This is a really good loop trail! Super easy and you feel very accomplished with all the different…read moreopen areas to see. This is definitely one you can take your young children or grandparents with. It's not the same views as the skyline loop. Let's be honest you're just not gonna beat those views and photo spots. But it's a very enjoyable hike.

Very kid friendly hike!…read more Off the highway - you can get to this trail without going thru a ranger gate (no park timed reservation needed) there's an upper lot with a pit toilet and a lower lot with a pit toilet (lower lot is the Tipsoo Lake stop). There are also several spots along the highway. Parking was plentiful before 9 am on a weekend Saturday in the summer (we went a couple weeks ago!) There is no cell service (unless you get satellite) so definitely pin a meeting spot before you go if you're meeting friends at the trailhead. You can start clockwise or counter clockwise from the lower lake, clockwise from the walking bridge from the upper lot (usually if you park at the upper lot you'd go away from tipsoo first) or using the seven car pull off side lot you could start counterclockwise from the Naches Peak Loop sign... speaking from experience, you might not find your friend and have to hike without them. Hiking clockwise is the way to go - this way you get Mt Rainier views for half of the hike (straight ahead), rather than having to stop and look back to admire the mountain. The hike is relatively friendly - some elevation gain but not too much. There are stairs but nothing two 3 year olds couldn't handle. There were small spots that were a bit exposed or had loose gravel but very minimal! My kiddo had an easier time here than Sunrise. Kids liked: dirt, old snow, lakes, holes and sticks. Adults didn't like: mosquitoes! There's great spots to stop and enjoy the view and eat snacks. We stopped for basically everything and it took us about 4 hours (we started from the lower lot at Tipsoo Lake). 3 year olds made it 50-60% of the hike and did most of the uphill, the rest in carriers. Just a quick reminder - national park so stay on the trail and don't pick the flowers. Oh and dogs are allowed on the PCT portion of the trail!

The Glacier Basin Trail is utterly magical in every sense of the word. I must have taken hundreds…read moreof pictures and several videos while hiking this trail. This hike has everything that your little heart could ever desire! A forest full of giant trees. Vibrantly green shrubs. Waterfalls at practically each turn. Majestic views of not only the snow covered mountains, but the gorgeous aqua hues of the White River down below. The rushing river running parallel. Rampant wildlife. Colorful wildflowers. Inclines and elevation galore. I mean, shall I go on?! Just stunning. Glacier Basin is located near the White River entrance of Mount Rainier National Park. The trail begins just behind the White River Campgrounds. It's starts off mildly inclining through a lush forest, but the incline picks up speed and continues to incline until you reach the camp. It's about roughly 9 miles and 2,000 feet of elevation in total if you add in the the detour to the Emmons Lorraine Trail. Do it! It will add another 1.5/2miles to the hike, BUT... this is where you'll find that incredible view of the Inter Fork White River. It's funny that it's called the "white river" because it's stunningly aqua from the top of Emmons Lorraine. The Emmons Lorraine trail is a turn off that's about a mile into the Glacier Basin Trail and includes a river crossing and a steep incline up a narrow hill. It looks a bit intimidating, but it's really not. Just sit on your bum for the really gnarly parts coming down (at least that's what I did). Continuing on the Glacier Basin Trail, it's basically a straight shot up the hill for another 3 miles until you reach the top. There are a few spots with some switchbacks, but it's mostly a ridge-like trail. AllTrails has rated this hike as moderate, but it's definitely on the harder side of moderate if not difficult. What makes this hike so enjoyable though is the fact that there's so much scenery. Every time I took a break, I was either greeted by a beautiful mini waterfall or vibrant wildflowers. The views are very motivating and it keeps you going. Once you reach Glacier Basin Camp, you'll be met with the most stunning views of snow covered Mount Rainier and the rushing waters of the White River right next to it. This hike took me about 5 hours in total to complete (including breaks, lunch, and detours). It's definitely a day hike, so bring enough food and water to keep yourself nourished. Also, make sure you have some really comfortable hiking shoes/boots and hiking poles for the way down if you have bad knees. Coming down can be just as tough as hiking up because of the steepish downhill for 3 miles straight. This one is definitely going in the books as one of my favorite National Park hikes and my favorite Washington state hike thus far. If you're looking for a challenge and a great way to see the beauty of Mount Rainier National Park, Glacier Basin Trail is a great option.

As a Seattle native, I can say that this is my favorite hike I've ever been on. The hike has a fork…read moreabout a mile in. If you fork left, there is a relatively short (~30 min) but steep trail that leads to the glacier basin. The water is a bright teal with mountains in the background, one of the best views I've ever seen. My friends and I went swimming in the basin, which was very cold but also very fun. If you stay on the main trail, it is an additional 6 miles that is moderate-difficult and took about 3 hours to get up. At the top, there is a really pretty meadow and campground. You will need a Mt. Ranier National Park pass ($50 annual or $30/week) to enter. I went on a weekday in the morning and had no trouble finding parking. The main trail was quite empty, but the left fork had a couple other groups. However, we more or less had the place to ourselves. Overall, 10/10 would reccomend!

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.

Lovely waterfall on Rainier's Paradise side. Attached to the Skyline Trail, this waterfall is a…read morepretty easy hike away from the parking lot. The path to this is paved. You can extend your hike to the rest of loop. I personally would recommend going clockwise on the Skyline Trail since it gives you a much better view while climbing, which would leave this as one of the last things to see on Skyline Trail, but going counter clockwise is definitely a thing people do so if you want to visit this first, that's also a viable option.

Incredibly busy and kind of annoying to get past slow walkers, but with a short, paved hike, it's…read morewhat you expect. The views are very pretty but there are certainly better ones in the park, but the waterfall in the foreground makes for some great photos.

Without a doubt the best day trip this senior citizen has taken. We made a second trip to include 3…read moregrandsons. The walk up is easy and well Worth it. Make reservations AND memories!

A great little hike! Wonderful spot located just outside Naches. The trail is only about a mile…read morelong so it's perfect for kiddos and those of us in "less than ideal" shape!

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.

I have been to this area probably a half dozen times or so throughout my life and it is…read morebreathtakingly beautiful. On our most recent visit last month, we did some camping, hiking, exploring and made sure to visit the Gondola at Crystal Mountain. The weather was glorious, even in the summer heat it is always cool and enjoyable here. We even got some rain while we were camping which was so lovely having come from 100 degree scorching days. We loved the view on our hikes as well. You will get a mix of forests, meadows and some incredible mountain views. We were able to bring our dog with us everywhere and she loved it as well. We even had to break out her harness with a coat to make sure she didn't get a chill. This whole place is beautiful no matter the season and I can't wait for my next visit.

By far the most beautiful nature experience Mt Rainier so many trails great visitor center and…read morelodge I did 2 trails in one day will have to return for a week to be satisfied

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!!!