see the top of the mountain, but it wasn't his fault! At the top, he gave us plenty of time to eat lunch and use the plentiful bathrooms! And, as we came down the mountain, he took us to a place where they had huckleberry ice cream, which was quite tasty. I would recommend the tour highly. It is on my list of things to see again in the future.

It’s the first thing you see when you land and it’s beautiful and gets even more so the closer you get

The park is wonderful, without a doubt, but the management of the reservations to access the most emblematic places, is nefarious.
Without prior Reservation (two dollars more) you cannot access until three in the afternoon!

Great for enjoying natural beauty, viewing and hiking, and even climbing if so inclined (no pun intended).

FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANTLY...you must have a reservation at Paradise or Sunrise corridor to get into the park between the hours of 7-3. Go to the Mount Ranier web page . These are the two most popular entrances.
In addition you will need to purchase a pass at the gate to get into the park AND you need to show your driver's license.
You do all of these things before they will let you in the park
The earlier you go the better..parking fills up fast. If you plan to go after 3 you will wait in a long line with the other people who didn't get a reservation. Try to go during the week, avoid the weekend.
I recommend downloading the recreation.gov app for your phone.
AND YES, THE Mt RANIER WEBSITE IS VERY CONFUSING

Went on a cloudy day nearing fall, but the view was spectacular. Spring might be the best time to visit.

Unfortunately when we went it was rainy and cloudy, but we still had a great time walking to falls and other hikes. Very beautiful areas to see. The drive up Sunset area is great and the meadows here are beautiful.

Beautiful park and views, but many things are inaccessible due to COVID. Couldn't go into visitors centers, but I could go maskless at Mariners game that night. NPS didn't get the memo about vaccinated people I guess.

This is a must see if you travel to Washington State. We got there on the 2nd May, the day after snow chains were no longer required on cars. Most of the roads into the park were still closed but we were able to go in through the road to Longmire. There are excellent walking trails from Longmire itself and as you get further into the park. As you get further into the park and higher up there is still snow at this time of the year but it is still worth visiting.

I came here for a great way to get out of Seattle for the day and I was not disappointed by any means... the walk can be challenging, but if you take your time, almost anyone can do it... **NOTE** this is NOT a hike you should take infants on ... I spoke my mind at a family who had a baby that was crying constantly and I told them about altitude and its effects on young infants... anyway... the views here were amazing... the clean air ... the grasses and wildflowers were incredible... summer is clearly your best time... my other word of advice would be to talk puri-tabs or water steriliser tabs so you can sample some of the glacial water safely... do Skyline as a minimum and Muir if you are up to it...

Majestic mountain Destination. Never disappointing for a day or two into this area wilderness during the summer months.

It was wonderful to see Mount Rainier, but all the entrances to the park were closed. I had the opportunity to see very well from the plane that flew over Mount Rainier and the day was beautiful.

Mount Rainier is a beautiful National Park. Plan on touring for 2 days. A good place to stay is the Crystal Mountain Resort. Also take the gondola ride at the Resort for great views and food at the mountain top restaurant.

The ride may seem long from I-5 but the drive to Mt Rainier is worth every moment. We recently visited as we headed south out of Seattle and were wowed by the natural beauty evident in every area of the park. Since it is a National Park the Senior pass is welcome which means you can skip the $30 entrance fee. It wasn’t crowded as the summer crowds are gone and the trees have begun to change color. We spent about four hours in the park stopping to take in the beauty and take pictures. Food was available but limited; bring your own with you for lunch. There are numerous picnic tables and rest areas.

Mt. Rainier is a beautiful NP. Although, during our visit the weather obscured the view of Mt. Rainier. We were able to enjoy a good portion of the park that was visible.

We were blessed with perfect blue skies for most of the day. I can't explain or describe it. You just have to go there!

5* views 1* visitor experience. Uncommunicated timed admission! Not enough to put info on the website and assume that others will read it.
1 The southwest entry Paradise needs timed reservation for admission from 7 to 3 in summer. OK But this is not communicated by road signs.
2 A road sign says Paradise Corridor needs reservations. That tells us nothing. Is that part of the park? The entrance? An optional part?
3 Too late to tell us anyway. As you well know, that sign is placed where there is no cell service to find more information.
4 After we waited 30 min in line, there was a sign Timed Reservations sold out. Maybe that should have been placed ten miles earlier?
5 They sent us round to the southeast entrance. 25 miles of bumpy road without cell service or paved turnouts. By now we had wasted several hours.
6 The SE entrance had a sign timed reservations required but only at the park entrance! Not adequate. Miles after Packwood, miles after the cell signal cuts out, you now tell me I need timed reservations?
7 We entered the southeastern entrance. Even Kknowing that there was no service, the ranger did not offer us a printed map.

