Mount Rainier NPis such a gorgeous park. The drive up from Seattle was simple and didn't feel like…read morethe 2 plus hours. I was grateful for nearly perfect weather- even with the various microclimates throughout the park. I was prepared for the heavy humidity and the chilli weather. The park was "closed" due to the government shutdown and so we didn't have to pay the entrance fee which was nice. I do however feel bad for the park rangers and staff that were unable to work. We took the route of the Paradise route and stopped at the different viewpoints but there were a few closures. Reflection lake was beautiful but a bit crowded.

Every year I pick one or two national parks that I have never been to for vacation. This year I…read moredecided to fly to Washington and travel to both Mount Rainier and Olympic National Parks. My Dad lived north of the Seattle area for many years, and I would travel to see him. I would always marvel at Mount Rainier when flying over it by plane or seeing it from afar while in Seattle. Its snow-capped peak and overall size are incredible sites to see. Mount Rainier is a 14,410-foot active volcano in Washington's Cascade Range. It is the tallest mountain in Washington State. My Dad never had any interest in seeing this mountain up close, so I made my own trip out here to visit the park and do some hiking. I also ran a 5K that was going on in nearby Ashford to add a little fun to my trip. President William McKinley signed a bill authorizing the creation of Mount Rainier National Park in 1899. It is the nation's fifth national park. There are many cities around Mount Rainier National Park that you can stay in. I stayed in Packwood, which is southeast of the park. I took an overnight flight to Seattle-Tacoma and drove straight to the park where I ended up sleeping in my rental truck for a few hours until the sun came up. Mount Rainier National Park now requires a timed entry reservation made in advance during peak hours. I had got there early enough to avoid having to wait in the timed entry line. I began my day hiking to base of Mount Rainier on the popular 5.5-mile Skyline Loop Trail. It was a beautiful trail full of wildflowers, waterfalls, snow and wildlife. Marmots were running around all over and providing all sorts of entertainment for us hikers. The Skyline Trail begins and ends next to the visitor center in Paradise. At the visitor center, you can grab a bite to eat and check out exhibits that provide some history and information about this beautiful park. I spent much of my time driving around Mount Rainier National Park and enjoying its breathtaking views. The park has four main entrances - Nisqually, Carbon River, White River/Sunrise and Stevens Canyon. I was able to check out several waterfalls while exploring the park. Narada Falls was probably my favorite. One beautiful place to check out is Reflection Lake where you can see a reflection of Mount Rainier in the lake. Longmire is another popular destination that has lodging, camping, food, a visitor center and is the location of the park's original National Park Service Administration Building (which is now an information center). Ohanapecosh is an area in the park that has many campsites. I did make time to drive to Sunrise to get a different view of Mount Rainier. Sunrise is the highest point in the park that is accessible by vehicle at an elevation of 6,400 feet. When I visit national parks, I try to do a hike each day while I am in the park. There are 168 trails in Mount Rainier National Park. So I had to be selective in how many I could do because of time. After hiking the Skyline Loop Trail, I ended up doing some shorter day hikes like the Twin Firs Loop Trail and Bench & Snow Lakes Trail. I also did some hiking in the Sunrise area. There are so many trails to choose from at various lengths and difficulty. There is no Wi-Fi in Mount Rainier National Park. So I had to rely mostly on paper maps to get around. But if you do need Wi-Fi, you can stop at any of the three visitor centers in the park to connect. There are also park rangers on hand who are very helpful and will answer any questions that you may have. You will find restrooms, merchandise and food options at the visitor centers. I am so glad that I finally made my way to this beautiful national park to see this incredible mountain. Hiking the Skyline Trail and seeing some of the waterfalls were the highlights for me on this trip. Flying to Washington to spend some time in Mount Rainier National Park is an experience that I won't forget. I look forward to a return visit someday.

