One of America's most majestic peaks, Mount Rainier towers over the Washington landscape like a…read morebeacon, easily visible on clear days from downtown Seattle, 70 miles to the north. Close up, the mountain's 14,000' peak often disappears behind treetops and fog, playing a game of hide and seek with visitors traversing the winding roads of its sprawling national park, craning their necks for a glimpse of the summit. But a visit to Mount Rainier National Park is like a game of chance. You can leave Seattle, as we did recently, under clear morning skies, with the mountain looming far in the distance, and then watch the clouds slowly close in as you near your destination. Weather conditions can make all the difference here, so make sure you pay close attention before setting out. Mid July through early September provide the best window to see the mountain in all its summertime glory -- come earlier in the year and you may find an environment decidedly less accommodating for the casual hiker. Rainier offers dozens of hiking trails, waterfalls, lakes and scenic vistas, and the ideal visit requires multiple days to experience it all. If you're coming for a day trip from the Seattle area, arrive early to beat the traffic at the entrance and prioritize easily accessible spots like Narada Falls, Reflection Lake and Paradise Meadows, where parking spots quickly disappear by noon. We arrived at the South Entrance on a weekday around 9 a.m. and drove right up to the entrance gate, but the lines to enter during peak season, especially on weekends, can be notoriously long. A highly recommended stop is the Longmire Visitor Center, where the rangers will advise you on road and trail conditions and help you plan your day. The park's showstopper is the popular Skyline Trail, a moderately challenging 5.5-mile loop that climbs 1,500' from the parking lot at Paradise Meadows to the spectacular Panorama Point Overlook. In summer, the trail meanders through a breathtaking sea of wildflowers and offers views of glaciers and waterfalls as it works its way across Rainier's southern slope. But on our recent visit, in early June, we found out that a even a light rain can makes the park's spectacular Skyline Trail a dicey expedition. The cold drizzle we encountered at the trailhead quickly evolved into an icy mix of sleet and snow as our family neared Panorama Point, making the narrow trails dangerously slick. Despite coming equipped with winter jackets, warm gloves and sturdy hiking boots, the conditions forced us to retreat before reaching the trail's famous overlook, which was already shrouded in dense fog. Despite not being able to enjoy the views and scenery we had hoped for, our visit to Mount Rainier was an unforgettable experience -- a challenging but highly rewarding winter hike on snow-covered trails surrounded by glaciers, icy peaks, and furry marmots who bounded around us like giant squirrels posing for candid photos. It was also a reminder that any visit to a national park is subject to the grace of Mother Nature, and inspired us to plan a return trip to this spectacular place -- hopefully when we can see Rainier's summit against a blue Washington sky.

1. This review is for Skyline Loop which was a ~5.7 miles round trip that took ~4 hours to…read morecomplete. This was a strenuous, popular and crowded hike with stunning views from beginning to end in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington. Starting the loop counterclockwise; trail was paved at the beginning and end of the loop. Furthermore, trail was mostly a narrow rocky dirt path. Plenty of steep inclines and declines! Large parking area at the trailhead, however most were filled up by 7am. Additional parking on the side of Paradise Rd. Restroom available at the parking lot. Possibly the most crowded hike I have ever done thus far with most people doing the loop clockwise. Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/wqZbrcfw_7Y 2. This review is for Bench & Snow Lakes Trail which was a ~2.3 miles round trip that took ~1 hour to complete. Located 12 minutes away from Skyline Loop, Bench & Snow Lakes Trail was a short hike with a stunning view of Snow Lake in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington. Trail was mostly a narrow dirt path with rocks and roots. Furthermore, there were a mix of inclines and declines with stairs. Small parking area at the trailhead. Additional parking on the side of Stevens Canyon Rd next to the parking lot. No restrooms at this location. For the purpose of the AllTrails route, there was a viewpoint with Mt Rainier and Bench Lake from the top with the option to detour to the bottom of Bench Lake. In addition, there was a sign for Snow Lake Camp (left) and Snow Lake (right), both will take you to the opposite sides of the lake. Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/fOkP6l29UKE

I have plans to climb Ranier 7/2026, but I've never had exposure to snow trekking. My friend…read moregraciously offered to give me a 101 crash course on MSH. Of course, I took the opportunity and flew to Portland and drove out to MSH. The day was perfect and the hike was incredible. I learned so many new skills. MSH is just beautiful and we caught the sunrise on a clear day. Get your parking before hand. I grabbed mine at REI in Portland. Please come and create your own adventure.

