Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier started out with some hiccups but managed to accommodate our changing plans. We had initially planned to drive from the Redwoods to Packwood in one day, but the 7-hour trip turned into an 11-hour journey due to road closures, wildfires, and winding roads. We stopped overnight at a random RV park, slept for six hours, and then completed the trek.
We stayed at Packwood RV and Campgrounds, centrally located in the heart of the town. Everything was within walking distance. One morning, we got coffee and pastries at The Mountain Goat. The scones were the best I have ever had. Drew and I even had a date without the kids! With walkie-talkie in hand, we walked the block to Packwood Brewing for live music and drinks on the beautiful patio.
Mount Rainier is one of the most beautiful and well-known landmarks in the United States. Lush greenery and wildflower meadows surround the rugged, ice-capped mountains. With the Northwest’s singular natural icon as its centerpiece, the Mount Rainier region encompasses about 2,800 square miles, including one national park, portions of seven wilderness areas, three national forest areas, and picturesque mountain communities.
According to the National Park Service, Mount Rainier has repeatedly erupted over the past half a million years, with the last major eruption occurring in 1894. Though it has been dormant for centuries, scientists believe it could awaken again. Mount Rainier is also one of the deadliest active volcanoes on the planet, classified as one of the “16 Decade Volcanoes” due to the potential damage it could cause when it erupts.
Mount Rainier dominates the Seattle/Tacoma landscape, rising three miles from the lowlands and towering a mile and a half above the surrounding mountains. At 14,410 feet tall, it is the tallest singular peak in the lower 48 states and has the largest glacial system with 25 named glaciers. Carbon Glacier is the largest glacier by volume in the continental U.S. Long before European explorers, Mt. Rainier was known as Talol, Takhoma, Tahoma, and other names by Northwest American Indians who frequented it to gather wild huckleberries and hunt game. Captain George Vancouver named it Mount Rainier after his friend, Rear Admiral Peter Rainier, upon observing the mountain on May 8, 1792. Mount Rainier National Park was the fifth park established in the system by an Act of Congress on March 2, 1899, under President McKinley.
Glaciers are large chunks of ice that form on land when fallen snow gets compressed into ice over centuries. Being the tallest mountain on the northwestern edge of the Cascade Range, it’s no wonder that Mount Rainier has the most glaciated peak in the contiguous United States.
Some of Mount Rainier's 25 named glaciers include:
Carbon Glacier
Emmons Glacier
Ohanapecosh Glacier
Nisqually Glacier
Puyallup Glacier
Emmons Glacier, located on the northeast side of Mount Rainier, is the largest glacier in the continental United States, stretching over four miles.
Climbing Mount Rainier is strenuous. Thousands of people attempt to reach the peak yearly, but less than half succeed. Climbers face rocky slopes and must endure a vertical elevation gain of 9,000 feet over more than eight miles.
Our Stops
Trails for all ability levels: An established and well-maintained trail system within and outside the park offers varying levels of difficulty, diverse terrain, and many scenic vistas. There are 240 miles of maintained trails within the park itself.
After our Mountain Goat Coffee stop, we drove for another twenty minutes until we passed the “Welcome to Paradise” sign and arrived at our destination. Mount Rainier National Park has several visitor centers, including major centers like Paradise and Sunrise. We visited both visitor centers and loved the Paradise Visitor Center the most, as it provides access to many beautiful hikes.
Nisqually Vista Trail A popular 1.2-mile loop near Paradise Inn, this hike is great for walking year-round. The trail is completely paved and stroller-friendly. Start your hike at the northwest end of the parking lot and climb the stone stairs to the trail junction. Follow the signs around the loop (counterclockwise is recommended). Take a moment to view the Nisqually Glacier and the Nisqually River Valley. This is a prime spot for visitors to enjoy the wildflowers.
Skyline Trail to Myrtle Falls The Skyline trailhead is located on the north side of the upper parking lot, next to the visitor’s center. Walk about a half-mile on the paved trail to reach the 72-foot-high Myrtle Falls. Known as one of the most photographed places on Mt. Rainier, this beautiful waterfall flows against the majestic Rainier backdrop, dropping into Edith Creek and flowing into Paradise Valley. Kids will love walking across the bridge high above the falls. Turn back to complete the 1-mile hike.
Grove of Patriarchs The Grove of Patriarchs was my family’s favorite stop. If you only hike one trail with kids, this is it. Grove of the Patriarchs is located inside the Stevens Pass park entrance near Ohanapecosh. Park in the first lot just inside the gate to the right. The suspension bridge was out of commission, so we made our own way down to the river. Normally, it's a 1.5-mile out-and-back trail through the forest, with a suspension bridge and riverbed to explore. The kids attempted to build dams with rocks and logs. Bring extra shoes for water play (we forgot ours and had soggy shoes going home!).
The Drive There are a couple of different routes to get to Paradise: south on I-5 and Route 7, or east on 164 or 169 and 410. Either way, you circle the mountain, and it takes around 2-2.5 hours. From the bakery, we continued toward the mountain. The drive was dramatically scenic, and we had to pull off the road a few times to take pictures. We drove through the small town of Green Water, where the river truly was emerald green. We drove through valleys and canyons along winding roads and cliff sides. There are so many amazing viewpoints along the way, but once you’re in the park itself, there’s no reason to look back.
TIP #3: Pull off at 1-3 viewpoints or waterfalls, but don’t spend all day there. Reflection Lake offers one of the most iconic views of Mt. Rainier. Wildflowers border the lakes in summer.
Make a reservation to enter the park at the Nisqually and Steven’s Canyon entrance online at Recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777. Online reservations for the White River entrance opened on April 1. Reservations for dates in August through Labor Day opened in May. In addition to the reservations available up to three months ahead, a block of reservations will be released each day through the summer at 7 p.m. for use the following day.
Oh, we can’t forget The Ice Cream Airstream! A perfect way to finish a great day at Mt. Rainier (bonus: its in the same outdoor patio as the Packwood Brewhouse!
Visit Mount Rainier National Park! Even if you don’t want to go all the way to Paradise or Sunrise, there are many great hikes and scenic viewpoints along the way. Pull off to the side of the road and enjoy the fresh air, beautiful views, and fun hikes.
