Timed Entry Reservations Are Required in 2024 (Paradise and Sunrise)

Mowich Lake: Two of the best hikes in Mount Rainier National Park are here, but unfortunately it’s at the end of a 20 mile long washboard road that has some potholes and probably shouldn’t be attempted unless it’s late summer and you have a high-clearance vehicle.Some good short hikes (good for kids), but probably only worth about a half day or so. Ohanapecosh: Very different from other parts of the park – this is an old growth forest.Outside of hiking, not a whole lot going on. Sunrise: The best breadth of different hikes in the park, and the highest elevation that you can drive to in the park (it’s about 1,000 feet higher than Paradise).Paradise: Epic wildflowers in the early summer, countless alpine lakes, four of the most stunning waterfalls in Washington State, and the best hike in the park.Here’s a quick overview of the different regions, and what makes them special: But we think Paradise is BY FAR the best option for first timers. That’s not to say that the other parts of the park aren’t worth visiting. Here are a few pictures that are worth many thousands of words. Let’s put it this way – we think it delivers on the name.īetween the waterfalls, alpine lakes, and incredible hikes (including multiple that make our list of the best hikes in Washington State) with jaw dropping views, Paradise is Mount Rainier at its most stunning.

If it is your first time in the park, we cannot stress enough that Paradise is the region that you should focus on. Which Region of the Park Should You Focus On for Your Day Trip to Mount Rainier? That being said, we would never recommend something to you that we don’t stand behind 100%. Us at Bench Lake on our most recent trip out to Mount Rainier National Parkĭisclaimer: Some of the links in this post, like hotel links, are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, we make a little bit of money if you click through and book. For more information, head to the NPS website (linked above). Important for 2024: To deal with the ever-increasing crowds visiting Rainier each year, the park has instituted a timed entry permit for visitors to the Paradise and Sunrise corridors in 2024. If you have a question that we didn’t cover below, leave us a comment so that we can get back to you (and potentially add it to the guide!). In this guide, we’ll give you all the information – the logistics, the things to do and see at Mount Rainier in a day, and some alternative options if you’re not into hiking – to plan an unforgettable day trip to Mount Rainier from Seattle.Īll the information in this guide is based on personal experience exploring the park over several trips. If you follow the guide below, you’ll experience all of those things and more, and hopefully come away with a deeper appreciation for Mount Rainier National Park, which is only two and a half hours away from Seattle.Īnd you’ll see why we have it high on our list of the best day trips from Seattle.Ĭan you believe that Matt grew up in Washington State (the Seattle area to be more specific), and didn’t make it to Rainier – or any of the other national parks in Washington – until his 30’s? What was he even doing for those first 30 years of his life, you might ask.

To really understand why Mount Rainier National Park is one of the country’s best national parks, though, you have to get up close and personal.įrom Seattle, you can’t see towering Narada Falls, the incredible views of the surrounding peaks in the Tatoosh Range and Mount Adams from the Skyline Trail, or the perfect reflection of Rainier in Bench Lake. In the Seattle area, a “nice day” is often defined by whether or not you can see Rainier’s snow capped peak from the city. Lush meadows, an abundance of wildflowers, and multiple picturesque waterfalls await you on your day trip to Mount Rainier.

We’ve spent a fair amount of time exploring Mount Rainier National Park over the past several years from our home base in Portland, and we’re going to help you figure out how to best spend your limited time. Want to see the best of Mount Rainier National Park, but only have a day? You’re in the right place.

Fun things to do on a long road trip