This is a most beautiful National Park with great views of Mt. Rainier. There are a lot of places to stop for hiking and/or picnicking. There are many photo ops in the park. This park is not to be missed.

After many long days driving ftom Georgia we were not letting a cloudy day ruin our trip to Ranier. Lots to see even if the volcano was shrouded by the clouds.

Need reservation

skyline trail: covered by snow. Rent snow pole at visitor center. I saw someone hurt and needing park ranger to take her down to ambulance.
Visitor center food is very expensive, small hot dog for $10. Bring some food yourself.

it is very nice place .the park require reservation .they are very Strick about reservation . if you don't have then entry is after 3 pm only per car $30
i don't understand the concept of reservation it is so big park so crowd will distribute automatically carry lots of food in your car so you can eat inside the park only one restaurant not much choice for vegetarian. before reaching to the park use restroom on the way itself. no gas station or no restroom near closer to the park . inside restroom is there but you will waste time in search in September first week we didi not see any water fall or colorful flower overall it is good place for the whole day check weather before planning

Mount Rainier is definitely a must-see. There are gorgeous wildflowers surrounding the area. The lakes combined with the scenic views make it a gorgeous area to spend the day.

I'm pretty sure nobody gives negative review to national parks, but having visited 10+ now, this one is one of the most beautiful that I've ever seen.

I entered on the east side early on a foggy morning. A few miles before Paradise, the fog cleared out and I was treated to a stunning view of Mount Rainier. Any photos do not do it justice.

Highly recommend taking the Skyline Trail. Going clockwise (like I did), you will climb almost 2,000 feet in the first two miles, though after that you're cruising. I would recommend that route. The views are so stupendous that you forget you're even hiking up a giant hill. After you've done the uphill, you can walk slowly and enjoy the meadows, knowing that you've already earned a giant meal afterwards.

Even for a short visit, I highly recommend Mount Rainier National Park.

We had alway wanted to visit Mount Rainier NP and finally got to do so this fall. We stayed in Ashford rather than commute from Seattle. We were well past the famous wildflower season but a great time. We visited Paradise, Longmire and the Grove of the Patriarchs over 2 days. We did not make it to Sunrise. It was fairly clear the first day (we spent the whole day at Paradise) but rain poured down almost all day on our second day there.

Here are some thoughts about visiting Rainier:

1. Consider visiting in the off-season, even in the depth of winter; Longmire lodging is available and the road to Paradise is plowed.
2. Stay in the park or nearby
3. If driving in from further away plan to get in early, ideally by 8AM during the high season.
4. Have $30 in cash ready or pre-purchase a single-vehicle park pass online from Your Pass .com and print it. Only a paper ticket is accepted; an e-ticket on the phone cannot be scanned and you will have to fork over another $30 to get in.
5. Be prepared to visit elsewhere in the park if Paradise is packed
7. Be sure heck in with the rangers at the Paradise visitors’ center. Based on trail conditions, your preference and abilities they will suggest hikes to check out.
6. Be prepared to hike steep grade slopes at Paradise, though all the trails starting from the Paradise parking lots are paved a good distance up the side of the mountain
7. Be aware you might be more easily tired or short of breath at the higher altitude especially given that you will be hiking, which may or may not be a problem depending on your experience, degree of fitness, conditioning, and medical health.
8. Be prepared to be one of many visitors; there was rarely a sense of solitude on the lower portions of the trail.
9. Be prepared for Mount Rainier to not show itself.
10. The weather is fickle and unpredictable.

We drove on the Road to Paradise (starting in Ashford). It was beautiful! We saw rivers, waterfalls, canyons, lakes, cliffs, the mountain, snow, ice, wildlife… Amazing! The clouds were kind of high on the days we were there (and around the area), they did part enough (later in the day) for us to get a peek at the top. We could see the lower part where the glaciers start up the mountain for most of the day, but when the clouds part so you can see how much higher the mountain goes… WOW!!!

Mount Rainier National Park aTRA

Be sure to visit these spots:

"Paradise" and the little known Layser Cave and the Grove of the Patriarchs ( OLD GROWTH TREES). Awesome.

