The Essential Guide to Mount Rainier National Park

Top 5 Can’t Miss

• Sleep on the slopes of Mount Rainier at the historic Paradise Inn.
• Hit the trails on one of the park’s many hiking routes and explore alpine meadows or hidden waterfalls.
• Check out classic “Parkitecture” lodges in the Longmire and Paradise districts.
• Dine on Nepali fare at a Sherpa-owned eatery, helmed by a legendary mountain guide who holds an Everest world record.
• Watch wildflowers blanket mountainside meadows during late summer visits.

There’s a common saying in western Washington: “The mountain is out.” The mountain in question is Mount Rainier. Also known as Mount Tacoma, this hulking stratovolcano—the tallest mountain in the state—is such a beloved fixture of the Seattle-Tacoma skyline that whenever it makes an appearance on the far horizon, everybody notices. Even from 70-odd miles away, it’s still a wonder to behold. But then, you see it up close.

“Out of the forest at last there stood the mountain, wholly unveiled, awful in bulk and majesty, filling all the view like a separate, newborn world …” These were the words naturalist John Muir used to describe Mount Rainier in 1888, and they still ring true today. Looming over 14,400 feet high, the mountain’s great, mounded dome boggles the mind with its reams of rock and rivers of ice—with 28 major glaciers, it’s the most glaciated peak in the contiguous United States. But what lies around the mountain is just as splendid: sunny subalpine meadows, murmuring waterfalls, and old-growth forests. All this Cascadian grandeur is Mount Rainier National Park—voted by Travel + Leisure readers as one of the best national parks in the U.S. in the 2025 World’s Best Awards.

“Mount Rainier is unique in that the national park is fully centered around the superstar of the park: the mountain itself,” says Sophia McKee, tour guide and owner of Adventures in Seattle. “For those of us who live near Mount Rainier—she’s always a constant. We endeavor to ‘live like the mountain is out’.”

Spanning more than 236,000 acres, Mount Rainier is best known for its epic scenery, hiking, and mountain climbing. But as the fifth-oldest national park in the country, it’s also one of the best places to explore the early years of “America’s Best Idea” and view examples of the now-iconic “Parkitecture” style. “It’s great to explore [the park] through that lens,” says Nickolas Neville, manager of Mt. Rainier National Park Cabins.

From history to hiking, here’s what you need to know before planning a trip to Mount Rainier National Park.

Know Before You Go

Entry to Mount Rainier National Park costs between $15 and $30 for a standard pass ($15 for individuals without vehicles, $30 for private vehicles), which is valid for up to seven days. This is a cashless park, so you’ll need to pay with cards or digital forms of payment.

For hikers, McKee has this advice: “Plan for any type of weather and be prepared with the ten essentials if you plan to venture out on the trail. The mountain makes her own weather, and she can change in an instant.”

Parking lots in the popular Longmire and Paradise areas fill up fast during the summertime high season, so go early in the day if you’re hoping to snag a spot. Weekends are usually the most crowded as well, so you’ll have better odds of snagging parking spots and encountering fewer people on trails when visiting on a weekday. During summer, traffic often backs up at the Nisqually entrance and on roads along the west side of the park—yet another reason to use east-side entrances like Stevens Canyon, even if it is more out of the way.

While Rainier is a year-round park, weather can sometimes close roads, especially during winter, so check the National Park Service website for road status updates.

Best Time To Visit

A car driving through Mount Rainier National Park.

Carmen Martínez Torrón/Getty Images

The best time to visit Mount Rainier National Park is from July to August at the height of the Pacific Northwest summer. Wildflowers such as purple lupines and red paintbrush color the landscape, and the lengthy days and warm, sunny weather mean more time for hiking. You will have to contend with more crowds, though. 

“There’s something to be said for every season,” says Neville, adding that autumn is his personal favorite time. While the park is open during winter, roads and local businesses may be closed, so plan accordingly. Braving the elements does mean being rewarded with a snowy wonderland, where you can snowshoe and cross-country ski, and practically no other visitors: “Mount Rainier is your private backyard in winter,” says Neville.

How to Get There

A 1.5-hour drive from Seattle and 2.5 hours from Portland, Mount Rainier National Park is accessible from either of the Pacific Northwest’s largest cities. Both metro areas have international airports, and reaching the park is easy using major routes like Interstate 5 and U.S. or state highways.

There are three main entrances spaced out around the park borders: Nisqually, White River, and Stevens Canyon. During the busy summer months, McKee and Neville recommend avoiding the busy Nisqually entrance. “Plan in advance to get a timed entry or plan your day to enter at the less-traveled Stevens Canyon entrance,” says McKee. “That way you spend more time on the trail and less time waiting in line or for a parking spot.” 

Unless you’re traveling with a tour operator that provides transport, you’ll absolutely need your own car to get around. You can hire bespoke “mountain taxi” shuttle services from companies like Talking Rocks Outdoor Company to pick you up from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and ferry you around the park. But having your own car gives you the best ease of movement to explore.

Best Things to Do

People hiking an alpine trail in Mount Rainier National Park.

Thomas Barwick/Getty Images

Roam Rainier’s many trails.

With over 260 miles of trails, Mount Rainier is hiking heaven. “There are a number of fantastic trails in the park for all levels of ability,” says McKee, recommending the Burroughs Mountain Trail as her favorite. “While Skyline Loop might get the fame, Burroughs is waiting for the real hikers who want to avoid the crowds at Paradise.” Skyline’s fame is well-earned, though, and worth braving the crowds. A 5.5-mile loop around Paradise Meadows, this popular route comes with wildflowers, waterfalls, and, on clear days, views of Mount Hood. 

Backpack the Wonderland Trail.

