As an author who has written a novel set at Mount Rainier National Park (and a former ranger there, too), readers often ask me for suggestions on visiting one of the Pacific Northwest’s most beautiful parks. As I mentioned in my post about Yellowstone, these requests can be challenging. Everyone has different interests and goals when they visit a national park. Do you like difficult hikes, or is riding around in your car more your speed? Do you prefer deep forests or alpine views? Snowshoeing or gazing at wildflowers? So keep in mind that my favorites might not appeal to you, but I’ll do my best!
1. Plan your route.
There are several entrances to the park, and not all of them lead to where you might want to go. Don’t trust your GPS to guide you. Check the directions on the park website and download the new NPS app to make sure you have up-to-date information regarding road and trail closures. This could save you hours of wasted travel time if you end up at the wrong gate.
2. Choose your time of year carefully.
One thing that often takes visitors by surprise is how short the mountain’s “summer season” is. It can be warm and sunny in Seattle in June, but still snowing heavily at Paradise. The alpine meadows at Paradise and Sunrise often don’t melt out until July, and the snow will start falling again in September. So if your goal is to catch the subalpine wildflowers in full bloom, plan accordingly. The park does try to keep the road to Paradise plowed through the winter months, but you might find the trails buried. And the road to Sunrise doesn’t open until summer. If you’ve already planned your trip for another season, don’t worry–there’s still plenty of fun to be had. But if you can swing it, I’d encourage you to visit in the summer. Aim for a weekday and get there early to avoid crowds.
3. Dress for the weather––and expect it to change.
The weather cools as you go up in elevation, so be sure to bring long pants and extra layers. The Pacific Northwest is notoriously rainy and foggy, so raingear is a good idea, too. If you want to look like a true northwestern, have a selection of hoodies, flannel shirts, fleece layers, puffy jackets, raincoats, and windbreakers. It’s not unusual to see people layering several of these together. If you get a glorious summer day, you might be pulling off those jackets, but you’ll be glad you brought them.
4. If the weather is clear, prepare to be amazed.
Seriously, the views are astounding. Mount Rainier is an incredible sight. Some of my favorite vistas include Sunrise Point, Reflection Lake (Paradise), the Skyline Trail (Paradise), Dege Peak (Sunrise), Mount Fremont Fire Tower (Sunrise), Tipsoo Lake (Chinook Pass), the John Muir Steps (Paradise), and Pinnacle Peak (near Paradise).
5. If the mountain is hiding, you can still have fun.
I can’t tell you how many times visitors to Sunrise asked me, “Where is the mountain?” I’d point to the clouds just beyond the visitor center. “Right there.” Thankfully July and August are pretty sunny in Washington, but there are days when the mountain is just plain shy. What do you do then? Oh, man… there are so many other things to do! There are incredible waterfalls (Silver Falls near Ohanapecosh campground, Christine and Narada Falls between Longmire and Paradise, and Myrtle Falls at Paradise, just to name a few. If you’re willing to hike longer distances, there are many more! And the forest at Mount Rainier is breathtaking. My favorite forest hikes are the Trail of the Shadows, The Grove of the Patriarchs, the Silver Falls Loop, and the Twin Firs Loop Trail are all short, family-friendly walks. For longer hikes, try Rampart Ridge or the Eastside Trail.
6. Leave your dog at home.
Honestly, it’s not that rangers dislike dogs! Most of us loved them. But dogs aren’t allowed on the trails at Mount Rainier National Park (and many other NPS sites) because of the fragile ecosystems and wildlife. I still remember my supervisor explaining it to me this way: “Let’s say your dog runs ahead and startles a bear. The bear gets mad and chases the dog. Where does the dog run for protection? Back to its owner with an angry bruin on its tail. That doesn’t usually end well.” So leave your pooch at home on the couch, like this cute little pug.
Photo by Ken Dunmire.
7. Take advantage of the park ranger programs.
Mount Rainier rangers are the best–but then I might be a little biased. They host programs for junior rangers, lead wildflower walks, geology hikes, evening campfire programs, and winter snowshoe adventures. A park ranger can point out things you might never see on your own and they will make the scenery come to life.
As naturalist John Muir said, “Of all the fire mountains which like beacons, once blazed along the Pacific Coast, Mount Rainier is the noblest.”
Enjoy your trip!