The hike up to camp muir is breathtaking and beautiful. Camp muir was a lot smaller than expected. The rangers were very helpful and helped keep people safe, they helped us in a bit of a difficult situation. Toilets were lovely! Be prepared for high winds at camp Muir. Also summited Mount Rainier which was amazing but beware there many risks involved such as crevasse falls, falls, seracs and rock fall. There is also a lot of people which creates quite the bottleneck but totally worth it!

The park is beautiful, nice drive, but unfortunately it was cloudy on the day we visitied. However, there is more to the park than looking at the mountain (which i never saw). The waterfalls, flowers, wildlife - awesome. Worth a visit. I will return.

Hiking on Mount Rainer, especially in December where White powdered Snow filled centuries Old trees, was fun and beautiful. We were a group of 8, one lady from Columbia who enjoyed it like it she was 12 years old. We all showered ourselves with Snow, made a "Trump" like Snowman and walked for hours. Wear the right shoes and bring some quick to be eaten snacks and water along. The views and the many trails were awesome.

With breathtaking views of Mount Rainier and picturesque alpine meadows, Spray Park is worth every mile!

Why am I even bothering to write this review, when of course you already know that this is a stunning, magnificent place, filled with magic and wonder! If only I could, I would come back in July and August and stay at the Paradise Inn and head out in the night to see the stars! And the wildflowers! Now at Paradise when we went, there is a sign in the Visitors Center stating that "there are no paths that are free of snow". lol! People just a few days ago are still skiing at Paradise. When you enter the park via the Paradise entry, make sure you stop at Longmire - so much history here! You'll visit Ricksecker Point, Narada Falls, stop at all of the gorgeous falls along the way. Even if you have only one day (which is all that we had), you have the opportunity to take this mystical place in, to feel the solitude, the glory - spectacular! If clouds are covering the peak, wait, be patient - the clouds and mist generally lift. And wow, the volcano emergency exit signs as you are leaving! Rainier is an active volcano, it's been several hundred years since it's last eruption, but it is still active!

We went to Tacoma to visit my son who's in the Army, decided to do a day trip to Mt Rainier, the weather was cloudy and drizzly and we couldn't see the mountain even though it was right in front of our faces but decided to go anyway. What a great adventure, we hiked to several waterfalls and wow what a magical place. We drove up to the visitors center where the mountain climbers meet up before heading further up the mountain. Plenty of snow on the ground up at the visitors center. We ate lunch at the visitors center and the food was pretty good and quite reasonable. Lots of places to take in the views and hike around. I'm guessing the weather detoured many people from heading up but I recommend the trip even if the weather is less than perfect. Well worth a day trip.

Rainier is spectacular. Words can’t do it justice, nor pictures but I included some to give you a taste. I took a day trip to Mt. Rainier and was blown away. Highly recommend. It’s closed at times of the year and different seasons give you different experiences. I went in August and the meadows had flowers, waterfalls, and wildlife. The higher you go, the more flowers until you get to the glacier cap, which stay year round. We went on a cloudier day and some wind so some views were obscured and the reflection on the reflection lake was blurred but I’d go back in a heartbeat. Take all the time you can just know it won’t be enough.

WOW what a fantastic view! We got lucky and had a clear day although towards the end of our visit smoke was rolling in causing haze from the forest fires. My husband and I just went to take pictures from the visitors center and had a nice picnic. There is a good picnic area with the tables separated by trees so it's like you're the only ones there.

This is a lovely, large national park full of natural beauty - trees, mountains, glaciers, waterfalls and even some wild life that you can see along the roadside. Of course, it is a feast for the hiker/climber but is equally worth a visit for the more casual visitor. The roads are extremely well maintained given the harsh conditions. To get the full experience, please spend at least one night inside the park.

This park is a must if you are in the Seattle area. The mountain is awe-inspiring with breath-taking scenery surrounding the visitor center.

We were so very fortunate to see Denali in clear view from the viewing point on Park Highway #3 and when we went to Seattle, Mt. Rainer was shrouded in clouds wherever we were. On our last day, on the light rail going to Seatac, the morning was bright and cloudless and in the distance were had a perfectly clear view of the Mountain. Just a stunning and iconic symbol for the state of Washington. That made our day.

If it's your first visit, go in through the Nisqually entrance. GO EARLY. Do not stop in any of the waterfalls in the way up (you will stop on your way down), you want to make it to Paradise while there is still parking. Drive to paradise and do a couple of short hikes. The Nisqually vista hike, then go to Myrtle falls. Drive back by hitting reflection lake, walk to the lake, take pics. Drive back down to Longmire, and now do stop at the waterfalls on the way down. Longmire will be your last stop before leaving the park. sit on the deck chairs at the National Park Inn and enjoy the view. Use the bathroom and head home. Yes, You've been to heaven.

