What to Do at Mount Rainier: Complete Guide for First Timers

Timed Entry Reservations for Paradise and Sunrise

In 2024, you must make an entry reservation for Paradise and Sunrise.

This piece of information in the logistics section is extremely important, as it describes a new system for 2024 and how many individuals could miss it and be turned away at the entrance checkpoints.

Between May 24 and Sept 2, 2024, entry to the Paradise Corridor requires a timed-entry reservation.

This covers the road amongst the Nisqually Entrance, up to the Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center, and down to the Stevens Canyon Entrance nearby Ohanapecosh.

From July 4 through September 2, a timed entry reservation is required to enter the Sunrise Corridor.

This is the road between the White River Entrance, up to the Sunrise Visitor Center.

These permits only apply if you enter the park between 7am and 3pm, implying that if you come before 7am or after 3pm, a permit is not necessary (another reason for an early commencement!).

It’s also worth noting that reserving accommodation at Cougar Rock Campground (Paradise), the Paradise Inn, or National Park Inn could replace needing a timed entry permit for accessing the Paradise Corridor area.

Securing a first-come, first-served site at White River Campground near Sunrise can alternatively replace a timed entry permit for Sunrise.

However, it is also worth noting that reserving a campsite or lodging in Paradise does not automatically provide access to the Sunrise Corridor, and the reverse is also true.

Permits are made available 90 days ahead in batches.

Below are the 2024 release dates for Paradise Corridor Timed Entry Permits:

• February 21, 2024: Reservations available for May 24 – June 30, 2024
• April 1, 2024: Reservations available from July 1 to July 31, 2024
• May 1, 2024: Reservations available for August 1 – September 2, 2024

Here are the release dates for 2024 for the Sunrise Corridor Timed Entry Permits:

• April 1, 2024: Reservations available from July 4 to July 31, 2024
• May 1, 2024: Reservations available for August 1 – September 2, 2024

It is certainly worthwhile to carefully examine the page detailing timed entry reservations AS WELL AS the frequently asked questions page about timed entry to gather all pertinent facts that may be needed.

Implications of Timed Entry Permits for Your Trip

From my own experience on a two year road trip across the western United States a few years ago, I also witnessed this timed entry reservation process used at multiple national parks.

During that period, we visited every national park west of the Rockies, and saw multiple parks attempting their best to deal with increased attendance numbers.

It`s a complicated scenario, as on one hand, the record number of visits are exerting a huge strain on park amenities and ecosystems.

On the other hand, we want to make our national parks accessible (and we want that access to be equitable) because seeing the national parks in person motivates everyone to unite to protect them!

However, leaving aside other considerations, the primary implication we observed in places such as Rocky Mountain National Park and Glacier National Park is that the timed entry permits will compel people to enter the parks before the 7am cutoff takes effect.

Parking lots in Rocky Mountain National Park and Glacier National Park reached capacity by 6am as visitors rushed in before permits were required. We’d anticipate a similar phenomenon here.

Keep that consideration in mind as you plan your own visit, since parking at Sunrise and Paradise is limited as is.

Things to Know Before You Visit Mount Rainier National Park

Here are a couple other details to be aware of before making the trip to Mount Rainier National Park.

It is advisable to check with park visitor centers regarding trail conditions and closures.

There are three main visitor centers in the park, one at Paradise (the Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center), one at Sunrise (the Sunrise Visitor Center), and one at Ohanapecosh (the Ohanapecosh Visitor Center).

We regularly stop by the visitor center – particularly on our initial trip to a park – to examine the trail situations and speak with the knowledgeable rangers (who generally have knowledge of where to locate the best wildflowers or fall shading).

You’ll need to pay an admission fee to enter the park.And, yes, you require payment even if you arrive when the entrance station is closed. For Mount Rainier, it’s $30 per vehicle, which is valid for seven days. You can prepay for that pass here, or wait in line at the entrance station and purchase it upon arrival.

Another choice that warrants consideration especially if numerous national parks are intended to be visited in the subsequent 12 months is the America the Beautiful Pass, providing access to all National Recreation Areas (National Parks, Forests, Recreation Areas, and Monuments) for a solitary cost of $80.

The pass is valid for 12 months. In Washington and Oregon, where most hiking occurs on national forest land, purchasing one is a no-brainer according to this author! You can obtain one in advance at REI, or buy one upon arrival.

