Mount Rainier

Mount Rainier

The majestic volcano Rainier, the fourth highest peak in the United States (outside of Alaska), can rightfully be called one of the most beautiful as well. The volcano is protected as a national park covering 368 square miles – when it opened in 1899, it became the fifth national park in the world. Beneath the snowy summit and in the forested foothills lie countless hiking trails, vast flower-strewn meadows, and a remarkable conical peak that challenges determined mountaineers.

Video: Mount Rainier

General Information

There are four entrances to the park. In the southwest corner is the most convenient and busiest entrance, Nisqually; it is accessed, via Ashford, by Highway 706. It is located near the park’s hub communities and is open year-round. Other entrances include Ohanapecosh on Highway 123; Whit-River near Highway 410; and Carbon River, the most remote entrance, in the northwest corner of the park. For road conditions, call 800-695-7623. More information about the park is available on the National Park Service website (www.nps.gov/mora), where you can download geographic maps and read descriptions of the 50 trails in the park.

Entrance fee is: $15 per car and $5 per hiker. If you want to hike overnight, you need a remote camping permit (free) from the forestry or visitor center. The park’s six campgrounds have running water and restrooms, but no facilities for RVs. We recommend reserving campsites in the summer (Tel: 800-365-2267; www.mount.rainier.national-park.com/camping.htm; reserved campsites $12-15). You can do this two months in advance by phone or online.

The main centers in the park are Longmire and Paradise. Longmire is located 11.2 kilometers from the Nisqually entrance. Here you’ll find a museum and information center (admission free; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. June-September, until 5 p.m. Oct-May), a few trails, and the rustic National Park Inn (tel: 360-569-2275; www.guestservices.com/rainier; rooms with shared/private baths $104/139, units $191) with an excellent restaurant. 19.2 km east of here, at higher elevation, is Paradise. It has the Henry M Jackson Visitor Center (10 a.m.-7 p.m. daily June-October, until 5 p.m. Sat & Sat Oct-Dec), completely rebuilt and reopened in 2008, plus the old Paradise Inn (Tel: 360-569-2275; www.mtrainierguestservices.com; rooms with shared/private bath $105/154; May-Oct), a prime example of “parkitecture” built in 1916 and a significant part of the park. There are even more hiking opportunities around Paradise. Tours to Mt. Rainier depart from the hotel; Rainier Mountaineering Inc (www.rmiguides.com; 30027 SR706 E, Ashford) organizes four-day climbs with a guide for $944.

The 148.8-kilometer Wonderland Trail makes a full circle around Mt Rainier Volcano; it is well-maintained. The hike typically takes 10 to 12 days, with hikers staying at one of 18 registered campsites along the way. Before setting out, a free camping permit must be obtained from the Wilderness Information Center (Wilderness Information Center; www.nps.gov/mora; 55210238th Ave East (238th Ave E), Ashford, WA 98304-9751); a permit order form is available online.

The far entrance of Carbon River provides access to the rainforest in the interior of the park. Just beyond the entrance is the forestry office (Tel: 360-829-9639), open daily in the summer.

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From May through September, Gray Line (www.horizoncoachlines.com) organizes guided bus tours from Seattle (day/two-day $85/179).