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Mount Rainier National Park is one of the best day trips to take out of Seattle! This active stratovolcano can be seen on a clear day towering over the Seattle skyscrapers in the distance. This is a huge park that cannot possibly be seen in one day, so it’s best to plan ahead if you are making a day-trip. Use this guide to decide some of the best times to visit, best parts of the park to visit, the best hikes to embark on, and where to find food and water.
Best Time to Visit Mount Rainier National Park
Visiting during the summer will ensure dry, warm weather free of snow. All of the roads in the park will be open to vehicles, allowing visitors to reach the highest points at the park. During mid-July to mid-August, colorful wildflowers will begin to bloom all over the park. Expect a lot of crowds during the summer, especially during wildflower season.
Visiting during the fall is a great idea for those looking to avoid the crowds a bit, but still be able to access all the roads in the park. The roads stay snow-free up until early to mid-October, so visitors will still be able to experience the park before the snow falls. Viewing the fall foliage is a popular activity among visitors during the fall.
The park is snow-covered and cursed with rainy, unsettled weather in the late fall, winter, and spring. The Nisqually Entrance Station is the only station to be open year-round, and it provides easy access to Longmire. Though the road continuing to Paradise may be closed, there are many waterfalls to explore as well as a museum located in Longmire.
Where to Visit in Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park consists of a large loop that allows visitors to drive around the volcano and access hikes and viewpoints. This road takes 5 hours to circumnavigate without making any stops. Learning about the different parts of the park is essential to make the most out of your time.
From Seattle, the Nisqually entrance is closest, at only 2-hours away. This will put you in the Southwest corner of the park, near the town of Ashford.
Paradise
From mid-June to mid-October, the road to Paradise is open, and many nature enthusiasts flock here to embark on some of the most panoramic, impressive hikes in the park. Not to mention, the drive to get here is stunning. The lush alpine fields explode with color by mid-Summer, and there are plenty of hiking trails to explore the area. The Paradise visitor center is located 2.5-hours from Seattle. This is an excellent part of the park to visit if you only have one day.
The Skyline Trail Loop is the most popular hiking trail in this area of the park. At 5.5 miles round-trip, this trail winds past glaciers and creeks, and past Panorama Point. At this point, you’ll be standing at 7000 feet, and you will have great views of the Paradise valley, Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams, and Mount Hood. Continue on through the snow field, onto Sluiskin Falls.
As you continue past the falls, you’ll have the option to continue following the Skyline Trail Loop or to follow the 4 mile detour that will take you past Reflection Lakes and Louise Lake before looping back to the Skyline Trail. If you’re not looking to go on that long of a hike, you can always continue on the Skyline Trail and check out the Reflection Lakes at the lake’s parking lot, instead. Whichever you decide, you will eventually reach Myrtle Falls. Over and to the left of the Edith Creek bridge is one of the most photogenic spots on this trail. A half mile later, you will be back in the parking lot.
Alternatively, follow Stevens Canyon Road to reach the Reflection Lakes parking lot. This parking lot is often very crowded. If you can find a spot, hike the trail loop in either direction for incredible views.
The Alta Vista trail is a great trail to see the wildflowers without walking as far of a distance. This 1.8 mile trail also gives you great views of the Tatoosh Range. It’s recommended to do both hikes, as they both explore different perspectives of the park.
For an otherworldly wonderland through huge, ancient trees, check out the Grove of the Patriarchs. This easy, 1.5-mile trail will loop you around an incredible forest with 3 to 4-story trees. As of November 23, 2022, this trail is still closed due to a recent flood that damaged the suspension bridge. At this point, it has been closed for the past year as they work to repair the bridge.
Paradise arguably has some of the best views in the park. For incredible views without hiking, check out the views behind the Paradise Inn!
Sunrise
Sunrise rivals Paradise in terms of beauty and scenic views and is also easily accessible from Seattle. Keep in mind, this part of the park is only open from late-June to early-October, as it is very high elevation and snow covered for the rest of the year.
To get to Sunrise, enter the park from the Northeast White River/Sunrise Entrance Station. This entrance station is only 14 miles away from Sunrise, and is 2 hours from Seattle.
Sunrise is a great place for road trip lovers. There are so many incredible lookouts and viewpoints located just off the main road. Before anything, stop at the Sunrise Point Lookout. This viewpoint gives you incredible, 360 degree views of the alpine forests and colorful wildflower meadows, as well as of Mount Rainier itself. After that, head up to the visitor center, which is the highest you’re able to drive your car, at 6,400 feet! The road is a dead end at this point and you’ll be able to turn back around. Before you leave, explore or take a hike through the meadows at Yakima Park, which surrounds the visitor center.
After taking in those views, backtrack down the road to some of the best hikes on this side of the park. Sourdough Ridge Trail is a great place to start. The 2.9 mile trail leads you to Frozen Lake, but honestly, the best views are along the trail! Don’t forget to look behind you while you’re hiking, and watch the valley unfold around you as you climb higher. The only complaint about this trail is how popular it is- you are bound to see plenty of people on your hike.
Alternatively, take a longer hike to the Mount Fremont Fire lookout. This 6 mile round-trip hike will lead you through narrow cliff-side passages, but the views are incredibly worth it. The trail ends at the lookout tower, which allows you to take in the gorgeous alpine scenery.
Longmire
If you’re visiting the park during the snow season, Longmire is accessible by vehicle all year and is a 2-hour drive from Seattle passing through the Nisqually Entrance Station. Most visitors pass Longmire on their way to Paradise, making this part of the park so underrated.
If you are interested in history, visit the Longmire Museum to learn about the Native Americans that once traveled through the area, as well as the Longmire family who turned the local geysers and springs into a visitor attraction. After learning about the history of the geysers and springs, walk the short Trail of the Shadows to view bubbling mineral springs, colossal trees, and a replica of an early homestead cabin.
Christine Falls Bridge is a historical landmark with beautiful views of the falls and river below. Follow the path for a short hike to see two different tiers of the falls. The path is steep but the views are very well worth it! For a longer and more difficult hike, hike the Comet Falls Trail. This 3.8-mile loop boasts many small waterfalls as well as two larger ones. The falls are very impressive, especially during the winter when they are frozen over.
Food and Water in the Park
Longmire
The National Park Inn in Longmire serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner all year round. Check out the Longmire general store for groceries, as well as supplies and souvenirs. Here, you’ll be able to purchase water or fill your own water bottles at the spigot located at the visitor center.
Paradise
The Paradise Inn has a small restaurant and cafe open from May to October. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as hot drinks and grab-and-go items. The Paradise Camp Deli is the perfect spot for a quick lunch or snack. There is a water spigot located at the visitor center to fill up your water bottles.
Sunrise
Sunrise Day Lodge is the only place in Sunrise offering food and drink, open from June to October.
Mount Rainier is impressive any time of year, and visiting the park makes for the perfect day trip out of Seattle. Seattleites are lucky to have such incredible natural beauty right outside their backyards. Make plans to revisit the park, as there is always more to see and do!
About the author
Hi! My name is Hannah Lehr and I am a travel blogger and freelance writer. I am passionate about getting out into nature and exploring the path less traveled! You can find my work on my LinkedIn here, where I am available for hire.