There are very constrained choices for eating and drinking inside the park. It’s most appropriate to pack your meals – breakfast, lunch, and snacks – so that you don’t need to leave the park and re-enter to get lunch (queues at the entrance stations can be EXTENSIVE).

Leave the dogs at home. No dogs allowed on any hikes in Mount Rainier National Park. This rule helps preserve the trails and the flora and fauna in national parks.

Canines are allowed in campgrounds and at trailheads – essentially anywhere a vehicle can go, dogs can go as well. Which isn’t particularly informative, and you’ll have a more pleasurable trip if you keep them at home.

Our Favorite Things to Do in Mount Rainier National Park

And now, let`s discuss our favorite activities to do in Mount Rainier National Park.

We’re going to loosely organize them by region of the park, but there are a few that don’t fit into a single region, and you’ll find them interspersed throughout.

However, the biggest issue with the Skyline Trail is that it’s not exactly a hidden gem, so the volume of people using this path is very high.

While starting early in the morning allows a hiker to experience more solitude in the initial stages of the hike, waiting until later reduces crowds as others progress uphill throughout the day. Beginning the trail by 7 am on past outings led to an initial period with fewer fellow hikers before numbers increased on the return trip down the mountain.

At this point, you may be wondering what makes the Skyline Trail our favorite.

This hike in the Cascades encompasses many features we enjoy in mountain trails:

• Grassy mountain meadows full of vibrant plant life or colorful autumn foliage, contingent on the season.
• Stunning views of a snow capped mountain peak can be seen.
• Enough climbing to get the heart pumping vigorously.
• Abundant wildlife along the trail (mostly marmots and mountain goats in this setting).
• Splendid aerial perspectives of the surrounding landscape (in this case, vistas of the Tatoosh Range, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Adams).
• A gorgeous waterfall. 

The only aspect this hike seemingly lacks is proximity to a lake.

The best part is that all of those highlights are condensed within just a six mile hike. If you told us we could amass that whole assortment through a ten or twelve mile route, we`d be absolutely ecstatic.

Another way to put it, the reward compared to the effort here is immense, contributing to its wide popularity (and our personal fondness for it, too).

We have an entire guide focused on helping you plan a hike on the Skyline Trail, which you should review for far more detail and answers to questions such as “which direction should I travel” and “how challenging is this hike truly?”

Experience the Waterfalls in Paradise (Paradise)

Part of why we typically recommend Paradise as the best location to visit for first timers on a short trip (like a day excursion to Mount Rainier) is that it showcases the most diverse assortment of landscapes and attractions.

It has grassy meadows, rocky mountainous areas, and beautiful natural lakes.

And waterfalls. 

The cascades at Paradise are among some of our favorite waterfalls in Washington State, and there are four of them that we believe you should absolutely visit.

Three of the four sites are within a few hundred feet of the parking lot, too, so they make for pleasant stops if you’re not up for hiking several miles, or if you’ve already completed a demanding hike earlier that day.

A note: we’re organizing these locations from highest to lowest elevation (or closest to the Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center to farthest).

Myrtle Falls: If individuals hike the Skyline Trail, they will pass directly by Myrtle Falls, which is considered the most scenic of the four here owing to the looming face of Mount Rainier in the background. It is approximately a quarter mile along a gradual paved route from the parking lot at the Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center. The falls is 60 feet in height and cascades over a rocky ledge. The highlight is the backdrop scenery, with the green meadows of Paradise and Rainier`s snow capped peak.

Narada Falls: This short trail near the parking area along Paradise Valley Road leads to a viewpoint overlooking Narada Falls, where the water appears modest from above but reveals its full 168-foot plunge over rocky terrain once you reach the lower perspective. Here, snowmelt pouring into the Paradise River takes a tumbling spill over an outcropping of stone.

Christine Falls: Christine Falls is located a few miles after crossing the Nisqually River along Paradise Valley Road, with its tiny parking area on the left side when traveling down from Paradise. This site offers a nice view of the waterfall which, while not particularly tall or impressive, is perfectly encased within the stone bridge you will later drive over. It involves a few hundred steps from the parking spot down to the viewing point, making it the most accessible of the four locations.

Comet Falls: Comet Falls is both our preferred waterfall within Mount Rainier National Park as well as the most difficult to access, which is why we have a dedicated section on it just below!

However, in order to view it, you do have to hike a few (moderately difficult) miles.