This is an amazingly beautiful and awesomely exciting park to visit. Views of mount Rainier are spectacular and views of the surrounding areas are sweet. BUT, if you want a good experience, you need to plan carefully. First, don't try to see too much in one day. We visited Sunrise only, and did one hike only (the Mount Fremont Lookout Trail) because we only had a few hours. Certainly we could have done more than we did had we stayed the whole day, but I would suggest not to visit multiple areas in one day as it can become too stressful. Second, make sure to arrive early to avoid the crowds. We arrived by 8:00 and were able to drive right in with plenty of parking, and at that point, there was not much crowding on the trail. We tried to come here once before in the afternoon and they would not even let us in the gate because of the crowds. Third, be sure to pick a day (or days) that is NOT a weekend or holiday. We chose to visit on a Wednesday...maximum enjoyment. Finally (and this may be the hardest part) go the the park on a clear day. For most people, this is hard to plan for, and I know people who visited the park and never saw the top of Rainier because of clouds. At the end of the day, with good planning, this is clearly one of the most wonderful National Parks in the USA.

If you want to go out of the city and relax. Have an encounter with nature this is the place for you. Loved my tour as wellJoe is an excellent tour guide and hilarious as well.

I’ve been to many parks and this is one of the most beautiful. The descriptions of the walks were spot on. We were looking for easier ones and found them easily. Many pull offs. There just aren’t words to describe the beauty of this park. Don’t miss it.

Mount Rainier is such a big beautiful set of glaciers. It takes your breath away. The large trees are gorgeous. The creeks and rivers add to the beauty. Can't wait until the visitor centers reopen.

An absolutely stunning park.
So much to do and see, lots of wildlife and lots of beautiful walks.
One of our favourite national parks.

Mount Rainier National Park is always worth a five star review based on the awe inspiring 14410 feet volcano.

However, we had to endure a 90 minute wait to enter the park as there are only 2 payment booths at the entrance although I do appreciate it was Labor Day weekend.

The parking lot at Paradise was completely full, but luckily we met with an extremely helpful park volunteer who helped us park as we have a disabled friend with us.

I’m sure the visitor centre would be very interesting on a quieter day but the area was so overcrowded, we didn’t hang around. The toilet facilities are woefully inadequate.

We took the half mile walk to Myrtle Falls. Absolutely beautiful as the earlier cloud had cleared by mid afternoon to leave a blue sky and temperature in the mid 70’s (24c), allowing a full view of the mountain. We also saw what we were advised was a marmot and had a close up experience with a deer.

Of course, a must do if in The Pacific Northwest, but try to go when it’s not a holiday.

Our only day to see Mount Rainier with some guests from Germany fell on Labor Day in 2019. Should we go or not? What would the traffic be like? I gleaned some good tips from TripAdvisor reviews, and then took the plunge...

It worked out very well! It fell out as follows:
1. We started out in Seattle at 10:30am. The traffic all the way to Enumclaw (highways I-90, 405, 169) were fine - very little delay. I worried about highway 410 to the mountain, but traffic moved along there too.
2. We skipped the Federal Forest and Crystal Mountain, but those would have been worthy stops. You'd run out of time for some of our later stops, however.
3. We reached the turn off to Sunrise - no bad traffic to this point - and gave it a try. Pretty soon we hit a long line. A park ranger was telling people at the end of the line that it would be an hour and a half wait to reach the ticket booth. He gave us one additional crucial tip: on Labor Day and all busy summer weekends, the parking lots at Sunrise and Paradise start to free up after 2pm. So we turned around and didn't wait in this line.
4. Our first stop was Tipsoo Lake. This came from a TripAdvisor tip. We got the last spot in the parking lot, but there is more parking up the road. We walked around the lake - it gives a fine view of the mountain. We headed up the Naches trail, wondering if that would lead to a viewpoint. The main trail does not - it leads back to the road and more parking. We turned left on an unmaintained but distinguishable trail and this did eventually lead to a sheltered valley with a great view of the mountain.
5. Next stop: The Grove of the Patriarchs for the big trees. Again, the parking lot was full, but we stopped a little further on at the side of the road.
6. By now it was about 3pm, so we went on ahead to Reflection Lakes (quick stop) and Paradise. There was plenty of parking at Paradise by this time.
7. Going home we backtracked the way we had come and arrived back at Sunrise just after 7pm. All of the facilities closed promptly at 7pm, but we enjoyed the view of the mountain with the clouds lit up by the setting sun.
8. Again, returning home through Enumclaw we encountered no bad traffic.

