Make your way to the eastern boundary of mount rainier national park and begin hiking along the banks of tipsoo lake, a crystal clear pool so alluring some hikers never make it up the trail. Best trails in mount rainier national park alltrails. Hiking trails near mount rainier national park hiking project. Mount rainier standard summit route washington alltrails. These two hikes are easy to reach, and the most popular hikes in mount rainier for some great photo opportunities of mount rainier. Mount rainier mount rainier national park 2020 all you. Hike past scenic narada falls before climbing gradually through gentle forests and abundance blueberry bushes. Because mount rainier is the most glaciated peak in the lower 48 states, the park alone is home to over 150 waterfalls, many over 300 feet in height.
The snow on mount rainier never seems to melt fast enough for hikers wanting to explore the many treasures of mount rainier national park. It exceeded every expectation that i had going into the climb. All hikers are asked to avoid fragile flower fields, lake shores, and stream banks. Each portion of the national park is very different, but equally beautiful. The best mount rainier hikes for epic views walk my world. A longdormant volcano, mount rainier looms over the seattle skyline from certain angles much like mount fiji in japan. Use this pdf map to get your bearings on mount rainiers main entrances, park roads, lakes, waterfalls and hiking trailheads. Hiking information for mount rainier np, washington. Best hikes in mount rainier national park nomads with a. Mount rainier national park is a playground for nature lovers and adventurers alike. If you are planning on hiking in mount rainier national park then taking on a portion of the 93 mile wonderland trail is always a great option. Apr 21, 2017 mount rainier national park became the fifth national park in the united states in 1899 and still stands today as one of the most scenic and spectacular national parks in washington state. A portion of the pacific crest trail weaves in and out of mount rainier national park along the parks eastern boundary, from chinook pass in the north down to laughingwater creek in the south near three. Mount rainier national park backpacking and hiking trails.
Being a mountain, mount rainier national park is roundsquare and has multiple faces that you might hike. Visitors are greeted by the highpitched chirp of hoary marmots and pikas. Dec 02, 2016 planning your winter hike in mount rainier national park. Helens and the olympic national forest and major metropolitan cities less then 90 minutes away, you are able to explore the area in all directions from one.
If you have young kids and are thinking of introducing them to hiking, mount rainier is a great place to start. Snowshoe trails at mount rainier family hikes travel. Under the massive presence of mount rainier, youll see mount adams, goat rocks, and the gnarly tatoosh range. Planning your winter hike in mount rainier national park. This is a very easy and very crowded trail in mount rainier that travels through an old growth forest with trees reaching 300. The days itinerary can be changed or cancelled during the trip to assure the safety of the clients and staff.
The wonderland trail is mount rainier hiking at its best. Wilderness camping and hiking mount rainier national. Relax in the minivan as you take a driving tour of the park, then hike the nisqually vista trail with your guide, who can legally go. Mount rainier is a stratovolcano at altitude of 14410 feet, the tallest in cascade volcanic arch. Please note that there are no established backcountry camp sites within the park along the pacific crest trail. Aug 24, 2019 the best mount rainier hikes to get incredible views. Discover nature reserves the right to alter tours and itineraries due to weather or road conditions. Get a closeup panoramic view of nisqually glacier on the popular skyline trail.
If one hike should be regarded as the best hike in mount rainier national park, it has to be the wonderland trail. This map highlights the trails and campsites including the number of sites available and restrictions on number of camps at any time in undeveloped zones. Here ive collected 20 free highresolution mount rainier national park maps to view and download. Each corner of the park is beautiful, unique and mesmerizing. Mount rainier national park is located in westcentral washington and is ideal for hiking, mountain climbing and scenic drives. Many of these waterfalls can be seen from a roadside viewpoint while others are the reward of a day hike. To preserve the trails at mount rainier, stay on designated trails throughout the park. And because i dont know exactly what kind of hiker you are, ive tried to present three different options for the best mount rainier day hikes, a little something for everyone. Wildflower meadows, ancient glaciers, and rushing waterfalls.
