ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-24692096', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Mount Rainier? I've NEVER been disappointed by a drive to Paradise - well, maybe mildly so when the summit has been obscured - because the scenery on the drive to Paradise (from the Park Entrance to Paradise) is wonderful year round. If you have an option on the timing of your visit, the later in the summer the better. From Crystal Mountain Resort, ride the gondola up to the peak of Crystal Mountain. Preferably before 9 AM. A ferry ride across Elliott Bay/Puget Sound and a drive to Olympic Park is certainly a reasonably safe choice for that time of year (although cloudy, misty weather is as likely there as in Rainier NP). 
Its a big day, 6.2 miles round trip with some hefty elevation gain, but you are rewarded with panoramic views of the park. If you click the icons on the map, you can get more information about each point of interest. Keep in mind that, in May, Paradise and Sunrise will still be snow-covered and most park roads will be closed; weather may still be unsettled. Day 2: Sunrise in the morning, Crystal Mountain in the evening. Doing this now this frees up more time tomorrow. How to Use This Map: Click the tab in the top left hand corner of the map to view the layers. Spring is just around the corner. Tim hiked the Skyline Trail in Paradise solo. Just prior to our visit in Mount Rainier we were in Olympic National Park. From Mowich Lake, located in one of the most remote sections of the park, you get to hike a quieter trail. White Pass has downhill terrain for all abilities and a great nordic trail system, it is a very family-friendly place and you could easily spend a week there. An active volcano, Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S.A., spawning six major rivers. The weather at Paradise can be worse than at Sunrise sometimes, which is protected by the mountain. Rainier could be great. . Sure, it's a bit of a gamble - as weather can change rapidly, but Rainier is the big Kahuna in the PNW and well worth the trip. Likewise, people generally leave the park between 4 and 6pm, so if you can arrange to arrive at a visitor center around 5pm (with the idea of staying put for an hour or so), you can avoid a lot of the traffic. yosemite september visiting overview wildlandtrekking From Mount Rainier, we traveled north to Leavenworth, the Enchantments, and North Cascades National Park. Once in Paradise, take your pick from numerous hiking trails that lead higher onto Mount Rainier. Day 4: Naches Peak Loop hike. During the winter months, you can visit Paradise and go snow shoeing, sledding, skiing, and snowboarding. Finally, you might try reversing this advice, hitting Sunrise at sundown. The Mountain has been out more than it's been obscured. After hiking to Tolmie Peak Fire Lookout or Spray Park, continue on to your next destination (Olympic National Park, Seattle, and Leavenworth are all relatively close to here). Located in Paradise, this is one of the best hikes in Mount Rainier National Park. To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps, click the menu button, go to Your Places, click Maps, and you will see this map on your list. Rain can come in suddenly, so rain gear is a good precaution. Have a great time in Mount Rainier! Rainier Full-Day Tour Walk or Snowshoe. Ive been studying the map and can really picture this itinerary. This 3-day itinerary is a good place to start when planning your trip. 11. This long, tough hike has a little bit of everything old growth forests, fields of wildflowers, views of Mount Rainier, the chance to spot wildlife, high alpine views, and panoramic views out to Mount Adams. How do you plan the perfect Mount Rainier National Park itinerary? If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Park Fee: $30 per vehicle, valid for 7 days. We have lots of info about our camera gear in our Photography Gear Guide. Narada Falls. Its about an hour longer of a drive one-way than from Ashford to get to Tolmie Peak, but that may not be all that big of a deal. Real question is whether you can make the most of it even if you get some cold or rainy weather. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. For the best experience, hike the Skyline Trail to Panorama Point, one of the best hikes in Mount Rainier National Park. Those trailheads are at Mowich Lake. You can also go on another hike in Sunrise, since so many hikes start here. Tim had to work remotely on day 5, which is why he hiked the Skyline Trail solo on the evening of day 4 (he had a full time job outside of running this website). If, however, April is the time that you will be here in the Pacific NW, a better place to visit at that time of year would be Olympic National Park. Do you mind sharing the camera youre using to capture these shots? See Myrtle Falls. The trails in Pack Forest are beautiful, too, worth the short drive to explore. With its forests of evergreen trees, subalpine lakes, and network of hiking trails, this is an outdoor paradise for many travelers. For a longer stay, purchase the Mount Rainier Annual Pass for $55 which gives you unlimited visits for one year. Not only do you get another spectacular view of Mount Rainier but you get to hike past several alpine lakes, and if you are here in August, get to see the mountainous slopes covered in wildflowers. You can rent snowshoes from several locations. If you didnt walk the Grove of the Patriarchs trail yesterday, this is the perfect place to start your day. In the spring and fall, the weather is damp and chilly. Ascending to 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier stands as an icon in the Washington landscape. And dont miss the short, easy walk to Myrtle Falls (1 mile, easy, 30 minutes). Thanks again for bringing this to our attention. