Mount Rainier National Park Guide

Mount Rainier Transportation and Accommodation

Mount Rainier National Park is located in Washington State. Its English name is Mount Rainier National Park. It
is about 2 hours’ drive from Seattle. The scenic area is below 2000 meters above sea level and there is no altitude sickness.

Tickets : 30 USD/car/7 days. It is recommended to use the annual pass for the US National Park .
Reservation : Reservation was required last year, but in 2025, maybe, probably, possibly... Reservation is not required, at least when I checked the official website on March 25, there was still no news .

Current traffic conditions : See here or the official website Twitter .
Travel season : Open all year round, suitable for travel from late July to early October.
Sunrise/sunset time : around 8 o’clock in summer, see here .
Preparation before the trip : Bring water/snacks, download offline maps, wear hiking shoes, and trekking poles are recommended.
Official website : See here

. Mount Rainier is a dormant volcano with a geological age of 500,000 years. The most famous scenic spot in the park is called Paradise.
In early August every year, you can see the towering snow-capped mountains + flowers and marmots all over the mountains at the same time.

Photography by Ashlynn Murphy | Jehyun Sung

Transportation in Mount Rainier

Mount Rainier National Park is located southeast of Seattle.
Paradise, a popular scenic spot in the park, is a 2.5-hour drive from downtown Seattle
. The nearest airport is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Airport accommodation can be found here , and airport car rental can be found here . Olympic National Park
is also nearby . If you don’t drive, you can also join a group for a day trip , but you don’t have enough time to walk the entire Skyline Trail ( only 1.5-2 hours ), so you can only check in a few highlights.

Mount Rainier Tours and Accommodations

Mount Rainier National Park can be simply divided into Paradise Scenic Area and Sunrise Scenic Area:

Paradise Scenic Area : beautiful scenery, with the famous Skyline Trail, a must-visit
Sunrise Scenic Area : rugged scenery, Mount Rainier looks even bigger, choose

a one-day tour : time is only enough to go to Paradise Scenic Area, it is recommended to stay in the town of Ashford in advance
Two-day tour :
Day0. It is recommended to stay in the town of Ashford the night before , which will be much more convenient to go to the park the next day
Day1. Set off early in the morning and arrive at Paradise Scenic Area before 8.30am, first walk the Skyline Trail, then check in other small attractions, and stay in the town of Packwood
at night Day2. Go to Sunrise Scenic Area and walk the Mount Fremont Lookout Trail to see the mountain ( if you are hardcore enough, you can set off early to watch the sunrise, after all, this place is called Sunrise ), return to Seattle
Note: You can also go to Sunrise Scenic Area to hike and watch the sunset on Day1, and go to Paradise Scenic Area to walk the Skyline on Day2


Accommodation recommendation : If you go during the peak summer season , you need to book as early as possible!

[Ashford Township] Nisqually Lodge
8.5 points 363 reviews + [Ashford Township] Mountain Meadows Inn 8.8 points 591 reviews + [Ashford Township] Alexander's Lodge 7.4 points 359 reviews + [Packwood Township] Crest Trail Lodge 8.2 points 364 reviews +

How to Play in Paradise Scenic Area

The main scenic area of Mount Rainier is about a 2-hour drive from downtown Seattle.
Parking is difficult during the summer, so you can consider staying in the nearby town of Ashford so you can enter the park early in the morning.
The must-see attraction is the Skyline Trail  




1. Nisqually Entrance  

The southwest entrance of the park is quite unique. Remember to take photos

by cin.



2. Christine Falls 

, you can stop to see it, or you can slow down and take a peek when you pass by

. How long to play : 10 minutes
. How to play : After parking, walk 1 minute to the viewing point. See the recommended video here.
Address : Comet Falls-Van Trump Trl, Ashford, WA 98304


by Leslie Cross

3. Narada Falls

Another popular waterfall, higher and bigger than Christine Falls mentioned above

. How long to play : 15 minutes.
How to play : After parking, walk 3-5 minutes to the viewing point. See the recommended video here.
Address : Narada Fls Brg, Packwood, WA 98361


by Vincent Yuan @USA



4. The most beautiful trail Skyline Trail  

The most popular trail in Rainier National Park
You can see snow-capped mountains, wildflowers, waterfalls, streams, and a large number of marmots.

Travel season : You can hike from July to October ( but there may be snow in early July and late October ), wildflowers bloom in early August, and the garden is full of autumn colors in late September.
How long to play : 4-5 hours
How to play :
‣ The trail is 5.7 miles/9.2 kilometers round trip, with an elevation gain of 539 meters. The difficulty is medium to high. The latest information can be found here‣
It is recommended to hike clockwise: first go to Panorama Point ( the scenery along the way is the essence ), and finally reach Myrtle Falls ( during the period, you can take a shortcut back through the Golden Gate Trail, but the road is steep and you will miss some good mountain views, lacking a sense of completeness and ritual ); in this way, the first half of the walk faces the snow-capped mountains ( and the light angle is good, looking up is shocking ), and the second half can slowly enjoy the beautiful scenery of the valley-there are also disadvantages. The light at Myrtle Falls on the way back is not ideal, so students who pursue perfection can go to Myrtle Falls first Falls: See the waterfall, then return along the original route and take the clockwise route
. It is recommended to go to the toilet before going up the mountain. The dry toilets on the mountain are crowded and dirty


. Equipment : Please wear sunscreen and bring snacks/water. Trekking poles are highly recommended . Please refer to " Recommended Hiking Equipment for Beginners ".
Address : The parking lot is full at 8:30am in summer, Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center.