On a positive note, there is another magnificent waterfall along the trail – Bloucher Falls – and jointly they render the relatively easy effort worthwhile, in our view.

Comet Falls is a two tiered waterfall that first plunges off of a ledge high above the trail, falling 300 feet into a pool. From there, it flows off another ledge down into the creek, which continues all the way down to Christine Falls.

There are two good spots to take in the views of Comet Falls along the trail.

The first vista is your initial view of the falls, where you have a great panorama of Van Trump Creek guiding your eye along the ravine up to Comet Falls.

The second spot is farther along the trail, where there is an up-close perspective of the falls.

Pay Reflection Lakes a Visit (Paradise)

Reflection Lakes is a well-known destination for photographers thanks to Rainier’s peak being reflected in the surface of the lakes, and the wildflowers that grow on the slopes beside the lake.

This is one of our favorite times to view sunrises and sunsets at Mount Rainier National Park (more on that below), and if you come here during those times, you certainly won’t have the scenery to yourself.

However, it`s not just about photography because there are also a couple good hikes that begin here.

For splendid wildflowers in late July and early August, head north on the High Lakes Trail towards the Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center, which proved fruitful on our latest trip.

For a thigh-burner that ends at a saddle with nice views of Rainier, head up the Pinnacle Peak Trail.

The trailhead for Bench and Snow Lakes is located a few miles east of Reflection Lakes on Stevens Canyon Road ( viewable here using Google Maps). It can be found in a small parking area on the right side of the roadway.

The trail takes you to two lakes, and the path between the two features some astonishing views of Rainier.

First is Bench Lake, which has a perfect mirrored reflection of Mount Rainier if you manage to catch it on a windless day (pictured above)

Second is Snow Lake, tucked in a lovely rocky cirque with towering rocky peaks dramatically rising high above the shoreline on the far side.

Trails exist on both sides of the lake (and a campground on the left side), which is also where you’ll find the best panorama of the lake (in our view).

Hike the Family-Friendly Grove of the Patriarchs and Silver Falls (Ohanapecosh)

Ohanapecosh, which is the region on the southeast side of the park, is worthwhile for a stop for a few reasons.

First, it offers a different aspect to the park than the other areas. Instead of being surrounded by alpine meadows bursting with wildflowers and breathtaking views of Mount Rainier, you’re sheltered away in a dense old growth woodland.

Second, it’s a perfect stopping point along the drive between Paradise and Sunrise. It’s also a great base camp if you want to camp in one location for your entire trip, because it’s roughly equidistant between the two.

Thirdly, there are two great brief hikes here that, once more, offer something a bit different than the other routes in the park.

The first is the Silver Falls Trail, which takes you on a loop through the forest following the path of the Ohanapecosh River to a nice waterfall.

The second is the Grove of the Patriarchs (NOTE: CLOSED FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE due to the suspension bridge being destroyed in a flood), which crosses the river to an island full of massive trees that beautifully illustrates the ecosystem in this part of the park.

There’s also a visitor center and large campground here, and the town of Packwood sits just south (by “just” we mean 15 minutes or so), which is a good place for lunch or dinner (Packwood Brewing Company and the Mountain Goat!), and is probably the best-equipped town near the park.

Take Photos at Tipsoo Lake and Hike the Naches Peak Loop (Sunrise)

Tipsoo Lake and the Naches Peak Loopcreate a one-two punch that we think is basically a must for any Mount Rainier itinerary including Sunrise.

Tipsoo Lake is – SPOILER ALERT (because we’re going to cover our favorite sunrise/sunset spots in a second) – our preferred sunrise destination in the park because it’s right on the road and you can watch as the sun rises behind you, illuminating Rainier’s peak in changing hues of pink, orange, and yellow.

The Naches Peak Loop leaves directly from Tipsoo Lake, following the Pacific Crest Trail on the way up to Naches Peak.

From the midpoint of the trail, hikers are walking directly towards Rainier, where some beautiful views can be seen along the way.

We think in terms of reward to effort it`s among the top three hikes in the park, making for a lovely little outing on a day where you`ve already done a longer hike or plan to do one later.

Hike Along Sourdough Ridge for Unbeatable Rainier Views (Sunrise)

Sourdough Ridge is the geographic feature that extends from Sunrise Point (located here on Google Maps) all the way past the Sunrise Visitor Center to Frozen Lake. Along the route, continuous perspectives of Mount Rainier and the valleys on either side of the rocky spine can be seen.

