Mount Rainier National Park
A great glaciated volcano towering over Washington - wildflower meadows, waterfalls and old forest beneath an ice-clad, still-active peak.
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Illustrative image - a scene in the spirit of the place, not a photograph of it. Real photos are below.
Real photos (1)
Mount Rainier is a great glaciated volcano rising over four thousand metres above the lowlands of Washington, its ice-clad summit visible from Seattle on a clear day. Around it spread the park's famous subalpine wildflower meadows at Paradise, waterfalls, ancient forests and the classic Wonderland Trail encircling the mountain.
What you actually see
- Paradise - the wildflower meadows below the summit, glorious in late summer.
- The mountain itself - the glaciated active volcano dominating the skyline.
- Waterfalls and old forest - the cascades and ancient trees of the valleys.
- Sunrise - the high viewpoint on the mountain's north-east side.
When to go
Mid to late summer for the famous wildflower bloom at Paradise, when the snow finally clears the meadows; the season is short. Winter is deep snow, and the summit is climbed only by the well-prepared.
Honest expectations
The wildflower season is short and the park hugely popular then, so Paradise and its parking fill early, and timed entry may apply. The mountain makes its own weather, so clouds often hide the summit. Snow lingers into summer at altitude.
Nearby
Seattle is a couple of hours away; Mount St Helens and the Cascades lie to the south.
What to pack for Mount Rainier National Park
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
