+ Good trailhead checkpoint to begin Mt Rainier hikes. +…read moreRestrooms, drinking water. + A restaurant too. + Enticing museum upstairs. + The weather is chilling cold, even in June. Lots of snow and fog throughout the vicinity. + We saw a few marmots along Mazama Ridge. - Glad they didn't issue a parking ticket, only a warning, for everyone parked along the curb across from this Visitor Center. However, they should've built more parking spaces for us. We visited on a June, and it was PACKED! No one could find parking anywhere else. We almost left if we couldn't find parking D:

This is a beautiful visitors center! Let me start off by talking about parking. Mount Rainier is a…read morepopular national park and this parking lot in Paradise fills up incredibly fast. I suggest that if you want to visit in the morning, show up on a weekday and try to arrive before 7:30 AM. The issue is, the visitors center doesn't open until 10:00 am. Most people show up early for the hikes and won't come back to free up a parking space for an hour or two (or four if you are hiking skyline). Back to the visitor's center.....it's beautiful. Pretty spacious but it does get quite cramped depending on the number of visitors and what time you go. The gift shop is pretty large too but it does get crowded. There is another gift shop a short walk away in the Paradise Inn too, if you are feeling claustrophobic. The park rangers working the desk are so friendly and give useful tips and suggestions about trails. There is a theater room where you can watch a short video on mount rainier too. The upstairs across from the gift shop is a tiny "museum" about the flora and fauna of Mount rainier. It's a great visitors center. The only downside is the women's bathroom needed maintenance (stall doors didn't lock) but overall, one of the best visitor's centers I've visited

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.

I really enjoyed this visitor center and the surrounding area. It was a bit of a drive because I…read morewas staying in Packwood, but it was worth it. It took me over an hour to get here. I wanted a different view and perspective of Mount Rainier after spending time on the Skyline Trail the day before. Sunrise is the highest point that can be reached by vehicle at Mount Rainier National Park at 6,400 feet. The visitor center has some nice exhibits and a gift shop. Park rangers are available to answer questions. There is a larger gift shop with food and snacks in the building next door. The nearby nature trail around the visitor center has picnic tables for eating and relaxing. Mount Fremont Lookout Trail is next to the Sunrise Visitor Center and is a popular trail to hike. The views are gorgeous from this location. The parking lot is huge, but does fill up during the day. Sunrise is only open in the summer months.

This is a really nice NP visitor center. It's not quite as big as the main one at Paradise, but it…read morehas a good size gift shop, educational area, and in a separate building nearby they have a little cafe for snacks. There is a bathroom there but I didn't have a chance to use it since they were cleaning right when I got there. I think it has running water though, it looked like it would. This visitor center has a nice big parking lot just like the one in Paradise but don't be fooled - it'll still fill all the way up. By the time we were leaving around noon, people were parking in non-spot areas along where the trail and the road run along each other.

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.

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.

First and best place to stop along the way to Mt St Helens. Helicopter ride (2 person minimum)…read morestarting at $270 and a good restaurant are two things the other stops further up won't have.

My mother was here visiting from California. Weeks ago she saw a segment on TV about a man in…read moreTacoma who plays taps on his trumpet at sunset to honor the military. Mom wanted to see him. We had no idea where to go, so I went to the Internet for details. That is where I came across the Visitor Information Center in Tacoma. It was our good fortune to have Keith intercept our call. I explained everything to Keith, but he had little information for us. He said he wanted to research our request, and call us back. A short time later Keith called back with the exact info we were hoping for. He was kind, polite, and so very helpful. Keith ROCKS!

Stopped by the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery on our travels to stretch our legs. It ended up being a fun…read morelittle place to stop! They had a visitors center with an interactive salmon egg exhibit. Very cool! Clean restrooms as well. Outside they had the sign to the adult salmon collection, but when we got to the top, everything was closed up. However, they had jumping salmon over in the juvenile raceways! We saw quite a few. Plus this place is less than a mile off the highway!

Very beautiful visitor center. It reopened in 2025 after being closed for renovations and I have to…read moresay, the architecture is GORGEOUS with vaulted ceilings and large windows to let in the surroundings. There's wood paneling which helps you feel immersed into nature. There's an informational desk about the area, helpful for visitors newish to the area or those with questions. The gift shop is also accessible with the usual offerings of post cards, tchotchkes, and such. Do note that the restrooms are accessible outdoors at the side of the building. There's a pay area part of the center which is $5/18+, $2.50/7-17, free for 6 years old or younger, and family $15 for 2 adults and children 7-17 years old. They also honor veteran's disabled pass, WA state disabled pass, and senior limited income pass. It's definitely worth the admission, since there's a lot of exhibits explaining the geology of the area, the flora and fauna, the native peoples, and the later commercial and recreational uses of the area. There's even a place where you can walk into a huge mock up of Mt St Helens! Very fun. They have a short film playing about the eruption too. I didn't get to explore much outside as it was super rainy, but I saw a boardwalk trail out in the back. I did not see Mt St Helens due to the weather, but I'll be back when the weather is nicer!

Just stopped in to get a map and road conditions. you can…read morepay a small fee and see the exhibits. Discounts for Washington Residents only.

This is a small visitor center in Mount Rainier National Park that is near the Stevens Canyon…read moreEntrance. It is located next to the Ohanapecosh campground and has very limited parking. Inside are some exhibits, a gift shop, booksotre and a topographical map. There is some WiFi, but it is limited. There are rangers on hand to answer any questions that you may have. The Silver Falls Loop Trail is right outside the Ohanapecosh Visitor Center. This is a really pretty area with lots of tall trees that provide plenty of shade. Ohanapecosh is named for a Taidnapam (or Upper Cowlitz) Indian habitation site along the river,

What a lovely visitor center! While the one in Paradise is definitely larger and more involved,…read moreOhanapecosh is definitely worthy of a stop when in the area. As the name would suggest, it's located at the Ohanapecosh campgrounds and is right at the Silver Falls Loop Trail and the Hot Springs Trail. Multiple wonderful rangers ready to give great information, tips, and advice about Mt Rainier National Park. Small little museum with good information. Tiny but nice gift shop. They also have clean bathrooms. Free Wi-Fi for programming maps and planning your trip. Great stop for some information while in the area!