Mount Saint Helens is a must see. The beauty and history is unmatched. It's a great place to…read morespend the day.

Neat little vista point on the way up to Mount Rainier National Park! It isn't anything…read morespectacular, but it's a cool little stopping point where you can view a distant waterfall (Skookum Falls) and the White River. Skookum Falls is a pretty faint view from the road, but there's a sign before you reach it which will give you some time to pull off into the parkway. This vista point features some information about Mather Memorial Parkway and also provides direct access to the White River. Not sure if it was because of the season, but the White River wasn't very white. In fact, it's as hella muddy and brown. Still a nice little viewing point and a great rest break during your drive from Seattle. Apparently there's a hiking trail somewhere near here but I didn't see it. All in all, a visit to Skookum Falls makes for a nice stop along the way to Mount Rainier.

This review is based off of the 4 mile total hike that leads you to this viewpoint up close. It is…read morenot a loop hike, so it is 2 miles to and 2 miles back. Im not sure if its because its a hot sunny day that the flow of the waterfall was weak, but definitely wrong timing to visit. Went on a hot sunny Saturday, started our hike at around 1 pm and reached our destination at around 2:30 pm. It was an easy hike as this is all mostly flat. The only difficult part of the hike was one sharp decline to the fall/sharp incline back. There was also barely anybody at the hike, so it feels like a pleasant hidden hike. There are a few paths along the hike that take you away from the main trail. The paths lead you to places where you can make a fire pit at night and enjoy the river up close or just relax and dip your feet in the water in between your journey to the viewpoint. You can walk further past this viewpoint to the entrance to Palisades Trailhead or just turn around to finish off your 4 miles. Some notes: you have to have NW pass to park at this hike. Otherwise, its a $5 fee. The lot is small, can fit only about 6 cars. There is a bathroom available at the parking lot. When facing the bathroom, just right behind you is the entrance to the hike. Overall, it is a nice warmup hike when you want to get back into hiking. I absolutely loved hearing the sounds of nature as you walk through to the viewpoint. It is a quiet and peaceful hike.

This is a great hike for photographers if you want to get both a nice view of Mount Rainier and of…read moreits reflection in the lake. The best time to come here is on a clear day and when the water is calm. You get stunning views of the alpine lakes and of the mountain peaks in the background. I made two stops here during my trip because the wind had caused ripples on the water and I wasn't able to get a clear shot with my camera. The reflection was much more clearer the second stop. Reflection Lakes is located off of Stevens Canyon Road just south of Paradise in Mount Rainier National Park. After parking, head down to the lake to find the hiking trail. The parking lot can fill up during the busier part of the day. The Lakes Trail is a three mile loop trail that goes around the lake and starts from either end of the parking lot. Wildflowers border the lakes in summer which adds some nice color to your photographs. The park asks that you stay on the trail to protect the meadow around the lake. Pinnacle Peak Trail is another popular trail that starts south of the Reflection Lakes parking lot. I really enjoyed making a stop here. It is one of the best places to get an iconic picture of Mount Rainier. There is no swimming, fishing, or boating in Reflection Lakes. But nearby Louise Lake allows wading and fishing. You can only visit Reflection Lakes in the summer as Stevens Canyon Road closes up during the winter season.

Made a quick stop here to see the reflection of Mt Rainier…read more Heard it's supposed to be beautiful at sunrise, but it was rainy during our visit so we forewent the early morning visit. Came around 9am-ish on a cloudy day and were able to see a decent reflection - can only imagine how beautiful it would be on a nice, sunny day. We did a bit of the walk around the lakes, and while the walk was nice, the best views come from the overlooks where you park. Definitely worth a quick stop while driving by. If the weather is good, consider sunrise - you might be in for a wonderful surprise.

