What to know before you go
- 01
Mount Rainier rises 14,410 feet. It's an active volcano and the most glaciated peak in the lower 48 states, and the national park around it is a world of old-growth forest, rivers and subalpine meadows.
- 02
Most day visitors head for Paradise, at 5,400 feet on the mountain's south side. The Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center and the historic Paradise Inn are here, and the Skyline Trail loops up through the meadows. The Nisqually Vista Trail, with views of the Nisqually Glacier, works with a stroller.
- 03
The year-round way in is the Nisqually Entrance near Ashford, on the southwest side. The park puts Ashford about 85 miles from the airport, and Paradise is another 19 miles past the entrance, by way of Longmire.
- 04
Without a car, take a guided day tour. Evergreen Escapes and Tours Northwest both run Mount Rainier days from Seattle with hotel pickup, and we cover them in our day tours guide.
- 05
Summer is the classic season: the meadows at Paradise fill with wildflowers, and the roads to the east side and Sunrise open for a short season in the middle of summer. On busy summer weekends, the park warns of long waits at the entrances and full parking lots.
- 06
Winter is a different trip. Paradise gets an average of 640 inches of snow a year; the road from Longmire to Paradise is plowed but closes at night, and the park says all vehicles must carry tire chains. Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and sledding take over.
- 07
You'll need a park entrance pass. Weather on the mountain changes fast, so check the forecast and the park's road status page before you leave the city.
Roads, reservations and facilities at Mount Rainier change with the season and the snow. Check the National Park Service site for current road status and entrance details before you go.