Mount Rainier National Park

Famous naturalist and preservationist John Muir helped designate uniquely beautiful, cone-shaped Mount Rainier as a 368-square-mile national park in 1899. However, archaeological evidence traces indigenous use of this area back 9,000 years.

Presiding over Washington state at 14,410 feet, massive, snowcapped Mount Rainier is both an active stratovolcano and the most glaciated peak in the contiguous United States. A towering icon of the Washington landscape, icytipped Mount Rainier is encircled by subalpine meadows carpeted with wildflowers, usually from mid-July through August, while its lower slopes are often foggy and densely forested.

The Flora and Fauna

Home to marmots, Pacific fishers, black-tailed deer and Stellar’s jays, Mount Rainier is also a safe haven for black bears, bobcats, mountain lions and coyotes. From elk to black-tailed deer and mountain goats, insectivores, and several species of bats, the park’s varied ecosystems attract diverse wildlife.

Within the park, there are over 890 vascular species and more than 260 non-vascular plant species and fungi, along with more than 100 exotic plant species — look for them near trails, along transportation corridors and in riparian areas. Significant variations in elevation ensure a variety of habitats and life zones in Mount Rainier National Park.

Everett Mcintire

The Weather

Mount Rainier’s weather patterns are strongly influenced by the Pacific Ocean, as well as by elevation and latitude. As a result, conditions fluctuate significantly — sometimes suddenly — requiring you to plan for unpredictability. Typically, cool and rainy, summer highs can hover in the 60s F - 70s F. July and August are the sunniest months of the year, even though rain is possible any day — and especially likely to come during spring, fall and winter.

The Hikes, Drives and Viewpoints

Nisqually Vista Loop

For those pushing a stroller or simply seeking an easy(ish) hike, the 1.2-mile Nisqually Vista Loop has just a few short, steep climbs, for which you’re rewarded with breathtaking views of the park’s namesake and the Nisqually Glacier.

Wonderland Trail

For something more challenging, the 93-mile-long Wonderland Trail — used over a century ago by patrol officers and firefighters — fully encircles Mount Rainier.

Myrtle Falls Trail

The mile-long Myrtle Falls Trail in the Paradise area starts at the essential, but strenuous, Skyline Trail, which cuts through pine forests before ascending the slopes of Mount Rainier.

Sunrise Peak

Among the best ways to admire the variety of flora is by driving up the road to Sunrise. The highest vehicleaccessible peak in the park, at 6,400 feet, it features a 360-degree panorama of the mountains, glaciers and wildflower-stippled meadows.

Mountain Rainier, towering above Seattle

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About the Park

Location - Central Washington, southeast of Seattle

Established - March 2, 1899

Area - 236,380 acres