The weather was good all day. Our luck with the traffic did not have to do with bad weather. If that ranger is right, this itinerary can be enjoyed throughout the summer.

If you wanted to add the chair lift at Crystal, leave earlier from Seattle.

Good luck!

As with any National Park, Mount Rainier is a must when visiting the Pacific Northwest. A relatively short drive (about two hours) from Seattle or Tacoma is nothing to sacrifice for the splendor of the views, serenity, and beauty of the park.
There are so many different hiking trails at all levels of ability that there is something for everyone. It can get crowded on weekends and high-season that may make finding parking at many trailheads difficult, but the park is massive and there are so many places to visit that being patient and finding another location is worth it without being disappointed.
Both the Visitors' Center and Paradise Inn were closed for the season (the Inn for renovations and the Visitor Center is only open on weekends) during our visit last week, but the weather cooperated completely.
Best times to visit for optimal scenery and hiking without fewer crowds is dawn/dusk; while the midday is great for warmer temperatures and relaxing. Anytime is a great time, just take the time to enjoy and experience it...don't rush, and look around.

Loved visiting Mount Rainier! The weather was perfect and the drive up from Tacoma was beautiful!! There are lots of scenic pull offs along the mountain.

I know I’m probably biased because I live in Washington. However, I prefer Ranier to Yellowstone or Yosemite! The other parks are so crowded during peak season. Ranier has all the majesty without as many idiots! You do want to arrive early on the Sunrise side during peak season, especially with f it’s clear, because they do close the road when the parking gets full. If you enjoy hiking and the outdoors- it’s an absolutely wonderful place to visit.

At 14,410 feet, it is a crown jewel in The Cascades along the Pacific Northwest thereby earning it the right to have its own National Park. While the mountain’s well known peak is visible for miles in every direction, it’s alpine, glacier clad slopes occupy only one third of the park. This is the fifth oldest National Park in the nation. The park has multiple entrances but the Paradise Entrance is the most popular. There are five major entrances:
Longmire (southwest), Paradise (south), Ohanapecosh (southeast), Sunrise / White River (northeast), Carbon River / Mowich Lake (northwest). No matter which entrance you choose to enter from, a view of Mt. Rainier is possible either after a hike or a drive. Weather is the king here, and if it is cloudy, you will not be able to see the peak at all because it rises above the clouds. Go prepared with layers of clothing as required because at higher altitudes it gets chilly.

The mountain is incredible. The town around it cute-no shops, just a few restaurants and coffee shops. The park is extremely well maintained. A must see.

We were visiting Seattle for the first time but it wasn't the city that was the biggest attraction for us, it was Mount Rainier. We rented a car and entered the park from the southwest gate on highway 706. The weather was foggy and there was snow on the ground, and this was in the month of May!

We made our way to the Henry M Jackson visitor center and went inside to eat and shop. By then the sun had come out but we still couldn't see the peak of Mount Rainier. We started climbing up from the north side of the parking lot to see what the view would be like. The snow is still deep enough in May that snow shoes (available for rent in the visitor center) are advisable. We didn't rent snow shoes so we got wet feet but we had a great time! We hiked up to where groups were being trained by guides to learn how to ascend the mountain. The view was outstanding!

Plan ahead enough to bring warm clothes and dry shoes and socks.

Our planned day to visit Mount Rainier fell on May 22nd, a day before all the park roads were scheduled to reopen. It was also cloudy, so we didn’t see the Mountain. However, we saw numerous waterfalls on our ride to Paradise and visited the Paradise Inn.

Fantastic place.
Drove from seattle and went in via Paradise side of the mountain.
$30 Park pass required on entry, but well worth it.
Amazing scenery. Lots of stop off points for exploring and taking pics on the drive up to paradise. Take your time, it's worth it.
Also drove to sunshine, steep and winding road, but great views of glacier.
A fantastic place to visit.