Just a few miles east of Longmire is this beautiful waterfall in Mount Rainier National Park…read more Christine Falls is a 60-foot waterfall that plunges underneath a historic arched bridge. There is a small pullout on either side of the bridge. I missed the pullout the first time I drove to Christine Falls. So keep an eye out for it because it comes up quick as you turn the corner. There is also no sidewalk to walk on when walking to the short path to the falls. Be careful of passing cars. You get a nice view of the falls once you get to the overlook. Christine Falls is named for Christine Van Trump. She is the daughter of Philemon Beecher Van Trump. He and his partner are credited with the first ascent of Mount Rainier in 1870.

Sorry to add a photo that's practically a carbon copy of 50 others on this Yelp pg, but what can we…read moredo? It's a beautiful waterfall. With the bridge perched above the waterfall like an upper eyelid, the view is a scaled-down version of Multnomah Falls, OR. Don't get me wrong, both are exquisite sights for sure. Parking was easy (~15 spots). The hike was short but slippery at times due to the moist weather. A good rest stop on the way to the legendary Mt Rainier (14k ft elevation). No amenities like restrooms or drinking water.

Hiked Comet Falls with my fiancé and a couple of our best friends and absolutely loved the trail!…read moreI've only done a couple trails in MRNP but even if I had done more, I could see this still ranking as a favorite. We had a reservation for entry into the park before 9am and hit the trail early in the day to make sure we wouldn't have to deal with any lines. No issues! The trail is almost four miles roundtrip with a little over 1,200 feet in elevation gain. I wouldn't exactly call it a beginner hike because there's several steep and challenging parts, but it's nothing too bad. My legs were a little sore the next day but all in all it was a great workout. The falls at the end are absolutely gorgeous and hard to comprehend how tall they really are until you're standing right next to it! There's a ton of smaller falls along the way and glimpses of the mountains through the trees too which makes this a gorgeous hike pretty much the entire way. Like most people do, we made ourselves a lunch and enjoyed it at the end and watched the falls for a little while. 10/10 would do this trail again!

Oh wow...how has no one on Yelp written about Comet Falls??? Without a doubt, this trail and hiking…read moretowards majestic Comet Falls was one of THE BEST ACTIVITIES AND ATTRACTIONS I WITNESSED at Mount Rainier National Park! What a truly remarkable experience this was for me. I know most people, visitors and tourists would say the main attraction of Mount Rainier is Mount Rainier itself. But this hike to Comet Falls ABSOLUTELY WON ME OVER! I was simply thrilled with the 462 foot plunge of Comet Falls....which then cascaded into another small waterfall. Holy Smokes, when I visited...I was able to photograph both waterfalls (with Comet Falls being the main attraction) all within one entire picture. Seriously, it made for one truly humbling moment! Just some background information I can provide... First off, Comet Falls Trailhead was located literally right off the side of the road as I made my way from outside the entrance towards Mt. Rainier in the small town of Ashford, Washington. From the entrance station, it was about a 10 mile drive heading towards the Paradise Section of Mt. Rainier. Keep this in mind because there ARE NONE, ZERO SIGNS FOR COMET FALLS! Yes, I passed Comet Falls while heading towards the Henry Jackson Visitor Center. But while driving, there were a bunch of cars parked off the side of the road and this got my attention that something cool could be offered here. Along with using the park map, I did recognize the trailhead. In all, I'd say maybe there were only 10 parking spots available. That's how small the area was with limited parking availability. Also, this is VERY IMPORTANT. I hiked to Comet Falls in early afternoon around 1pm in the month of August. When I arrived at the falls in mid-late day....I had the sun at my back going with me. THIS WAS VITAL! Because as you'd expect for taking pictures, this was the perfect moment to grab photos! Absolutely perfect! Yeah it also helped that I hiked the trail on a beautifully sunny day. But coming here in the afternoon time made for the sun to be going with me and I thought my pictures came out stunningly well! Lol, this was so important to me...to not be facing against the sun and dealing with shadows. VISIT IN THE AFTERNOON! More info...Comet Falls Trail is a 3.8 mile round trip hike gaining about 900 feet in elevation. It's not really a hard hike...nothing out of the ordinary...but just so people know it wasn't the easiest hike. Along the way there's not much to view while hiking, just plenty of switchbacks. Right before I arrived at Comet Falls, there was a smaller waterfall area combined with crossing a bridge that some folks may believe is Comet Falls, but it's not. There'll be a clear sign saying - "Comet Falls 200 feet ahead". Still, some people did stop for a picture at these unnamed falls, but they paled in comparison to actual Comet Falls. And yeah when I arrived at Comet Falls, I was completely stunned how statuesque they appeared! For summer time there were still patches of snow on the ground which actually enhanced the surroundings. It wasn't too crowded during my time here and I was able to snap some terrific photos. Also, I easily climbed and got myself right underneath the falls...absolutely as good of an up close view as I could have asked for. I'd say it took me about 3 hours in total to hike Comet Falls. And I spent about 1 hour photographing and just hanging out in and among the falls. Comet Falls was truly special. To be able to get a thrilling introduction to this 462 foot waterfall, the highest waterfall at Mount Rainier, truly gave me the chills I felt quite lucky. And hiking here and spending a portion of the day was certainly worthwhile and one of the best memories I've had since visiting Mt. Rainier National Park. Hiking to Comet Falls is an absolute must!!!

