A visit to Mount Rainier National Park offers a mix of natural beauty, history, and adventure. Whether you’re chasing waterfalls, walking through alpine meadows, or marveling at ancient glaciers, there’s no shortage of incredible things to do at Mount Rainier — and every turn offers a new way to fall in love with the Pacific Northwest.
What Is Mount Rainier?
Mount Rainier stands like a silent guardian with its snow-capped peak rising to a height of 14,410 feet. Despite its serene appearance, this towering mountain is actually an active volcano! Mt. Rainier is home to over 25 glaciers, making it the most glaciated peak in the contiguous United States. These glaciers have been forming and retreating for thousands of years, shaping the iconic landscape of the mountain. With its rugged slopes and icy glaciers, Mt. Rainier is both a beautiful spectacle and a formidable force of nature, commanding respect and awe from all who lay eyes upon it.
Getting to Mount Ranier National Park
The following morning, we set out early on a scenic drive surrounded by verdant trees and glistening lakes, while the engaging tales from our Shaka Audio Tour guide set the stage for the day’s exploration through Mt Rainier National Park. The 1.5 hour drive brought us closer to nature, allowing us to relax and soak in the beauty of the journey. With each mile we covered, the anticipation grew, knowing that we were about to immerse ourselves in the stunning landscapes of Mt Rainier National Park.
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Experience Mount Rainier National Park via a Tour!
Timed Entry Requirements
To control crowds entering the park, Mt. Rainier NP requires a timed entry pass for summer/fall visits (specific dates below) between 7 am and 3 pm. You can enter before 7 am or after 3 pm without a timed entry. A separate timed entry is required for each area.
Paradise Corridor Timed Entry
| Entrances | Nisqually Entrance (coming from the southwest / Seattle area) and Stevens Canyon Entrance (coming from the southeast / Packwood area) |
| Dates Required | May 24 through September 2 |
| Entry Times | 7 am - 3 pm |
| June Reservations Open | February 21 at 8 am PT |
| July Reservations Open | April 1 at 8 am PT |
| August Reservations Open | May 1 at 8 am PT |
Paradise Corridor Timed Entry
| Entrances | White River Entrance (coming from the northeast / Enumclaw area) |
| Dates Required | July 4 through September 2 |
| Entry Times | 7 am - 3 pm |
| All Reservations Open | April 1 at 8 am PT |
The park will release tickets first-come, first-served on Recreation.gov in the blocks mentioned above. These sell fast! So I recommend being online, logged in and ready the morning of the release. Paradise / morning times sell the fastest, so I secured our early Paradise entry first. Then used Dustin’s account to secure our afternoon Sunrise entry (it would not let me get 2 reservations under the same account).
Disclaimer: Always make sure to check out the latest information from the park’s website before you arrive.
Things to Do at Mount Rainier: Stop 1
Ashford and Nisqually Park Entrance
Since there is no gas available in the massive park, we made a pit stop in the little town of Ashford, WA, to refuel before continuing on to the Nisqually park entrance.
With our 7-9 am timed entry into the Paradise Corridor we began our trek through the park. There was a very short line at the entrance, that moved quickly. Once inside, we began the drive through the Paradise Corridor. As we drove along the winding roads, towering trees and majestic mountain peaks greeted us at every turn.
Things to Do at Mount Rainier: Stop 2
Longmire Area And The Trail Of Shadows
Our first stop was the Longmire area, originally established as a tourist destination in the late 1800s. Today, it offers a glimpse into the region’s rich history and natural wonders. We walked the Trail of Shadows, a short loop that begins across the road from the Longmire Ranger Station.
Along the trail, signs mark the site of the Longmire Medical Springs Resort, founded in 1890 by James Longmire, an early explorer and settler. The first spring we encountered was Soda Springs, a warm, rock-ringed pool that stays unfrozen even in winter. Ranging from 50–85°F, these geothermal springs were once believed to have healing powers. Tourists paid $8 per week to stay at the resort and soak in the waters.
Farther down the trail, we came across a small log cabin, a restoration of the original built by Longmire’s son, Ecaine, as staff housing. Ecaine ran the resort until his death in 1915, after which the property was sold to the newly formed Mount Rainier National Park.
Near the end of the trail, we reached another spring, Iron Mike, named for its rusty color. Water from high on Rainier filters through rock, picking up heat and iron. When it emerges and hits air, the iron oxidizes, tinting the water orange-red.
This peaceful walk through Longmire blends history, geology, and nature — a perfect introduction to the park’s unique story.
Trail of Shadows Details:
| Start | Behind the Longmire Ranger Station |
| Distance | 0.75 miles |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Approximate Time | 30-45 minutes |
Things to Do at Mount Rainier: Stop 3
Christine Falls
From Longmire, we followed the twisting Steven’s Canyon Road to Christine Falls. Christine Falls is a 60-foot plunging waterfall framed by a historic arched bridge. There is a small pullout on either side of the bridge over the falls. The best way to view this waterfall is to park and walk down the short path to the overlook below the stone bridge.
