A massive glaciated stratovolcano towers over Washington state, ringed by wildflower meadows and old-growth forests.
The signature Paradise hike. Circles the meadows above the visitor center with close-up glacier views, wildflowers in season, and Rainier towering directly overhead. The Panorama Point section is the high point.
One of the least-crowded meadow routes on the mountain. The trail breaks out of old-growth forest into a high basin with lupine and paintbrush in August, with Rainier's northwest face filling the horizon.
A 1930s fire lookout on a rocky knob above Eunice Lake. The reflection of Rainier in the lake on a calm morning is one of the great backcountry views in the park — worth every step.
The full circumnavigation of Mount Rainier — 93 miles with 22,000 feet of elevation gain over 10-14 days. One of the great backpacking routes in the country. Permits required; apply in March.
Leads to the lowest-elevation glacier in the contiguous US. The glacier's snout sits at just 3,600 feet in a deep old-growth river valley — a completely different landscape from Paradise.
The most popular campground, about 2 miles from Paradise. Forested sites, amphitheater programs, and a short drive to all the main trailheads. Book early on recreation.gov.
Old-growth forest on the quieter southeast side near Grove of the Patriarchs. The Ohanapecosh River runs past the campground. A beautiful base for the less-visited eastern trails.
First-come-first-served near the Sunrise entrance on the northeast side. At 4,400 feet in an open valley — great for early risers who want uncrowded Sunrise access.
The primary approach from the west through Ashford — old-growth forest all the way to the Nisqually entrance. Connects to Packwood and US-12 for a loop around the south side.
Washington's signature scenic drive — 400 miles from Everett over Stevens Pass, through the Wenatchee Valley and Winthrop, back over North Cascades Highway. Best done over 3-4 days.
Crosses the Cascades east of Rainier through Goat Rocks Wilderness and William O. Douglas Wilderness. Less-traveled than Stevens or Snoqualmie passes — beautiful and quiet.