The 10 best mount rainier national park hiking trails with. Top seven spots to view mount rainier in the olympia region. Mount rainier is the most visible national park in america and while trees and forests block some of the majesty of the magnificent mountain, every resident and visitor to the region has their favorite mount rainier viewing location that leaves them awestruck. An entrance fee may be charged to access naches peak loop in mount rainier national park, but no permit is required to hike the trail. Park maps including the wilderness trip planner map mount rainier weather. Mount rainier topo map elevation contour lines on black popsockets grip and stand for phones and tablets. For this reason, some parts of the mount rainier national park can become extremely crowded, particularly in the. We take you through 7 hikes that you have to do as well as what to expect, the best time to go, detailed descriptions of the trail and photos to show you just why mount rainier is so special. Looking for a great trail in mount rainier national park, washington.
Best hikes in mount rainier national park nomads with a purpose. Maps of park and vicinity maps of mount rainier campgrounds maps of mount rainier wilderness and trails. See more ideas about hiking, trail and national parks. Benefit from traveling with a naturalist guide to mt. I am grateful for the friendships that we formed in a very short period of time. Before hiking any trail, check with a ranger at a visitor center, wilderness information center, or at the longmire museum for current trail status. It is the longest trail in the park, taking in all its natural features and passing through all its life zones, the epitome of mount rainier hiking. Rainier on one of these hikes that are bursting with wildflowers, plus where to stay if you make it a weekend. Skip the hassle of planning your transportation, hikes, or food with this allinclusive tour. Mount rainier caps swarm of weekend seismicity with 3. Aug 08, 2018 it has three of our states best campgrounds and two outstanding historic lodges to sleep in.
See here for more about the best hikes in mount rainier national park. The 10 best mt rainier hikes for jawdropping views dani. Here are my five favorite easy mount rainier hikes for. The park is often blanketed in fog, so if you see the park on a.
As i mentioned earlier, climbing mount rainier with the rmi team was an incredibly fulfilling experience. The best mount rainier hikes to get incredible views. Mount rainier climbing route maps you do need a climbing pass to climb mount rainier. The trail overlay on this map is not accurate enough for safe navigation and is meant for casual reference only. Crystalline high mountain lakes, cascading waterfalls, meandering streams, subalpine meadows carpeted in flowers, and peaks offering vistas of the glaciers of rainier. If you need a map for navigation, the best one available is the national geographic mount rainier national park map. These hikes lead to beautiful waterfalls, weave amongst oldgrowth forests and feature stunning scenery and are short in length. Mount rainier tours hiking in mount rainier national park. Winterspring full day mount rainier tour discover nature. Dominated by the monolith of mount rainier, youll also find a wide range of rivers, forests and alpine pastures that make for some classic wildlife trails.
Naches peak loop is best attempted in a clockwise direction to avoid hiking with mount rainier over your shoulder. At the right time of the day and perhaps with the help of a compass and map, you may also be able to pick out the shadow of mount rainiers natural bridge, visible about a mile north of windy gap, and. In the heavily used paradise, sunrise, and tipsoo lake meadows, hikers are required to stay on trails. Day hiking at mount rainier mount rainier national park. Mount rainier s wilderness guidelines and regulations. For travelers who enjoy hiking, mount rainier offers a worldclass experience with incredible views of massive glaciers, alpine lakes, vast fields of wildflowers, wildlife and truly fulfilling hikes. Click the image to view a full size gif 60 kb or download the pdf 100 kb. Day hiking at mount rainier mount rainier national park u. Mar 27, 2020 because getting out on the trail is perhaps the best way to immerse yourself in the majesty of mt.