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Earth Trekkers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. Spray Park is longer and more challenging. If people follow your directions to Carbon River they will never make it to the Tolmie Peak or Spray Park trailheads. Paradise and the Nisqually Vista Trail. As we planned our time, we didnt know what to expect, driving through entrance gates (and waiting in line) and just generally driving around the park. This itinerary starts in Packwood, which is located near the southeastern corner of Mount Rainier National Park. Subalpine wildflower meadows ring the icy volcano while ancient forest cloaks Mount Rainiers lower slopes. Rainier National Park, Video: Winter Access - the Road to Paradise, Mount Rainier National Park Bed and Breakfast, Mount Rainier National Park Vacation Packages, Things to Do in Mount Rainier National Park, Browse all 1,555 Mount Rainier National Park topics . There is also a good possibility that the weather would not even be nice enough to enjoy the time in the snow. There are a couple of different ways to plan your time, and I will write this out assuming that you will be here in the summer when the park roads are open. 
Stevens Canyon Closure / Paradise to Sunrise? Once Mowich Lake, there are two great hikes to choose from. This is the highest you can get by car in the park. Yeah, 1 day is tough in this park. Bench and Snow Lakes hike. Sleep in Puyallup. Go hiking in Sunrise. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. You will cross a suspension bridge and then walk on a series of boardwalk and dirt trails through the forest. Late May or early June would be about the earliest in the spring/summer that the snow will have melted enough to open up most areas around (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Due to its massive size, snow fields, and forested lower slopes, no roads cut across the center of the park. Summit Mount Rainier. Wonderland Trail. Thanks!! This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. Said another way, April probably isn't the best month overall because many of the roads around the whole Park will still not be open for the season, but the parts of the Park that are open now are great and it won't necessarily be a bad visit. Here are the opening and closing dates for the roads in the park: For updates on road status, visit the National Park Service website. On the Road (from Packwood): 110 miles, 3.5 hours. Then spend day 2 in Paradise, hiking a short or long trail, and drive to Olympia. Mt. Mount Rainier is a beautiful park to explore, whether or not you are a hiker, which is why I recommend spending a minimum of three days here. You can check current weather or even crowded parking areas via the official webcams: NPS Webcams Mt Ranier, Great blog by National Park Rangers: Mount Rainier Climbing. And its the departure point for climbers. How Many Days Do You Need in Mount Rainier? Coming from Seattle? Thanks, In June, Paradise and Stevens Canyon Roads should be open during your visit, giving you access to the southern part of the park. Day 3: Summerland Trail Hike. Rainier near Longmire and some of the lower level waterfalls would be snow free and running pretty decent compared to August. Rainier. Its a good idea to check the latest weather and snowfall levels, depending on the time of year. Between Yakima, Ellensburg, Cle Elum, Roslyn, etc. If you dont want to do a long hike like the Summerland Trail, there are plenty of shorter hikes to add onto this Mount Rainier National Park itinerary. If you click the star next to the title of the map, this map will be added to your Google Maps account. Hurricane Ridge (a visitor's center and base for some nice hikes, and one of the best places to view the Olympic Range - when the weather is cooperating) should be accessible then, a relatively short drive south from Port Angeles - which is also usually an interesting place to stop and eat (the waterfront downtown area, that is). Once you are finished in Paradise, continue the drive west on Stevens Canyon Road. Cheers, Julie. If the weather really does bomb out on you, there are escape hatches. You can click the check marks to hide or show layers. Many of the vacation rental cabins in the area are already booked for that spring break week which means people have figured out how to enjoy it no matter what. In September its even snow free, and the visitor centers and all its facilities are usually open until the end of September. 