One of my favorite hikes in Mt Rainier. The hike is rough, but the end is 100% worth it…read more You'll access the Sourdough Ridge Trail about 600 feet from the visitor center, take it for about 1.1 miles, you'll hit Frozen Lake, and then it's another 1.3 miles up to the Overlook. You will get the most incredible views of Mt Rainier. The initial start of the Sourdough Trail is steep and strenuous, but give it about 0.2 miles - it's going to level out and be easy until you get to Frozen Lake. Don't hold your breath for Frozen Lake. We came in September - there was nothing frozen, no snow, and it was more like a small pond. Maybe it looks pretty in early spring when the park re-opens? Anywho, the trail is definitely strenuous. Pace yourself, take breaks if you need it, and drink lots of water (and make sure to BRING plenty of water). The overlook is incredible, and the views of Mt Rainier are breathtaking. The ranger station wasn't staffed while we were there, but you could climb up it for a better view. Otherwise, take a seat on a rock, eat some snacks, and enjoy! Overall, this hike will probably leave you feeling a bit wrecked, but it is well-worth all the effort.

Arrived 5:50am Saturday in mid September. It was also free national park day. The last hour or so…read moreto Sunrise Visitor Center (the trailhead) from Portland area is long and meandering and dark. I recommend downloading an offline map since there's no service. I wanted to get to the trailhead before sunrise. Once I got to Sunrise, the parking lot was 20-25% full and there were several parties starting their hike as well. I wish I brought a headlamp because it was pitch black. The bathrooms were open and the toilet flushed and the sinks had soap still. The trail is right behind the bathrooms. It took about an hour to get to the top. It's pretty rocky and most parts it's narrow so I would recommend hiking shoes. I was warming up because of the hike but at the lookout, it was so cold! Bring gloves, a hat and layers. The forecast said it would be cloudy. I checked Windy.com to see the cloud patterns before I left and there was an opening. I've been to Mt Rainier on a clear day but on a partially cloudy day it was just as nice.

For a 1.2 mile this trail will surely be an ultimate favorite for families with strollers and…read moregrandparents who just wanna have an easy stroll yet still have that gorgeous view. Also a paved trail this one will made you stroll in loop at the same time do some photowalk. It is so gorgeous in here and as a bonus, you get to see part of Mt. Rainier in several viewpoints. The only cons in here is that there's a lot of bugs that flies around. And if you keep talking there's a possibility that they'll fly straight inside your mouth. These flies also keep coming to you as you stroll so if I were you, better carry some bug spray when you plan to hike here during summertime. PS: for those hardcore hikers, this might bored you. So skip this one or you can keep going to its connected trails available at Paradise Area located Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center. Mahalo for reading and happy juandering fellow yeeps!

Magnificent paved trail with beautiful views of Mount Rainier throughout. I love that trail options…read morelike this are available that are very easy for younger children, elderly, etc. We arrived very early before 9 am and only saw a couple others on the trail. I recommend always coming early to avoid crowds/long car lines to enter the park.

Visiting Paradise Glacier Trail at Mt Rainier National park during the snowy season was an…read moreexperience I will NEVER forget. If you're planning to go before the winter conditions become too severe DO plan ahead by ensuring you have tire chains (there is a $500 fine if you don't,) and arrive early enough to enjoy your visit as the entrance to paradise closes earlier because of inclement conditions. I'm looking forward to returning next summer for hikes; I highly recommend!!

Excellent food! My fiancé didn't agree with the authenticity…read moreof the food but it's the most delicious of Borsch I have had since moving to the USA 14 years ago! So proud of my Ukrainian brothers and sisters making a mark in the States with their menu

This is a nice 80 acre multipurpose park in Ashford that is located right off the main road. It has…read morean amphitheater, walking paths, restrooms and a playground. There are plenty of parking spaces to park at. I ran a 5K over the summer that began and ended at this park. It was well organized and the park provided enough room for all of us runners and for the tents that were set up for the event. The amphitheater was designed to be used for various festivals, concerts, movies and other events.

After leaving the Nisqually entrance to Mt. Rainier, we (two families with a total of 5 kids under…read morethe age of 6) happened to notice this park/playground just off the road. It is brand new, and is a wonderful playground. Lots of really neat features, along with drinking fountains and bathrooms and trails. One of the best playgrounds I've been to, and it was a great way for the kids to burn off some excitement before we finished the drive home.

The views are incredible and the staff at the gift shop were friendly and patient despite the long…read morelines. Unfortunately, this administration decided that funding the national parks was unimportant therefore there were minimal staff and maintenance. Fortunately, it appeared that most patrons were very respectful and mindful of the need to pick up after themselves.