Absolutely loved this campground and are so happy we made this our home base for the trip!…read more These campsites are decently big (we just had a two-person tent and a compact car), and the area was relatively quiet outside of quiet hours. The entire time just felt calm and peaceful. The surrounding forest is beautiful, and there are some good trails to be found here. The Ohanapecosh Visitor Center is also here, so you'll have access to rangers and free WiFi to plan your day and get your maps sorted. Check ahead of time to see if they are allowing campfires - there is currently a campfire ban, so we made sure to bring our portable stove to cook. Some sites are first come-first serve, others can be reserved in advance. Definitely plan ahead and check out their website. Clean bathrooms, but there are no showers at this campground. Great choice for a campsite in Mt Rainier!

One of the best campsites I've stayed at. I love this place so much. I prefer it over cougar rock…read more Lots of trees and so green and pretty with a river right next to you and an amazing hike. We plan to come back next year and stay at this campground

Mather Memorial Parkway runs through the Wenatchee National Forest and has abundant pull-outs along…read morethe side of the road where you can stop and take pictures and enjoy the view. The parkway is part of Highway 410 running through the Cascade Mountains and the Chinook Pass mountain pass. The scenery, especially if you can catch the mountains in the transition between winter and summer before they have lost all their snow and the roads are traversable (that is clear of snow and ice), is absolutely stunning. There is a scenic viewpoint at Chinook Pass with a viewing area out over the forest and the mountains. Informational placards at this location provide historical and ecological context for the area. Restrooms are also located at this spot but were closed when I stopped on Friday the 26th of June 2020 due to COVID-19. There are a few trails near Chinook Pass you can hike, I didn't explore those when I stopped but found it helpful to know they were there. Something to do on a day when there is less snow, unless you are up for snowshoeing! I had no cell phone reception along the vast majority of the parkway. Something to keep in mind if trying to keep people updated as you travel. Might not be possible to do so at this location.

Repaving road, a lot of machinery & men. Very slow route at times it's a single lane in one…read moredirection while the other side waits. Couldn't go too far nor see too much further to repairs.

Got to do the original tour for my birthday on Saturday. Chris was our guide, which I was super…read morehappy about, cause I have watched SO many of his YouTube videos, and even used it as a source in a paper I wrote. He was just as awesome as on his videos, very funny and genuine. The tour was fantastic, I am absolutely going to do all the other tours now. The story of the reoccurring murder had me hooked. It was super spooky to be guided through Tacoma by lamp light. Our group was fun and I even had other birthday buddies who celebrated with this spooky tour. So don't wait, go book, like right now. It's worth every penny.

We did two walking tours with Anna because the first one was so good! She is super friendly, funny,…read moreand knew all the local history and legends. You can really tell she loves what she does. Highly recommend if you want a fun and memorable way to explore the area!