Mount Rainier, which is located just 60 miles from Seattle, is a defining icon of the Pacific Northwest.
The volcano’s summit is perched 14,410 feet above sea level in the middle of Mount Rainier National Park, making it the tallest in the Cascade Range. Twenty eight glaciers crawl down the flanks of the mountain, creating a rugged landscape that contrasts the wildflower-filled valleys and coniferous forests surrounding it.
Of the 1.5 million people who visit Mount Rainier National Park annually, thousands head straight to the volcano to make an attempt at its summit, with only about half finding success. And while the bucket-list climb is a worthy feat in itself, over 275 miles of maintained hiking trails and 228,400 acres (97% of the park) of designated wilderness area will keep less ambitious adventurers busy for a lifetime.
Mount Rainier National Park tends to get busy during the summer, so visiting during shoulder seasons and midweek will increase your odds of finding solitude. Of course, throwing on a backpack and heading into the wilderness is also a great way to escape the crowds.
There are an infinite number of ways to link trails for a multi-day backpacking trip, but one of the best is by hiking the Carbon Glacier and Moraine Park Trails to create a 21-mile out-and-back trip, offering close-up views of the lowest-elevation glacier in the lower 48. If you have three or four days to spend in the backcountry, consider the 40-mile Northern Loop Trail, which ascends 8,500 feet over rivers, through alpine meadows, and past glaciers and alpine lakes. It’s important to stop by a ranger station ahead of a backpacking trip, not only to get a backcountry permit, but for help with planning, logisitics, and a conditions report.
For a shorter day hike, the 4.6-mile Rampart Ridge Trail meanders through an old-growth forest before reaching a ridge with several viewpoints. The 3.5-mile Naches Peak Loop Trail is one of the more popular hikes in the park, and traverses sub-alpine meadows with views of Rainier.
In addition to three car-camping sites and plenty of backcountry sites, the National Park Inn and Paradise Inn are two lodging options within park boundaries. There are also several gateway towns with plenty of lodging outside the park, depending on which area you plan on visiting. Ashford is just minutes from the Nisqually Entrance of the park’s Paradise region, which is one of the park’s more popular areas. Crystal Mountain, also a ski area, is typically used as the jumping-off point for the Sunrise section of the park. Packwood is just an hour from both areas, and even has a brewery perfect for winding down after a long day of adventure.
In response to a 40% increase in visitation over the last decade, Mount Rainier National Park has implemented a pilot timed entry reservation system for two of the park’s popular areas—the Paradise and Sunrise Corridors—for the 2024 summer season.