When you go to Mount Rainier, this is one of the main stops you want to go to. This is the large…read morevisitor center in Paradise and is one of the most visited locations. If you want to let the kids out to stretch, use the bathroom and get a bite to eat, you can do it here. The parking lot will be full but if you keep circling around, you'll eventually find someone leaving. The chicken tacos with rice and beans were actually pretty good. Worth trying if you're needing a bite to eat. The top floor of the visitor center has a lot of different exhibits that tell about Mount Rainier and the wildlife in the area. Would recommend stopping if in the area.

I have done a number of climbs and treks with RMI, around the world. This isn't a review about all…read moreof them, just their Rainier climb. It's easy to look at Rainier everyday, especially if you live in Seattle, and forget that it is heavily glaciated, prone to avalanches and that people perish annually--even the best prepared and skilled. Most people who attempt this mountain and are considering a guide service lack the deep quiver of knowledge to handle basic mountaineering tasks like self-arrest, configure a safe rope team through crevasses and perform a rescue. RMI fills that gap and creates a unique learning environment in a very short period of time to make that happen for hundreds of folks annually. Climbing Rainier is imminently doable, but you gotta put in the work. I have a few comments and suggestions to make the most of it! 1. Be in shape: The number of folks who claim to be marathoners and can't make it to Camp Muir at 10,000 ft. is way more than you think. Climbing is a whole-body endeavor. You need to not just cardio-fit, but be able to balance weight, uphill, at altitude, for hours on end. Their website clearly says be in 'the best shape of your life.' That means something different to everyone, of course. But don't get solely stuck on how far you can run--that's just part of it. You need to have well-rounded fitness regime. The pace is very consistent, very steady but can feel taxing if you don't have a solid base of balance, flexibility, strength, stamina. 2. Gear: Gear is one of the things you can control, so control it. Take their recommendations seriously. If you are renting stuff through them, great. They know what works after thousands of clients and 50 years, trust them. If you show up with a bunch of iffy stuff, they will say something. You are on their rope team, too! They need you to be safe and comfortable and so do your fellow climbers. Don't spend all the time training, getting to the mountain, paying the fees and then cheap-out. All the used, good quality gear you need if out there-just do a little online searching. You don't need to spend a fortune but you DO need to be mindful. I have seen blisters, inadequate sleeping bags, etc., ruin trips. Call them if you have a question about a specific piece of gear. 3. Find your bliss: If you want to climb your own speed, take in the sights, get back to nature, you can't have a lot of people each doing that on their own timeframe AND expect to climb together. Climbing in glacier-ville requires being rested, attentive and focused to be a solid rope-team member. If you are wanting to commune with nature and do this on your leisurely timeline, at your pace, great. Climb by with your experienced friends. When you go as a group? There is a pace. Climbing for an hour and a short break is pretty standard. If you are well-practiced and have been training, your breaks should be short and focused on maintaining your health, not resting because you're tired. If it's 10 below, and windy, you need to know how to do tasks quickly and efficiently to keep you warm, hydrated, fed and able to continue. The climbing season on Rainier is busy and RMI leads climbs near-daily. Yep, that means there is a timeline. This is a business but their thousands and thousands of successful climbers up Rainier mean they have the process down. Their focus is safety for everyone and that means that the pace allows for recover at Camp Muir, a restful evening, breaks that don't take too much time. If something goes awry, you need time to put plans into motion--up is only halfway and if you're struggling on the way up, it won't be better on the way down. Rainier is a big, tall mountain with crazy weather and a lot of objective hazards that requires considerable skill to navigate it safely. RMI has that. Pay attention to their suggestions, requirements and instruction and weather-willing, you'll be on top!

Recently did a 5 day Rainier climb with RMI. Could not have asked for a better group of guides,…read moreboth in their knowledge and skill expertise as well as their overall friendliness with all the climbers. It's a hard climb and they push you hard in order to stay safe and give everyone the best possible chance of success. We had an amazing summit climb! On the way down I had a medical emergency and the guides went above and beyond with extreme mountaineering skill to help get me down the mountain as quick as possible, likely saving my life. Amazing company to work with. Amazing climb!

Forget Paradise! THIS is the real alpine meadow you're looking for!…read more Seriously though, there's no one on this side of the park, and the views are incredible. The only downside is that this road has to melt out before you can get in here. It's definitely not open in the winter. There are wildflowers and marmots, and views of cracking glaciers. This is also where the approach to Observation Rock is.