We were in Seattle for three days and planned a visit to Mount Rainier on the third day. The weather was great the first two days but was cloudy and rainy on the third. If you have the flexibility to change visits, pick a clear day to go to Mount Rainier National Park. We went to the visitor center & had lunch (not more than cafeteria food). We viewed the movie, and exhibits, & gift shop. The only thing that tempered our visit was the rainy, cloudy weather. Be prepared to bring a heavy jacket as the temp at the visitor center was 20 degrees lower than the bottom of the mountain. There are several hiking trails that offer a different experience from easy to difficult.

This is justtttttt an amazing place. Though it was annoying with the long wait times to get in , it is WORTH the wait .. the view is just magnificent… it’s almost like a dream ! God gift to human beings . One of the best places that I have ever seen in my life . There are few trails and depending on how much you can walk , take those trails .

When we went , it was too crowded . Went late summer and there were beautiful wild flowers . Just loved them . We walked for few mins to view the rainier and then walked towards myrtle falls view and back to visitor center . It was just a breathtaking adventure … loved it to the max . A must visit place for anyone who visits WA .. 👍👍👍

If you want a knowledgeable, kind spirited, intuitive, energetic guide to take you on numerous trails around Mt. Rainier, go with a Wildland Trekking group. I did the Inn hike for 3 days. We covered about 20 plus miles and loved every minute. I look forward to hiking with Wildland Trekking again soon.

Joe is the greatest tour guide, what a wonderful day we had with him! His knowledge and humor made it so fun! We got all the great spots. We all felt safe and very well taken care of with Joe!

Great Hike, starts up with a paved path for the trail, then it turns into dirt and rocks, then by Pebble Creek the patch of snow begins. From here onwards it's going to be trekking in snow only till you reach Camp Muir. One important point to this hike is : make sure its sunny as it is a beautiful and harsh uphill hike, bring a windbreaker, toque, gloves and a board or a short sled for sliding back down the mountain. Views are breathtaking, Mount St. Helen's, mountain goats, other mountains below you.

The anti clockwise hike takes you from visitor center to Panoramic view point and then back to base. Great views along the way though it can get a little chilly at the top. It was a long hike ~4 hours with the photo and rest breaks. The only inconvenience was to find the restrooms closed at Panoramic point. I wish the map or the staff had highlighted this at the starting point. Trails are clearly marked and there are trails near the visitor center for families with kids.

We were picked up at a SeaTac airport hotel by our tour guide, Cheryl. The tour is done in an SUV with two couples maximum. No one else had scheduled for that day [a Wednesday] so my husband and I ended up with a private tour. Cheryl did a wonderful job of stopping at numerous photo opportunities and was very knowledgeable about Mount Rainier and the surrounding area. We picked up our lunch at a Seattle area grocery store before heading to Mount Rainier. Mother Nature cooperated greatly and we had a beautiful, clear day for the tour. There were numerous areas for hiking with various skill levels. My husband and I are in our 70s and Cheryl took us through areas that were fairly level and based on our low level of hiking skills. She was knowledgeable about various trees, plants, etc in the different areas along with many beautiful photo opportunities.

Mount Rainier is an excellent trek. It really makes you respect nature. I don't think I have ever been that cold before. Big thanks to my friends for getting me to the top.

We went on the perfect day, sunny and mild and therefore could see the whole mountain and glaciers most of the day. Apparently full clear day is somewhat unusual per the rangers we talked to. In mid Sept we did not have the timed entry to worry about, but it was still very crowed, and finding parking was very difficult at the Paradise area. Even though we arrived just before 9:30am we were in one of the last spaces in the over flow lot. Warning even the easiest trail labeled "suitable for babies in strollers" has significant elevation. Although it is paved we agreed pushing a baby would definitely build muscles, and with me using a cane it was almost impossible. View was lovely however. We also attended a short ranger talk on glaciers that was very informative. The historic Paradise Inn was also worth seeing and clearly retains the 1920/1930 charm. Food options in this area are limited. There are some "cafe" type grab and go spots in the Paradise recreation area, but the cost was super expensive ($15 for a half a 6" chicken salad roll) and to us did not look appealing. We decided to eat lunch in the dinning room at the Inn and although was over budget we thought the food would be better than grab and go. The clam chowder was excellent, but the Wagu burger was just meh. Had we known the food cost in the area did not met the quality we would have stopped at a deli in Seattle and picked something up before doing the day trip. I would definitely recommend a visit and if we had time could spend several days in the area.

Went to mt. Rainier in early Oct via Nisqually entrance, up to Henry M Jackson visitor centre and did some walking. Passed by Christine Falls along the way, nice view! Is a good place to go if you have time to explore more the huge mountain/ national park! Of course to count in the downtime from weather condition (big fog that can disrupt your driving/ walking plan) and family condition (if small children is causing delays to plan). Do also note some roads or entrances close since end Sep, so check the latest update from their website before setting off.