And whether you experience mount rainier national park from a car, a wheelchair, a stroller or your hiking boots, itll knock your socks off. Rainier hikes include goat lake trail, high rock lookout, forest service roads, noble knob, and sun top all located outside of the park. Trails of mount rainier descriptions of park hiking trails. There is no better way to experience mount rainier s joyous beauty than to pick one of the following 50 hikes that matches your hiking levels. Our time together on the mountain, although brief, has made a meaningful impact in my life. From wildflower meadows, to breathtaking glaciers, to shimmering lake views with mount rainier reflecting across their waters this is hiking at its best. Maps of mount rainier national park including road maps, trail maps, hiking maps, climbing maps, campground maps, aerial view, topographic map of mt. Map of mount rainier backcountry and camping wilderness zones. The 25 active glaciers also power a similar density of waterfalls outside the park boundaries. Hiking trails lead to many of the most beautiful spots of mt. The paradise area of mount rainier has always been one of my favorite spots in the pacific northwest. Mount rainier back country camping map mount rainier national park has a variety of backcountry and offtrail camping and campsite opportunities. Mount rainier is an environment where conditions can change suddenly and unexpectedly.
The map of mount rainier national park above can be toggled between park tiles or brochure map using the drop down menu in the upper left corner. Ascending 14,410 feet above sea level, mount rainier stands as an icon in the washington landscape. Located on i5, about halfway between portland and seattle, our region offers you the perfect vacation base camp. If you are planning on hiking in mount rainier national park then taking on a portion of the 93. Best easy day hikes mount rainier national park best easy. It can be extended with the spray park and ipsut pass trails to form a 48 mile trip that includes some of the finest scenery in the north half of the park.
With hundreds of great places to catch a glimpse of the iconic peak, we have seven. Mount rainier offers many easy hiking trails for visitors with small children or the elderly. This is the main mount rainier national park map from the park brochure, showing roads, major trails, and points of interest. Use our guide to plan your hikes from short strolls to overnights from june through october. Five easy mount rainier hikes for kids the wandering.
Here are the maps for the popular climbing routes, courtesy national park service. If you are passing through seattle, set aside a day for some mt rainier. When the sky is blue and summer lupines are booming across the alpine grasses, mount rainier is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Complete hiking information for mount rainier np, washington with maps, photos, trail descriptions, guides and outfitters, and more. Longmire area trails paradise area trails ohanapecosh area trails sunrise area trails. Its tough to single out just three mount rainier day hikes to share with you. Rainer national park on this smallgroup tour from seattle. Most roads are open from late may to early october, which allow for both stunning views and access to a wide range of hiking trails and other sites.
Climbing mt rainier is a career goal for many cascade range peakbaggers, but exploring the parks many miles of trail equally popular among the less alpineinclined. After a spurt of seismic activity this weekend, mount rainier national park was shaken by a 3. Mount rainiers northern loop trail wonderland guides. Much of that claim to fame comes from its impressive namesake peak, the 14,411foot mount rainier. Best easy day hikes mount rainier national park includes concise descriptions and detailed maps for thirty easytofollow trails, from easy low elevation loops to slightly more difficult scenic routes through mount rainier. Best easy day hikes mount rainier national park best easy day hikes series by heidi radlinski and mary skjelset jun 1, 2018. The days itinerary can be changed or cancelled during. Click the image to view a full size gif 60 kb or download the. If you need a map for navigation, the best one available is the national geographic mount rainier. How to take a winter hike in mount rainier national park. There is no better way to experience mount rainiers joyous beauty than to pick one of the following 50 hikes that matches your hiking levels. Our mount rainier hiking tours include innbased tours, a comprehensive pacific northwest basecamp tour, and day hikes.
Mount rainier national park encompasses the namesake peak. Western looking to explore the best of western washington. Sunshine point campground m u i r s n o w f i e l d mount rainier national park geographic information system crescent. Rainier hikes, include the 93 mile long wonderland trail, which circumnavigates the mountain, there are also a good number of short easy hikes. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible yearround. Well climb past the beautiful reflection lakes, aptly named for their stunning mirrorimage of mt. Trails of mount rainier mount rainier national park u. Paradise provides a gateway to washingtons most iconic mountain, trails to get your heart pumping or just stretch your legs, and in winter, fantastic snowshoe and skiing opportunities for people of all ages.