Photography :


by Abigail Cook | Ron Barabash

Myrtle Falls :

by Intricate Explorer

Recommended video/summer : Snow Mountain Meadow Waterfall: A Journey to the Natural Wonderland of Mount Rainier Note : The autumn colors in late September mainly come from the colors of the shrubs, but the shrubs will quickly change from orange-red to dark red/brown ( strong winds/rainfall/low temperatures will accelerate fading ), so please lower your expectations ( I personally think that many P-level beautiful scenery requires living in the local area for 5 to 10 years to see it once ) Recommended video/autumn : Mount Rainier National Park in Autumn Recommended video/spring : I finally understand why people in the northwest of the United States are so crazy about snow mountain hiking.

5. Reflection Lake 

The most popular lake in the park
In windless weather, you can see the perfect reflection of the snow-capped mountains.

Duration : 15 minutes
. How to play : After parking, you can walk a few steps to enjoy the scenery. The probability of no wind is highest in the early morning, and you are most likely to see the mirror reflection.
Address : Stevens Canyon Rd, Packwood, WA 98361


Photo by bones64

How to Play at Sunrise Scenic Area

Sunrise is the second largest scenic spot in Mount Rainier National Park.
It is 1,950 meters above sea level. The road to it is open from early July to late September.

Scenic spot features :
Compared with the beautiful Paradise scenic spot, Sunrise is at a higher altitude and has a wider view, so the Mount Rainier you see is more like a giant.
Recommended Xiaohongshu Notes: Finally, I came to climb Fremont Lookout of Mt Rainier. How to play : The most popular trail is Mount Fremont Lookout Trail, which is suitable for watching sunrise or sunset and takes about 3 hours. If you visit in October, you can also go to the locals' favorite Naches Peak Loop Trail to enjoy the autumn, which takes about 2 hours . Accommodation : It is recommended to stay in the small town of Packwood, such as Crest Trail Lodge ( saves 1 hour of driving time compared to staying in Ashford )











1. The popular trail Mount Fremont Lookout Trail

offers spectacular mountain views, and the end point is the lookout Mt. Fremont Fire Lookout.

Duration : 3 hours.
How to play :
‣ The trail is 5.6 miles/9.2 kilometers round trip, with an altitude gain of 338 meters. The latest information can be found here‣
Many students like to come here to watch the sunrise or sunset ( the sunrise is more beautiful ). There are many tourists in summer, so it is unlikely to walk alone at night, but it is highly recommended to buy a headlamp for lighting‣
This is also a good place for stargazing. The sky is darkest during the new moon and the 3 days before and after. Click here to check the moon phase .
Address : Sunrise Park Rd, Ashford, WA 98304Recommended
video-hiking : Mount Rainier Sunrise Trail Hiking (BiliBili) Recommended video-sunrise : Mt. Rainier National Park | Sunrise 4am HikeRecommended video-sunset : The best sunset we have seen (Youtube) Recommended video-stargazing : Mount Rainier sunset to starry sky to sunrise time-lapse photography (BiliBili)














2. Naches Peak Loop Trail

If you are visiting in early to mid-October, you can also walk this autumn trail to experience the locals' little happiness

. Duration : 2 hours
How to play :
‣ The trail is circular, 3.5 miles/5.6 kilometers long, with an elevation gain of 201 meters. The road is flat and friendly to beginners. The latest information can be found here
‣ It is recommended to hike clockwise, facing Mount Rainier
‣ The trail is dusty, so please wear a mask
Address : Tipsoo Lake Comfort Station
Note : Some students do not go to Mount Rainier, but only come here, but they also need a US National Park Annual Pass or a ticket to Mount Rainier National Park to get free parking
Recommended video : hike naches peak loop trail/tipsoo lake (Youtube)

Park Safety Tips

0. US travel insurance
The medical costs in the US are extremely high, so you must buy travel insurance
before going to the US For details, please see " US Travel Insurance Recommendations "


1. Hiking safety:
The weather in the mountains changes dramatically , and you should give up decisively if the weather is bad
Don't hike alone
If the trail is interrupted by a stream, the best option is to return the same way; if you must cross:
- Find an area with slow water flow and water level below your knees to cross
- Go downstream in advance to see if there are any dangerous areas such as waterfalls, and find a place in advance that can help you climb ashore if you fall
- Find a tree stick to use as a walking stick and maintain 3 points of support
- Loosen the bag of the backpack and discard it easily if necessary
- Look forward as much as possible when crossing, looking down will make you dizzy


2. Wildlife safety
The most dangerous animals in the park are black bears and mountain lions, but the probability of encountering them is very small
This paragraph can be ignored

About black bears: There is no record of black bears attacking people
in Mount Rainier Therefore, if you encounter a bear at close range, just don't run, slowly back away, or speak loudly to scare it away About mountain lions: In theory, because mountain lions are timid, as long as you give them enough distance after encountering them, they will run away by themselves If they don't run - don't run, or turn your back to the mountain lion, you need to slowly back away, but avoid looking into its eyes If a mountain lion attacks - use branches/stones as weapons to hit the mountain lion's head, or throw dirt into its eyes. While fighting back, protect your head and neck ( the part that animals instinctively attack ), and it will run away when it knows you are not prey◉








Appendix :
When the weather is clear, Mount Rainier can be seen in downtown Seattle/on the plane


Photo by Stephen Plopper | Christopher Jolly | Caleb Riston


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Thank you for reading, and I wish you all a good time!
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