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| Mount Rainier National Park |
One of Washington State's most beautiful icons,
Mount Rainier was the country's fifth park to be designated a National Park back in 1899. Its ice capped summit is 14,411 feet tall, making it the fifth-highest peak in the US. The park is 368 square miles in size and offers visitors more than 300 miles of pristine hiking opportunities through varied landscapes. The best months to visit, in terms of visibility, are July and August when clouds are most likely to disappear, allowing the mountain to be out in all its glory. Although Mount Rainier National Park is only about a three hour drive south from where I live, I had only visited once before as a young child. I decided to plan my second visit during the month of August and spread my visit over a three day weekend to increase my odds of seeing the mountain. If it's cloudy out, you aren't going to see the mountain so in my opinion it's risky to only plan a one day visit.
This blog will be divided into the following sections:
- Accommodations
- Sightseeing
- Dining
Accommodations:
There are a few options when deciding on where to stay if you are planning to overnight in or around Mount Rainier National Park. Within the boundaries of the National Park there are two inn options including
Paradise Inn and the
National Park Inn as well as hundreds of different campgrounds. Additionally, the town of Ashford, located on the border of the park as well as Eatonville, several miles to the east of the park offer several more options including hotels and motels. I decided to stay the first night in Eatonville at a motel and the second night within the park at Paradise Inn. In hindsight, I think it would have been a better decision to stay the first night at the National Park Inn instead of the motel. However, be aware that the National Park Inn only has 25 rooms in comparison to Paradise Inn's 121 so if you want to secure a room you need to reserve it several months in advance of the busy summer season.
Paradise Inn:
This historic hotel was built in 1916 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. As you walk inside the rustic wooden lodge you are immediately greeted by a tremendous great room with open wood beam ceilings and two huge stone fireplaces at either end, creating a very dramatic effect which evokes complete coziness. When I walked into my room, I was shocked and speechless with its small size; it barely had enough room to fit the queen sized bed and was definitely the smallest room I'd ever stayed in. However, it didn't lack in the charm department and I was glad that I had reserved a room here. Be forewarned that the hotel is very popular with families, especially during the summer months. I was awoken very early in the morning by the sounds of young children running and screaming in the hallway: not exactly the quiet environment I was hoping for so plan to bring some earplugs if you are a light sleeper!
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| Paradise Inn at Mount Rainier National Park. |
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| Paradise Inn at Mount Rainier National Park. |
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| Paradise Inn at Mount Rainier National Park. |
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| View from Paradise Inn at Mount Rainier National Park. |
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| View from Paradise Inn at Mount Rainier National Park. |
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| Hikers in the parking lot of Paradise Inn at Mount Rainier National Park. |
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View from Paradise Inn at Mount Rainier National Park.
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| Paradise Inn at Mount Rainier National Park. |
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| Paradise Inn at Mount Rainier National Park. |
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| Paradise Inn at Mount Rainier National Park. |
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| My room at Paradise Inn at Mount Rainier National Park. |
Mill Village Motel:
Located in Eatonville, this inexpensive motel is a good option for those who want to stay close enough to the park without having to pay the more expensive rates for one of the lodges inside the park. This was your typical motel experience: the mattress was terribly uncomfortable, the pillows were practically flat, and the room was tired and dated. I think I tossed and turned several hundred times that night, however, it's located only one hour from the park and there are several nearby restaurants making it a good option for those on a budget.
Sightseeing:
Mount Rainier National Park is divided into five developed areas: Longmire, Paradise, Ohanapecosh, Sunrise, and Carbon/Mowich. The most visited of these areas are definitely Longmire and Paradise since they are closest to the Nisqually entrance, the most popular entrance point in the park. In addition to Longmire and Paradise, I also decided to visit the Sunrise section. All three of these areas will be described in detail below.
Paradise:
A sub-alpine meadow that is famous for its incredible views, beautiful abundant wildflower meadows, and plentiful hiking opportunities, this amazing area of Mount Rainier National Park is a must-see stop for all visitors. First pay a visit to the Paradise Visitor Center which offers interesting multimedia presentations and lots of park rangers to help answer any questions you might have. There are numerous hiking opportunities within this section of the park and the visitor center offers brochures describing the details of each. I participated in two hikes including
Alta Vista Summit and the
High Lakes Trail which will be discussed below. As mentioned previously, this area of the park is the most visited, but I can honestly say that I was completely blown away by the insane number of people I saw during my visit. The parking lots were unable to hold enough cars, so additional parking was created along the road for several miles away from the visitor center, and most all of the spots were taken. Plan accordingly and arrive early if you want a spot in the parking lot!
Alta Vista Summit Hike:
This 1.75 mile trail overlooking the Nisqually Glacier and
Paradise Park is classified as a moderate hike. The initial incline from the Jackson Visitor Center is quite steep with 600 feet in elevation gain. This hike provides incredible views of the Paradise area and its surrounding trails as well as amazing views of the jutting peaks of the
Tatoosh Range. The beauty here is truly jaw-dropping and photographers and nature buffs alike will enjoy every single moment of their experience.
Be forewarned that I have included a ton of pictures from this hike below.
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| Alta Vista Summit hike at Mount Rainier National Park. |
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| Alta Vista Summit hike at Mount Rainier National Park. |
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| Alta Vista Summit hike at Mount Rainier National Park. |
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| Alta Vista Summit hike at Mount Rainier National Park. |
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| Alta Vista Summit hike at Mount Rainier National Park. |
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| Alta Vista Summit hike at Mount Rainier National Park. |
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| Alta Vista Summit hike at Mount Rainier National Park. |
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| Alta Vista Summit hike at Mount Rainier National Park. |
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| Alta Vista Summit hike at Mount Rainier National Park. |
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| Alta Vista Summit hike at Mount Rainier National Park. |
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| Alta Vista Summit hike at Mount Rainier National Park. |
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| Alta Vista Summit hike at Mount Rainier National Park. |
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| Alta Vista Summit hike at Mount Rainier National Park. |
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| Alta Vista Summit hike at Mount Rainier National Park. |
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| Alta Vista Summit hike at Mount Rainier National Park. |
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| Alta Vista Summit hike at Mount Rainier National Park. |
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| Alta Vista Summit hike at Mount Rainier National Park. |
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| Alta Vista Summit hike at Mount Rainier National Park. |
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