Myrtle Falls is also located in Paradise. Checking Road Conditions In/Near The Park, Wildflower Bloom in the Park (updated in summer), NPS Smartphone App for Mt. The highest place in Mt. The Packwood Lodge and the Packwood Ski or Vacation Getaway also get good reviews. This is a long drive, coming in at almost 2.5 hours. Ranier Operating Hours. It can go from warm to cool very quickly as you climb in altitude. 6. Read our article 15 Epic Hikes in Mount Rainier to learn more. They are fun to watch. Cheers, Julie. Of the two towns, Packwood is the better home base, since there are more restaurants and hotels and its not too far from the park. As Enzian has pointed out, unless you are looking for a place for your kids to play in the snow, the first week in April is really not a prime time to visit Mt. By continuing to browse this website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Even in June, Paradise may remain snow-covered and some park roads may be closed. On the drive, make the quick stop at Reflection Lake. July and August are also the peak tourist months. As mentioned, Paradise is open year 'round (save for odd spats of terrible winter weather - which we are most definitely NOT having this year, at least so far ). Hike the Skyline Trail. Cheers, Julie. Is first week of April a good time to visit (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Visit Reflection Lake. Best Time to Visit Mount Rainier National Park, Best Things to Do in Mount Rainier National Park. The Village Inn is actually a collection of condos and their outdoor heated pool is always a treat for the whole family after a day of fun on the slopes. A visitor described the difference between Paradise and Sunrise like that: Sunrise is more barren and harsh. At a minimum, you need two days in the park, in order to visit the highlights and hike a few trails. I recommend spending at least three days in Mount Rainier National Park, Morning: Sights Along Stevens Canyon Road. April is still deep winter up at (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? You can also spend the first night in Ashford or at the Paradise Inn, but you will spend a lot more time on the road today. This itinerary includes the highlights (Sunrise, Paradise, and Ohanapecosh) as well as one off-the-beaten-path location that is well worth the drive, especially for hikers (Carbon River). There are a handful of hikes that start in Sunrise, ranging from short, easy strolls to challenging day hikes. For more information, and many more photos, check out our guide to the Best Things to Do in Mount Rainier National Park. Get updates on road status on the National Park Service website. Normally the drive is longer in winter but the shortcut road called Skate Creek Road has remained open this year due to the light snows. Reflection Lake. For the best experience, continue out to the Mount Fremont Fire Lookout for truly spectacular views (6 miles round trip). Both can be reached by car. The food is great and the view from the outdoor patio is absolutely amazing. 3. On the Road: 72 miles, 2.5 hours, one-way from Ashford to Mowich Lake. You can hike in the Paradise area, visit Reflection Lake, hike to Snow and Bench Lakes, visit the Grove of the Patriarchs, hike the Silver Falls Loop, hike the Naches Loop, and I think you should be able to ride the gondola to Crystal Mountain. If you get an early start and you move quickly, you could potentially do both of these on day 1, just check the hours of the gondola and Crystal Mountain. There is a herd that hangs out in that area all year but with fewer visitors may be closer to roads or trails. The road opens in late June or early July and closes in late September or early October. 
Sleep in Ashford. It is passable by almost every vehicle, but some will not like how rough it is. Most park visitors are leaving through the Nisqually Entrance in the park's southwest corner late in the day; you'll be heading in the opposite direction. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Its a tough 6 mile hike but the views from Panorama Point are jaw-dropping. For one of the best views of Mount Rainier, ride the Mount Rainier Gondola to Crystal Mountain. The hikes are incredible and there are a lot to choose from. more, Crystal Mountain, Mount Rainier National Park, Mount Rainier National Park Destination Experts. In most years, the area is usually snow-free from about mid-July through late September. So far, this year has been quite unusual. On day 2, you can also hike Grove of the Patriarchs (do this first, on the drive to Paradise). 2. Try to avoid weekends and visit mid-week if possible. Im a budding photographer and just got my first DSLR! This park is both special and spectacular. If you are an avid hiker, or if you just want to see more of the park, here are sample days to add onto your itinerary. Sleep in Packwood. LEARN MORE: 15 Epic Hikes in Mount Rainier National Park. Such great information, thank you for putting this together! Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip. We have had better luck with internet connectivity at hotels than rental homes in the past and this is a huge factor when picking a place to stay for us, so I can answer comments like these while we travel (among other things that we need internet for). Sleep in Packwood. If you have any questions about this Mount Rainier National Park itinerary, let us know in the comment section below. 