Very accessible stopping places to arrive with your vehicle. Very well marked routes. Picnic areas. Fantastic views.

Mount Rainier is an active Volcano and has the most glaciated peak in the contiguous USA. It spawns 5 major rivers. Ascending to 14, 410 feet above sea level, the snow-capped mountain is an icon in the Washington landscape. On a clear day, you can see it on the horizon from almost anywhere – We had four glorious sunny days in Seattle and saw it from the airplane as we were landing, from the Observation deck in the Space Needle, and from several places during our various tours. How amazing…!

This mountain has been on our bucket list to visit for a very long time, and we were thrilled to have finally checked that off.

The National Park is very vast and incredibly beautiful. As tourists to this State, we decided to take a guided tour and leave the driving and the reservation details to the local experts. During our tour, we stopped at various places of interest, viewed magnificent vistas, saw cascading waterfalls, stopped at historic buildings and did the short Wonderland Hike. It was early in June when we came, so we did not get the chance to see the famous wildflowers. The tour was a long and tiring one, yet we enjoyed every minute of it.

Obviously, a “Must See” if you find yourself here in this area.

Did a spur of the moment trip into the park on our way to Portland from Olympia. Once we got into the park and did a few pull offs, we knew we would want to come back and spend a couple days! The views are amazing and the hiking is great! We had perfect weather, so that helped!

We decided to drive from Seattle to visit this National Park and are so glad we did. Mount Rainer was beautiful and the views from the trails were awesome as well. I would recommend a visit if you're in the area.

We were so thankful that we had a gorgeous sunny day to enjoy Mount Rainier. We used the Paradise park entrance. There were still large patches of snow around the visitor's center and shaded picnic areas. Beautiful hikes, gorgeous waterfalls, trickling streams, and lots of people. The parking lot was packed! Such a beautiful national park...

It's a must if you are in the area. It's expensive- $30 a day which I am assuming is the typical National Park fee? But it is so worth it! We came in through Longmire and drove to the Paradise parking lot. The view along the way is outstanding. So many places to stop and take in nature's beauty. Arriving at Paradise parking, we found there were restrooms, a visitor's center and gift shop. The view was absolutely breathtaking even from the parking lot. We decided to hike a little way up a paved trail which started right at the edge of the lot, but the view kept getting better and better and enticing us to continue our hike. At one point, we turned a corner and I thought I was in a scene from the Sound of Music. The autumn colors of the meadow flora and the grand mountain in front of us was overwhelming. We saw some deer and chipmunks along the way and the view kept us going. We decided to continue to the Glacier Vista and it was well worth it. The climb was steep at times and then would level out for a bit. Take your time, rest if you need to, you'll be glad you did.

Hiked from sunrise, recommended as there are ample picnic areas, cafe etc. Can park high up. Crowds were not bad on weekday

Mt. Rainier is a beautiful park! It has it all, waterfalls, snow, beautiful hillsides and a lot of wildlife. We visited in the summertime and it was absolutely amazing! 🏞️ Definitely recommend if you're somewhere in the area.

What an experience in this beautiful national park, near the ski station the road was closed because of snow removal, we still walked down the road until we could not continue but had a beautiful walk with super beautiful views and wildlife, highly recommended.

Of course we saw snow covered Mt. Rainier from a distance from the airport and on various drives; however, in driving up the road to the park the views were fantastic. We drove up as far as Paradise and the variety of views from the mountains to the waterfalls was worth every bit of time. We did take a couple of short hikes and were so impressed with the scenery.

During a stay in Seattle, we rented a car for the day to make a day trip to Mt. Rainier. It was about a 90-minute drive to the Nisqually park entrance. The drive to the park was scenic, but once inside the park, the scenery was simply incredible. We stopped first at the Longmire area, with a collection of historic buildings, an inn, restrooms, and a beautiful view of Mt. Rainier. We continued our drive up to Paradise, and pulled over for a few stops along the way to take in some roadside waterfalls and scenic views. We arrived at Paradise around 11am (on a Tuesday), and it was packed. If your schedule permits, try to arrive earlier or you could end up parking 1/2 mile away. The views from Paradise look like you’ve stepped into a painting - simply indescribable. There is a historic inn with a small cafe, and across the parking lot is the visitor center with a cafe. Both offer a good selection of foods, snacks, and drinks. There are several hiking options here, depending on your time and level of adventure. We didn’t have much time, so we did a short easy hike to Myrtle Falls, which took about 30 minutes round trip and made for some amazing views and photos. To really see all the park has to offer, you probably need 2-3 days, and staying inside the park is ideal. But if you’re staying in the Seattle area and are looking for a really enjoyable day trip, this is well worth the drive.