Things to Do at Mount Rainier: Stop 4
Narada Falls
We continued along Steven’s Canyon Road to Narada Falls. The trail is 0.2-mile (0.4 mile round-trip) with a steep, 200-foot descent. At the end of the short trail, the entire 168-foot-high waterfall is visible. Narada Falls were much more impressive than Christine Falls and well worth the steep climb back up.
Things to Do at Mount Rainier: Stop 5
Paradise Corridor Visitor Center
We continued up the twisting road to the Paradise Corridor Visitor Center, where the girls got their Junior Ranger badges. Paradise is famous for its glorious views and wildflower meadows. When James Longmire’s daughter-in-law, Martha, first saw this site, she exclaimed, “Oh, what a paradise!” From the back of the Visitors Center you get spectacular views of the volcano and the iconic granite steps, inscribed with the 1889 quote from conservationist John Muir who described Paradise as “…the most luxuriant and the most extravagantly beautiful of all the alpine gardens I ever beheld in all my mountain-top wanderings.”
The Nisqually Vista / Wildflower trail is a very family-friendly trail that starts behind the Visitor Center, atop the granite steps. The trail is paved and follows a lollypop-like shape. Continue down the path and choose to go clockwise or counter-clockwise around the loop. There are viewpoints of the volcano and fields of wildflowers. This is also a great location to turn in your Junior Ranger booklet!
Nisqually Vista Trail Details:
| Start | Behind the Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center |
| Distance | 1.2 miles |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Approximate Time | 1 hour |
Things to Do at Mount Rainier: Stop 6
Reflection Lakes
Our next stop was the iconic Reflection Lake. This popular destination is named for lakes that reflect views of Mt. Rainier. The best views are on the far right of the parking area before 9 am. We arrived closer to 10/10:30 but still caught a glimpse of the iconic reflection.
Things to Do at Mount Rainier: Stop 7
Crystal Mountain Resort Gondola
We did not have any longer hikes planned in the park since we hoped to see both the Paradise and Sunset Corridor in the same day. So after leaving Reflection Lake we started the journey along Steven’s Canyon Road and WA-123 to the northwestern side of the park. Our timed entry for Sunset did not start until 1 pm, so we detoured to Crystal Mountain Resort for a gondola ride and lunch. The ride, while pricey, was worth it for the spectacular views of Mt Saint Helens, Mt Adams, Mt Rainier and the surrounding peaks. Lunch at the summit was excellent and reasonably priced.
Summer Scenic Gondola:
| Days | June 28-Sept. 2 |
| Hours | Mondays-Thursdays: 10am-5pm; Fridays: 9am-6pm; Saturdays: 9am-8pm; Sundays: 9am-6pm |
| Address | 33914 Crystal Mountain Blvd., Enumclaw, WA 98022 |
| Price | Adults $49 | Children (5-12): $39 |
Things to Do at Mount Rainier: Stop 8
Sunset Corridor
We returned to the park and entered the Sunset Corridor from the White River Entrance. The canyon road leaves you inches from the steep cliffs as you twist up to the highest point that can be reached by vehicle at Mount Rainier National Park (at an elevation of 6,400 feet). From the Visitor’s Center we took in breathtaking views of Mount Rainier and Emmons Glacier.
The Family Verdict
Mount Rainier NP is so beautiful! We were very fortunate to have amazing weather so we could see the mountain in all of its glory. July was unseasonably warm during our visit, and the mountain is often covered in clouds / fog. That said, our visit was perfect! I would have preferred to split our visit into 2 days, allowing for extra time to explore the trails. But, our time was limited so we covered both corridors in 1 day. Other than a lot of driving time to cover the enormous park, our crew gave the visit a big thumbs up.
Make sure to check out our adventures in nearby Olympic National Park, North Cascades National Park, Anacortes and the Mount Saint Helens Ape Cave Lava Tubes. Also, follow along on our road trip through the Pacific Northwest!
Follow along on our other amazing family travel adventures at www.adventureisinoursouls.com.
Recommended Supplies
Don’t miss out on these recommended supplies for your family adventure!
For Packing:
For the Airport / Airplane:
Basics:
Outdoors:
- Pocket Binoculars
- Travel Umbrella
- Adult Hiking Hydration Backpack
- Kid’s Hiking Hydration Backpack
- Water Bladder Cleaning Tablets
- Microfiber Towels
- Women’s All Around Jacket
- Women’s Water-Resistant Hiking Pants, These and These
- Women’s Quick Dry Pants and These
- Women’s Quick Dry Shirts
- Women’s Long Sleeve UV Rash Guard
- Women’s Hiking Socks
- Women’s Rain Jacket
- Kid’s Quick Dry Pants
- Kid’s Quick Dry Shorts
- Kid’s Quick Dry Shirts
- Kid’s Long Sleeve UV Rash Guard
- Kid’s Hiking Socks and These
- Kids Rain Jacket
- Kid’s Rain Pants
- Foldable Kid’s Hat
- Men’s Rain Jacket