The entire trail is doable, but unless you have two vehicles, it’s a little longer than we’d prefer and you’d be seeing the same thing twice (and hiking away from Rainier on the way back, which isn’t ideal).

So, unless that sounds suitable to you, you really have two options concerning how best to attain these views.

The first is to take on one of the more extensive hikes near Sunrise, which we will cover in the next section.

All of those hikes depart from the Sunrise Visitor Center and head up to Sourdough Ridge and out to Frozen Lake, which offers some of our favorite views in the park.

An alternative is to hike from Sunrise Point to the summit of Dege Peak, a brief 2.8 mile route that ascends aggressively to reach panoramic 360 degree views from the top of Dege Peak. From here, hikers can see Mount Rainier and the more distant Mount Adams amongst the surrounding landscape.

Note that you can do the hike to Dege Peak from the Sunrise Visitor Center too – it’s somewhat longer (~4 miles).

Tackle One of the Amazing Hikes at Sunrise (Sunrise)

While our single preferred hike in the park is Skyline, we also think that the Sunrise Visitor Center and the surrounding area has the best assortment of hikes in the park.

The visitor center parking lot leads to three notable hiking paths – all of which we’ve traversed repeatedly – providing dissimilar experiences.

All three of the below hikes commence on the Sourdough Ridge Trail, which as mentioned earlier offers magical perspectives of Rainier. Then you arrive at Frozen Lake and these three routes branch off in differing directions.

Burroughs Mountain (9 miles / 2,600 feet elevation gain): We`re big admirers of this hike, particularly if you proceed past the “official” end at the Second Burroughs and continue to the Third Burroughs, where you`ll be as close to Mount Rainier`s facade as possible without actual rock climbing.

The disadvantage? You must descend down into the valley between the second and third areas in order to make the final ascent to the third, so it basically doubles the elevation gain.

We have an entire guide dedicated to hiking the Burroughs Mountain Trail for you to read for far, far more detail on that hike.

The Mount Fremont Lookout (5.5 miles / 1,200 feet elevation gain): Of the three paths here, this is the most popular trail.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that hundreds of hikers can commonly be found at the fire lookout located at the end of this trail on a pleasant Saturday evening in August, enjoying the orange glow that washes over the valley and illuminates Rainier’s peak as the sun descends to the west.

The hike ascends along a rocky, marmot-filled ridge on the way out to a historic fire lookout with sweeping views of Rainier, over the northern valley, and beyond.

Berkeley Park (7.5 miles / 1,600 feet elevation gain): We discovered this hike by speaking with a ranger at Paradise, who we asked where to find wildflowers (it was the last few days of July). They instantly said “Oh, Berkeley Park is the place to be right now.”

We were unaware of it previously, but since we were heading to Sunrise the following day, we added it to our list of places to explore.

It was a FANTASTIC hike. The trail drops down from Frozen Lake into a lush valley with a brilliant display of wildflowers in just about every hue imaginable.

A babbling creek keeps visitors company as they hike, and numerous pull offs allow hikers to sit and relax and take in the ambiance.

Whichever hike you ultimately choose, we’d strongly advise creating a loop that concludes at the Sourdough Ridge Trail to Frozen Lake (which means you’re facing Mount Rainier) and then returns past Shadow Lake along part of the Wonderland Trail (the 90+ mile backpacking route encircling Mount Rainier) and then cuts over onto the Sunrise Rim Trail, which has magnificent Rainier views and abundant wildflowers in the summer.

Brave the Road to Mowich Lake for Two Great Hikes (Mowich Lake)

Remote regions only accessible via the long gravel road require slow steady driving and ample patience due to a bumpy surface to reach the furthest areas.

The outcome, however, is the fact that this area is by far the least visited section of the park, so you`ll obtain more solitude than nearly anywhere else in the park apart from regions only accessible by extended, overnight hiking trips.

All things considered, this road isn’t actually that bad. It’s more well maintained than a lot of the forest roads we’ve driven on in Washington, but the nature of the unpaved road means it’s going to be slow going.

At the end of that journey, you’ll come upon the shores of the deepest and largest lake situated within Mount Rainier National Park, which has been carved out by glaciers and sits surrounded by some of the park`s finest mountain meadows.

There are three primary attractions here, aside from the lake.

