Hiking Trails in Mount Rainier National Park

Mount Rainier National Park

Mount Rainier National Park

Bench Lake and Snow Lake Trailhead

Chinook Pass - Tipsoo Lake Trailhead

Comet Falls Trailhead

Crystal Lakes Trailhead

Fryingpan Creek Trailhead

Glacier Basin Trailhead

Kautz Creek Trailhead

Longmire - Eagle Peak Trailhead

Longmire - Trail of Shadows Trailhead

Owyhigh Lakes Trailhead

Paradise Visitor Center

Reflection Lakes - Pinnacle Peak Trailhead

Sunrise Point - Palisades Lakes Trailhead

Sunrise Visitor Center

Westside Road Trailhead

Mount Rainier National Park - Overview


Ascending to 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier stands as an icon in the Washington landscape. An active volcano, Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S.A., spawning six major rivers. Subalpine wildflower meadows ring the icy volcano while ancient forest cloaks Mount Rainier’s lower slopes. Wildlife abounds in the park’s ecosystems. A lifetime of discovery awaits.

Mount Rainier has five developed areas: Longmire, Paradise, Ohanapecosh, Sunrise, and Carbon/Mowich. Although the level of development in these areas ranges from basic -little more than a campground and picnic area- to extensive -hotel, restaurant, visitor center, campgrounds and picnic areas- each can serve as a base for exploring the rest of the park. 

Longmire

With the establishment of Mount Rainier National Park in 1899, Longmire became park headquarters. The site had previously served as James Longmire's homestead, lodging, and mineral springs resort. Although park headquarters are no longer at Longmire, the original headquarters building houses a museum that tells the story of the early days of the park. All of
Longmire is now designated a national historic district.
 
Longmire is located in the southwest corner of the park and is 6.5 miles (10.5 km) east of the Nisqually Entrance.
 
Paradise
 
Paradise is famous for its glorious views and wildflower meadows. When James Longmire's daughter-in-law, Martha, first saw this site, she exclaimed, "Oh, what a paradise!" The park's main visitor center, the new Paradise Jackson Visitor Center, is located in the upper parking area. Paradise is also the prime winter-use area in the park, receiving on average 641 inches (53.4 feet/16.3 meters) of snow a year. Winter activities include snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and tubing. The road between Longmire and Paradise is plowed throughout the winter. 
 
Paradise is located 19 miles (30 km) east of the Nisqually Entrance and 12 miles (19 km) east of Longmire.
 
Ohanapecosh
 
Located in the southeast corner of the park, Ohanapecosh, named for a Taidnapam (Upper Cowlitz) Indian habitation site along the river, is thought to mean “standing at the edge.” Situated among Douglas firs, western red cedars, and western hemlocks, visitors to Ohanapecosh can experience the beauty and complexity of an old-growth forest. The east side of the park is also somewhat drier and sunnier than the west side, making it a good destination when Paradise and Longmire are wet and foggy. Ohanapecosh is not accessible in winter.
 
Ohanapecosh is located 3 miles (4.8 km) north of the park boundary on highway 123 and 42 miles ( 68 km) east of the Nisqually Entrance. Check road status.

Sunrise

At an elevation of 6,400 feet, Sunrise is the highest point that can be reached by vehicle at Mount Rainier National Park. In summer, mountain meadows abound with wildflowers. On clear summer days, Sunrise provides breathtaking views of Mount Rainier, Emmons glacier, vibrant wildflower meadows. Sunrise Point offers nearly 360-degree views of the surrounding valleys, Mount Rainier, and other volcanoes in the Cascade Range such as Mount Adams. These views and an excellent trail system make Sunrise the second most visited location in the park.

Sunrise is located 60 miles northeast of the Nisqually Entrance and 14 miles northwest of the Sunrise/White River turnoff on Highway 410.
 
The Sunrise Road usually opens in late June or early July and closes in late September to early October.
 
Carbon River and Mowich Lake
 
Carbon River, named for coal deposits found in the area, is located in the park’s northwest corner. This part of Mount Rainier National Park receives consistently high amounts of rainfall so the climate and plant communities found here resemble that of a temperate rainforest.
 
The Carbon River road was washed out by the 2006 flood and is open to vehicles only to the Carbon River Ranger Station at the park boundary. Bicycle and pedestrian traffic are permitted on the remainder of the road inside the park. Carbon is reached via the Carbon River road, off of State Route 165.
 
Mowich Lake is set in a glacial basin surrounded by fragile wildflower meadows, and is the largest and deepest lake in Mount Rainier National Park. The road is unpaved after the first three miles and may be rough. It is generally open mid-July to mid-October. Mowich is reached via State Route 165.

Mount Rainier National Park - Contact


By Mail:
 
Superintendent
Mount Rainier National Park
55210 238th Avenue East
Ashford, WA 98304
 
By Phone:
 
Park Headquarters
360-569-2211
360-569-2177 TDD
 
Park Information
360-569-6575
 
By Fax: 360-569-6519
 
For Lost & Found: 360-569-6608
 
GPS Address to Nisqually Entrance: 
(not a mailing address)
39000 State Route 706 E
Ashford, WA 98304