We drove up to the Carbon River entrance, which is washed out with no vehicle access and rode our bikes in. There were many international tourists at the entrance looking for the mountain. If you would like a drive-up amazing view of the mountain, you’ll want to go to the Paradise Entrance past Ashford (NOT the Carbon River entrance). You can’t see the mountain from the Carbon River entrance unless you hike in about 15 miles. Posting this so that the tourists get to visit the best view at Paradise instead of going to Carbon River, although it’s still a pretty drive with a nice nature trail, you just won’t see the mountain from the parking lot.

Stunning views, amazing trails to hike and loads of things to see and places to visit. Leave early...get there by 8 am for the best views and the least amount of people so the roads are totally clear and you can just take your time until you see the many perfect spots to stop and hike or take pictures or have cup of joe or cocoa that you bring of course as well as lunch!

Decided to drive down from Redmond on a clear, chilly December weekday. Not a cloud in the sky, the views were amazing. From the drive into the park at Nisqually up to Paradise, we had dry sunny spots, beautiful frost covered sections, and wonderful snow covered vistas as we got up to higher elevations. Roads were well maintained, and the mandatory tire chains stayed in the trunk. Take your time on the drive up and stop to see the views, waterfalls, and if time permits, some of the trails.

Cost for a seven days pass is $30.00, that is the option for 1 day to 7 days.

Nice views of the surrounding mountains. Be careful once you’re up there at sunrise, coming back down the road does not look safe. Do not look at the cliffs to your right while driving. You’re edge away from it.

One thing I’d like to point out. There is no restraint only a tiny shop that sells souvenirs and snacks. Once you buy all of these edibles you can enjoy it either in your car or at the picnic tables about 1,000 feet away from the shop. You CANNOT sit around the shop areas; either on the side or in the back, otherwise the unfriendly (white woman) comes out and tell you to move away from the building, “this whole area all for employees only.” Even though it’s only marked on the door, and not the surrounding areas. My wife moved to towards the back of the building. This white employee woman even came out and told my wife to move while she’s trying to finish her sandwich that we bought from their shop. I away inside the store getting more beef jerky.

However on my back to see my see my wife at the same time I’ve notice an old white woman tourist sits comfortably on a chair next to the building. That’s just to show you it’s something else.

Black Lives Matter / All Lives Matters

The rating is for the pure beauty of Rainier and it’s elusiveness behind the clouds most of the time! Seriously though it’s a gorgeous range with Rainier being the most majestic! Our only complaint is that there are few markings/directions to help you along.

Be prepared for getting mesmerised when you near My. Rainer. The serene silence of the snow covered cliff gives the feeling that it is at penance!
I observed for three days that the peak was coveted by dense mist. May be because that was Autumn.

Awesome experience and the wildflowers were at their peak which made hiking around Paradise Lodge awesome. Saw a mom bear with a couple of cubs in the valley and a bunch of marmots. A must see place for the end of July beginning of August for the wildflowers. Go early during the day because once 1000 am comes there are a bunch more people and the parking lots fill up fast.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Mount Rainer. The weather cooperated and we had 2 out 3 clear days!!

This is a beautiful way to spend the day.
The views of mountains, waterfalls & nature are spectacular.
This is a must see.

We went to the most popular Nasquilly entrance (southwest), the most popular. After the entrance there is a 20 minute ride to the parking lots. THEY FILL UP EARLY so plan on arriving no later than 930AM. The scenery is amazing, colorful mountain meadows, waterfalls, wildlife, glaciers and hiking trails that range from easy to very difficult. The most amazing scenery you will ever see. Plan on spending the better part of the day. Large visitor center and park rangers to guide you. Remember, go early. When we left at noon the line to enter the park was miles long.

Absolutely love Mt. Rainier, been in love since the first time I laid eyes on her. During my life I have hiked almost every trail and have climbed to the tippy top....but my wife had never been. So up to the mountain we came....to see her face when we came face to face with The Mountain was priceless. Spent four days introducing her to an assortment of lakes and trails and streams. A true gem is Mt. Rainier.