The first activity is hiking into the meadows above surrounded by wildflowers in the Spray Park area.

Second involves ascending to the Tolmie Peak Lookout, a moderate climb to a fire lookout with a truly magnificent panorama overlooking Eunice Lake towards Mount Rainier’s northwest face.

Lastly is the small, basic campground with a few walk-in sites. There are vault toilets here, but no drinkable water SO YOU NEED TO BRING YOUR OWN WATER (or a filter).

Setting up a tent here could make for an excellent home base for exploring the two hikes discussed above.

See the Blankets of Wildflowers in the Early Summer (All Regions)

The early summer – which means July and August in the Cascades – brings a diverse, multi-colored showing of wildflowers to the subalpine meadows in Mount Rainier National Park.

For example, the writer named their dog “Lupine” while hiking at Rainier surrounded by, as one may have guessed, an immense field of purple lupine.

The timing of wildflower blooms is hard to anticipate precisely, especially with increasingly erratic snow and spring temperatures due to climate change. Generally though, the most opportune times we`ve found are during the final week of July and the initial week of August.

The peak bloom times also change depending on elevation differences between areas. Paradise and Sunrise, for example, reach their maximum bloom season at slightly offset times. Generally, Sunrise is a few days or weeks later because it has a higher altitude, but the specific timing can vary year to year.

It’s CRITICALLY IMPORTANT to remain on the trail and avoid trampling the wildflower meadows, EVEN IF THEY HAVEN’T BLOOMED YET.

By strolling on the blossoms, you can harm them both in the present year, and in future years

Be respectful of the environment, people!

Our best recommendation when considering wildflowers has two key aspects.

Before your trip, continue monitoring trail reports for hikes on the Washington Trails Association, where reports from fellow hikers will maintain awareness of the current bloom situation.

The NPS also has an informative page about current wildflower blooms.

Upon arriving at the park, be sure to check in with the ranger station staff to find out where recent wildflower sightings have occurred.

We`ve found this to be the most useful method for determining where to venture, and we discovered the Berkeley Park trail through inquiring with rangers about their recommendations for that specific time.

Berkeley Park (Sunrise), the Sunrise Rim Trail (Sunrise), the High Lakes Trail (Paradise), and Spray Park (Mowich Lake) are all splendid options for viewing wildflowers within the park.

Catch an Epic Sunrise or Sunset (Paradise, Sunrise, or Mowich Lake)

There are essentially endless locations to witness a gorgeous sunrise or sunset within the park boundaries, but we frequently discover ourselves drawn back again and again to certain places that we feel deserve highlighting.

Conveniently, we’re going to provide you with options in most sections of the park excluding Ohanapecosh (and two in Sunrise), so you have plenty of choices.

Tipsoo Lake (Sunrise): Located at the base of the road leading up to Sunrise, Tipsoo Lake is a great place to catch a sunrise as the rising sun initially lights up Mount Rainier in shades of pink then orange seen from higher on the road above the lake ( here on Google Maps) or from the eastern shore where partial reflections and wildflowers are visible.

Mountain Fremont Overlook (Daybreak): This location is not entirely unknown, and the reason it is so great is the sweeping vista of Rainier and the ridges and valleys on the north side of the mountain. Additionally, it is fairly accessible, and the hike out there is not particularly difficult. It is a highly popular spot, so do not come here expecting solitude. However, it is difficult to surpass the view. You are looking south at Mount Rainier, which makes it equally suitable for sunrise or sunset because you are never looking directly into the sun (which we dislike).

Reflection Ponds (Heaven): Presumably the most widely known spot, this is another very popular one and I’ve enjoyed conversing with photographers here at both sunrise and sunset (we somewhat favor sunrise here). A good mirrored rendition of Rainier, ample parking, and a roadside viewpoint make this one difficult to surpass in the Paradise area (though we’d argue that it’s better from the Pinnacle Saddle, which is a short steep hike up from the lake). One significant note: the mosquitoes here are no laughing matter, and they’re ravenous in the early summer.

Tolmie Peak Fire Lookout (Mowich Lake): Another of the park’s historic fire detection centers, reaching this location by sunrise demands passing over a long, unpaved gravel pathway to access the trail head. The angle of illumination here is superior for sunsets anyway, as we believe, when the sun sunken in the west as you observe the alpenglow wash over Mount Rainier’s peak.

Our Favorite Things to Do in Mount Rainier, Mapped

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