The aroma of melting snow and fir trees fills the thinning air, growing stronger with each and every passing step. Through gaps in the forest, between huge tree trunks and around rocks, glimpses of a glacier-filled behemoth appear and vanish. After a few minutes, the trees fade away and the majesty of Mount Rainier appears in full beauty, giving world-class views of this iconic and breathtaking volcano. Hiking at Mount Rainier is a life-changing experience that we need to experience.
The mountain is best seen during short day trips after spending a night at one of the local lodging establishments found around the mountain, but rest assured – hiking in and around Mount Rainier will inspire your wonderland and soothe your soul.
Nisqually Entrance
Those looking for easy, family-friendly hikes in the Longmire and Paradise regions are in luck! In Longmire, the short Trail of the Shadows weaves though a breathtaking forest, showcasing the lower alpine beauty of Mount Rainier. The trail is mostly flat and less than a mile, making it a perfect family-friendly trek.
In Paradise, the easy hike you must take is the Nisqually Vista Trail, which takes you along the high-country meadows that offer up stunning views of the Nisqually Glacier and Mount Rainier. This trail is a phenomenal way to get your family out and active after a night sleeping in the shadow of the mountain. Another incredible trail to hike is from Reflection Lakes up to Paradise. While the trail is uphill, the stunning forests and glimpses of the majestic mountain continue getting better, eventually reaching the panoramic wonderland at Paradise.
If you want the ultimate view of Rainier in Paradise, the hike up to Panorama Point is hands down the greatest trek to take. Starting at Paradise, the trails climbs up the side of the mountain, arriving at Panorama Point and giving breathtaking views of both the volcano and the valley behind you. The view is otherworldly and one of the best places to enjoy a sunny day in the entire National Park System.
After a full day of exploring, hiking and being nearly overwhelmed with natural beauty around Longmire and Paradise, stick around and enjoy a night in the shadow of the mountain at the Nisqually Lodge in Ashford. Close to the stunning heights of the High Rock Lookout Hike, the lodge is the perfect basecamp for a weekend of wanderlust adventures.
White Pass Entrance
There are few locations in the National Parks of America as stunning and as memorable as the vistas and trails in the Sunrise region of Mount Rainier National Park. High above White River, the trails at Sunrise consist of some of the prettiest high-alpine miles you may ever walk. Capped off with the trail to Burroughs Mountain and the Three Burroughs, hikers able to take this nine mile round-trip hike are rewarded with unparalleled views of Mount Rainier. This is THE hike in the region, and you will be glad you took the trip. Hurry though, as the area closes once the snow starts to fall.
Lower down Mount Rainier, those looking for an easy, family-friendly hike through a breathtaking forest will love the trail to the Grove of the Patriarchs in Ohanapecosh. At just 1.1 miles in length, this trail crosses a suspension bridge before weaving through massive and ancient stands of timber. Adding on the short Box Canyon Loop Trail, a short drive west of Ohanapecosh, will reward you with mountain views and a chance to walk through a small valley made smooth by glaciers before crossing a ridiculously deep box canyon. Both trails are family friendly and gorgeous.
If staying closer to the heights of Sunrise and the magical forests at Ohanapecosh are more your style, the lodges in Packwood and Morton make for the ideal night’s slumber and relaxation destination. Whether you stay at the Seasons Motel in Morton or choose between a night at the Crest Trail Lodge or the Cowlitz Lodge in Packwood, you are guaranteed a fantastic location for a weekend adventure in these gorgeous regions of Mount Rainier National Park. Plus, you will more than likely see a herd of elk roaming the valleys near these places, making your trip even better!
Carbon and Mowich
Finally, hikers who haven’t yet explored the Carbon or Mowich regions of Mount Rainier will need to plan an adventure to these areas soon before the winter snows return. Above the Carbon River, the hiking around Mowich Lake is yet another breathtaking and lesser known destination in Mount Rainier National Park. Highlighted by the trails around Spray Park, incredible views of Mount Rainier, marmots, waterfalls and deep river valleys expand out in every direction. Spray Park is a classic trail on Mount Rainier and, at just six miles round trip, is the hike you have been longing for all year.
Below the wonders of Spray Park, the Carbon River Trail is the perfect introduction to hiking through the giant and ancient forests of Mount Rainier. As Mount Rainier’s rainforest, the Carbon River receives the most amount of rain and is as lush as most places on the Olympic Peninsula. The trail is flat, following a now defunct dirt road that is now also bike-friendly, for five miles before reaching Ipsut Creek Campground. Longer trips are possible from here, including a short trip to Ipsut Falls, an awesome suspension bridge and the Carbon Glacier.
Those hoping to do these trails should include a night in Eatonville’s Mill Village Motel; it is a perfect halfway point between the Nisqually Entrance and the Carbon/Mowich region of the Park. Staying here lets you explore two amazing sections of Mount Rainier over a weekend, making for the ultimate Mount Rainier hiking experience.