You can also sleep in Packwood but you will have a slightly longer drive at the end of the day. Anyway, it could be a great visit and Rainier is Rainier, the variable weather is always a factor, even in the height of summer. Another nice place to stay is the Mountain Meadows Inn. In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. Thank you for this info! There is an upscale, newer resort called Suncadia near Roslyn where you can stay, spa, swim, hike, ride bikes, etc. rainier If the weather prediction is for sunny skies, and the Rainier web-cam shows a clear summit, go for it ( Paradise, not the summit )! and they often have children's activity groups and special programs during holiday weeks. Overview of Mount Rainier National Park Best Time to Visit Mount Rainier National Park Best Things to Do in Mount Rainier National Park How Many Days Do You Need? 8. Day 1: Sunrise, Crystal Mountain, Grove of the Patriarchs Trail, sleep in Packwood. Cheers, Julie, Your email address will not be published. Rainier on the North East side will open soon and be buzzing with hikers and photographers. I hope you have a great trip to Washington! This snow can linger well into the summer, even at popular Paradise. This hike is 12 miles long and takes 5 to 7 hours. All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. Mt. For dinner, we recommend Copper Creek Restaurant. Optional stops along the drive are Narada Falls and Ricksecker Point. Rainier. Day 2: Sights along Stevens Canyon Road and Paradise, sleep in Ashford. 7. 10. Thats a great question. That time of year the Roosevelt Elk in the Hoh rainforest area may be easier to see too with some leaves not yet on the low brush. Planning on following your 3day itinerary and proceeding to Olympic for a few days afterwards. Day 6: Tolmie Peak Fire Lookout hike. If you want to do something truly epic that does not take up a lot of time, consider summiting Mount Rainier. And the weather has been exceptionally mild. This is when all of the roads will be open and many hiking trails will be free of snow. Over the past two days, you saw Mount Rainier from the north, the east, and the south. This typically takes 2 days and most people do it with an experienced guide. Stay in Packwood or another town that is convenient for your next travel destination in Washington. LEARN MORE: How to Hike the Summerland Trail to Panhandle Gap. Including lunch and pick-up and drop-off at your hotel in Seattle. We will clarify this. Mount Rainier is a glacier-capped, active volcano that can be seen from hundreds of miles away. At 14,411 feet (4,392 meters), Mount Rainier is the tallest mountain in Washington state and the Cascade Range. As you plan your trip and just before your visit, get updates on trail and road closures and park conditions on the National Park Service website. Youd avoid most crowds and enjoy one of the fascinating. I plan on spending 6 ish days there myself at end of July so curious if I need to do the same. The advantage of Ashford was that staying here shortened our drive to the Tolmie Peak trailhead, which is in the northwest part of the park. Staying in Packwood the entire time works well. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-24693259', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Mt. Walk the Grove of the Patriarchs Trail. This colorful lake is located near Paradise. From this hairpin bend in Sunrise Park Road, not only do you get a great view of the peak of Mount Rainier, but you can also see Mount Adams, the second highest peak in Washington. Mount Rainier is located centrally within the national park. Bring your own snow play toys, the visitor center should be open daily so there is a place to go to get warm, get some food, use the restroom, etc. A lifetime of discovery awaits. You would want to come prepared in terms of warm clothing layers, rain gear or snow gear and waterproofed hiking shoes. On average, it takes between 9 and 13 days to hike the entire loop. I recommend hiking the Sourdough Ridge Trailthe views of Mount Rainier are awesome.
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