Discover Mount Rainier National Park

Mount Rainier National Park is one of Washington State's three National Parks and is by far its most beautiful. Established in 1899, this is America's fifth oldest National Park.

The park covers a total area of 386 square miles and is home to the entirety of Mount Rainier. The mountain rises majestically over an impressive array of valleys, waterfalls, forests and breathtaking glaciers.

Mount Rainier is also circled by the Wonderland Trail, which offers unsurpassed access to spectacular glaciers and snow fields. The trail spans an impressive 35 square miles so it is only best undertaken if you have plenty of time to explore it.

Mount Rainier National Park truly is a source of inspiration and is the perfect way to learn about glaciers, discover life within the rainforest and see the tip of a mountain disappear in the shroud of clouds.

Climate

The climate in Mount Rainier National Park is generally cool and rainy. The sunniest months of the year are July and August, making them the best times to visit. However, keep in mind that snow remains at 5000 to 8000 feet elevation well into mid-July, so be sure to pack for unexpected cold temperatures.

Mountain weather changes all the time so be prepared for showers at any point in the day or night, year round.

Places to Visit

Paradise

Similar to its name, the area of Paradise is like a heaven on earth and simply cannot be missed while in the park. Located on the southern slope of Mount Rainier, Paradise is the most popular destination for visitors and is home to the Paradise Inn and Visitor Center.

Paradise is well known as "the snowiest place on earth" so be prepared to experience some chilly weather while in the area.

Longmire

Longmire is the second most popular destination in the park and is home to a visitor center, Wilderness Information Centre, an Inn and the Longmire Museum.

Longmire is one of the starting points for the Wonderland Trail, so if you are thinking of embarking on this adventure, this will be your perfect base.

Hiking

Hiking is a fantastic way to see the highlights of Mount Rainier National Park, and the great news is that day hikers do not require a permit.

The National Park offers over 260 miles of maintained tracks that lead through ancient forests, past picturesque lakes and through endless fields of wildflowers.

Popular short trails in the park include the Trail of Shadows, Nisqually Vista Trail, Bench & Snow Lakes Trail and the Silver Falls Trail, just to name a few.

However the trekking highlight of the park is without a doubt the Wonderland Trail. Spanning an impressive 93 miles, this trail encircles Mt Rainier, while also taking you through lowland forests and valleys and into high alpine and sub-alpine regions.

Wildlife

Mount Rainer National Park is home to an amazing diversity of wildlife and the protected nature of the park makes it a safe environment in which these precious creatures can flourish and live in peace.

Mount Rainier is home to 54 species of mammals, 126 species of birds and 17 species of amphibians and reptiles. You are likely to encounter many of these in the park, with some of the most visible including the Douglas Squirrel, the porcupine, elk and the Townsend's Chipmunk.

Keep an eye out for mountain lions and coyotes as these are dangerous animals and should be avoided if possible.

RV Camping

Mount Rainier National Park offers five campgrounds, each at different levels of elevation. The two most suitable for RV camping are the Cougar Rock campground, which is located in the south-western section of the park, and Ohanapecosh Campground, which is situated in the south-east corner of the park.

Both offer a large number of sites and are open from Late May to early October. Each also offers water, flush toilets and a dump station. Reservations are a must!