Mt. Rainier National Park

The park is often visited on a day trip from Seattle. Private and small-group tours typically include trips to the park visitor center, scenic viewpoints overlooking Christine Falls, and additional locations for photo ops of Mount Rainier. Camping and lodging can be found inside and outside the park for those who want stay overnight. The entrance fee is charged per vehicle, unless you walk or bike in, in which case the charge is per person.

• Day trips from Seattle typically last about 10 hours, so prepare for a long day.

• The Longmire, Sunrise, and Paradise areas of the park offer visitor information, special permits, gift shops, dining, and other services.

• Wear comfortable walking shoes; even if you’re not planning to hike, you’ll likely take short walks to reach viewpoints.

• Pets are allowed in limited areas, but must be on a leash.

• Helmets are required when biking.

• There is no gas available in the park, but gas stations can be found in nearby towns.

Mt. Rainier National Park is in southwest Washington, less than 100 miles (161 kilometers) from Seattle. Of the four entrances (Carbon River, Nisqually, Stevens Canyon, and White River), Nisqually is the most popular, with the easiest access to trailheads and facilities.

The park is open year-round, but some areas close seasonally beginning in October or November, including Sunrise, White River, Ohanapecosh, Stevens Canyon Road, and State Routes 410 and 123. July and August are the busiest months, when wildflowers bloom, waterfalls flow, and the hiking trails are the most accessible.

If you only have the time or desire to visit one area of the park, make it Longmire, accessed from the Nisqually entrance. A national historic district, it’s home to the Longmire Museum, the Wilderness Information Center, and the National Park Inn. Scenic attractions accessible from Longmire include Christine Falls, Glacier Bridge, Narada Falls Trail, and Ricksecker Point Road, which offers views of Mount Rainier.

Mt. Rainier National Park is big, but you can see a few highlights—such as Paradise visitor center and nearby hiking trails—on a day trip from Seattle. With more time, you can explore areas like Sunrise, Longmire, Carbon River and Mowich Lake, and Ohanapecosh, which offer varied scenery and views.

Wildflowers brighten Mt. Rainier meadows starting in late July for a natural display that generally lasts through early August. It’s a gorgeous time to visit: Highlights of Mt. Rainier wildflower season include avalanche lilies, paintbrush, cinquefoil, and lupine. You can see flowers throughout the national park—try Paradise and Sunrise areas.

Yes, Mt. Rainier National Park is worth visiting—it has spectacular scenery, wildflower meadows, and nearly endless hiking trails. The 14,411-foot (4,392-meter) mountain at its center is the tallest composite volcano in the contiguous United States, with a system of alpine glaciers and glacier caves that draws international climbers.

Yes, if you’re hiking into remote areas of Mt. Rainier National Park, it can be smart to carry bear spray—if you know how to use it. Most hikers, however, don’t carry bear spray. Staying safe starts with taking measures to avoid bears in the first place: Keep your distance and secure food.

Yes, there are cougars in Mt. Rainier National Park—they’re also known as mountain lions. Attacks on humans are rare, but there are important steps to stay safe if you see a cougar. Pick up small children, and back away slowly; don’t run or turn your back on the animal.

Come for the towering, snowcapped volcano, stay for pristine waterfalls, wildflower meadows, and hiking trails. There’s a lot to see at Mt. Rainier National Park for visitors of all abilities, whether you’re walking the 5.5-mile (8.9-kilometer) Skyline Trail or taking in big views from the Sunrise visitors center.