Many hikers come to Mount Rainier to take on the coveted Wonderland Trail. Circumnavigating the mountain, the 93-mile backcountry route is a serious, one-to-two-week undertaking. But the reward is getting to access some of the national park’s most remote reaches, from pristine wildflower meadows to river-spanning bridges.

Visit the park’s famed fire lookouts.

With their panoramic vistas of Mount Rainier, the Cascade Range, alpine lakes, and evergreen forests, the park’s four historic fire lookouts—Mount Fremont, Shriner Peak, Gobbler’s Knob, and Tolmie Peak—deliver some of the best views. Once used for monitoring lightning strikes and tracking wildfires, these rustic structures now make for great day-hike destinations and side trips on the Wonderland.

Immerse yourself in national park history.

As one of America’s first national parks, and the first to be developed with a master plan for consistent design, Mount Rainier is a font of early “Parkitecture” examples. Designated as its own Historic Landmark District, architectural heritage is as alive here as nature. Tour the Longmire and Paradise districts to see preserved 1920s buildings and structures, which now serve as information centers and museums. The Nisqually entrance, with its famed timber arch from 1911, is another highlight.

Try to summit Washington’s highest peak.

For the climbing crowd, Mount Rainier is renowned. Every year, thousands attempt to reach the summit, and many come here to train in glacier mountaineering skills with guide services like Alpine Ascents International. For the nonclimbers, the 10,188-foot-high Camp Muir offers a taste of Rainier’s climbing culture. Used as an overnight camp before summit attempts, this stone cabin is as high as hikers can go on the mountain without a climbing permit.

Best Hikes

A sunny day in Mt Rainier National Park.

Irjaliina Paavonpera/Travel + Leisure

Comet Falls

For a good waterfall hike, Neville recommends the trail to Comet Falls. This 3.8-mile round-trip hike heads to the base of the 300-foot-tall cascade, which is so named because the white spray of water resembles a comet’s tail. Located off the road to Paradise, this is an accessible hike that can often get busy, so plan to arrive early or go on an off-day.

Burroughs Mountain Trail

To try McKee’s favorite hike, set aside a full day and head to the Sunrise area in the northeastern part of the park. Running along the slopes of the three-peak Burroughs Mountains, this open and exposed route has some of the best views of Rainier itself. But as McKee said, it’s not a cake walk; hiking to First Burroughs is just shy of five miles round-trip, with the option to continue further, and there’s little shade and significant elevation gain.

Tolmie Peak Trail

This 6.5-mile round-trip route heads from Mowich Lake to an exposed peak above Eunice Lake, which gives hikers a straight-shot view of Rainier. Many hike this route to take photos with the old 1930s Tolmie Peak fire lookout tower. This is another popular trail, so visit at off-peak times. 

Nightlife

A night sky filled with stars in Mount Rainier National Park.

Craig Schwartz/Getty Images

You’re bound to be tired after long days of trekking, but try to stay up if you can. With protected national forests on nearly all sides and only a handful of towns in the vicinity, light pollution is low, so the night skies are crystal clear. The Paradise Corridor area, between Nisqually and Stevens Canyon, and Inspiration Point are several great stargazing areas to take in the skies and Mount Rainier.

Best Places to Stay

The exterior of Paradise Inn.

National Park Service

Along with lodges, hotels, and cabin rentals, Mount Rainier has three drive-in campgrounds as well as wilderness camping options with a permit.

Paradise Inn

Stay just steps from the Paradise Meadows at this historic lodge, which first opened in 1917 and runs seasonally from May to September. Along with 121 rooms, the lodge also has a restaurant, gift shop, and cafe for day trippers. One thing to note: there is no Wi-Fi here, but who needs it when you’re staying at Rainier’s doorstep?

Alexander’s Lodge at Mt. Rainier

A baby-blue Victorian gem dropped into the middle of the Washington wilderness, this charming property has been hosting Mount Rainier guests—including President Theodore Roosevelt—since 1912. The Nisqually park entrance and Ashford are minutes away, and the backyard, strewn with Adirondack chairs and fronted by a pond, is the perfect place to lounge post-hike.

Mount Rainier National Park Cabins

If you prefer vacation rentals to hotels, Neville’s cabin rental company has cute cottage getaways set in different areas around the outskirts of the park. From twee A-frames to ruby-red mini chalets, each boasts its own distinct style and comes outfitted with kitchens, living areas, hot tubs, saunas, and outdoor fire pits. Dogs are also welcome.

Places to Eat

The entrance of The Copper Creek Inn.

Stuart Isett/Washington Post via Getty Images

Like most national parks, there are few places to eat within the property, so it would be smart to pack your own meals or snacks. However, Paradise Inn, located within Mount Rainier National Park, does have a dining room with Northwest-inspired fare and drinks.

Copper Creek Inn

Touted as the oldest continually operating restaurant in the state, this Ashford-area eatery has been keeping hikers and locals satiated since 1946 with its hearty diner fare like burgers, sandwiches, and daily specials. Grab a seat in the cozy, rustic indoor dining room or out on the patio in summer, and do not skip dessert; the blackberry pie is a Washington legend. 

Wildberry Restaurant

Owned by Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa, a mountaineering legend who holds the record for the fastest base camp-to-summit ascent of Everest, the seasonal Wildberry Restaurant brings Himalayan cuisine to the high Cascades. Fuel up on pork-stuffed momos (dumplings), savory stews, and thali plates made by chef Fulamu, Lhakpa’s wife and the co-owner of the restaurant, as well as comforting American classics like grilled cheese sandwiches and big burgers.

Packwood Brewing Co.

After a long hike, nothing hits the spot like a frosty, refreshing beer. Pull in at this roadside brewery in Packwood for a pint (or two) of locally made craft beer, plus pub grub munchables like chorizo-topped nachos, gooey quesadillas, and nourishing rice bowls.