Best trails in Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park is located in west-central Washington and is ideal for hiking, mountain climbing and scenic drives. Most roads are open from late May to early October, which allow for both stunning views and access to a wide range of hiking trails and other sites. Hikers will find forests with cedar, hemlock, and fir trees as well as streams and wildflower meadows. On Rainier's alpine slopes, visitors will find firs, glaciers, and tundra.
Mount Rainier, an active volcano, is the most prominent peak in the Cascades, and it is covered by 26 named glaciers including Carbon Glacier and Emmons Glacier, the largest in the continental United States. The mountain is popular for climbing, and more than half of the park is covered by subalpine and alpine forests. Paradise on the south slope is one of the snowiest places in the world, and the Longmire visitor center is the start of the Wonderland Trail, which encircles the mountain.
Top trails
Visitor info
A timed entry reservation is required only for the Sunrise Corridor in the northeast corner of the park from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm daily from July 11-Sept 1, 2025, then on weekends and holidays from Sept 2 through end of the season (typically mid-October).
Grants unlimited entry for one motorcycle and passenger for seven consecutive days.
Walk-up or single bicycle fee. Grants unlimited entry for seven consecutive days.
Grants unlimited entry for one vehicle and passengers for seven consecutive days. Vehicle must be private, noncommercial, and with a seating capacity of 15 or less.
Grants unlimited entry for one year to pass owner and passengers in a single, private, non-commercial vehicle. This pass does not cover camping fees and is non-transferable and non-refundable. If you already own a valid annual or lifetime pass (Interagency Senior, Annual, Military, etc) you do not need to purchase this pass. NOTE: The Discover Pass is for Washington State Parks only and does not cover Mount Rainier National Park.
Join millions of people who enjoy our National Parks with the "America the Beautiful" National Park & Federal Recreational Lands Pass, otherwise known as the Interagency Annual Pass. The pass is valid for a year's worth of visits from the month of purchase at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites across the country.
No entrance pass required on these days:
Monday, January 20 — Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Saturday, April 19 — First day of National Park Week
Thursday, June 19 — Juneteenth National Independence Day
Monday, August 4 — Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
Saturday, September 27 — National Public Lands Day
Tuesday, November 11 — Veterans Day
The Interagency Access Pass is accepted here.
The Jackson Visitor Center, Sunrise Visitor Center (summer only), and Ohanapecosh Visitor Center (summer only) are accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers and have wheelchair accessible restrooms. The theater and dining room at the Jackson Visitor Center are also wheelchair accessible. Orientation films include closed captioning.
Loaner wheelchairs, assistive listening devices, audio descriptions, tactile exhibits, and Braille and text materials are available.
Additional information about accessibility at Mount Rainier National Park can be found on their website: https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm.
The Jackson Visitor Center, Sunrise Visitor Center (summer only), and Ohanapecosh Visitor Center (summer only) are accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers and have wheelchair accessible restrooms. The theater and dining room at the Jackson Visitor Center are also wheelchair accessible. Orientation films include closed captioning.
The Paradise Inn and National Park Inn have wheelchair accessible rooms. There is also a wheelchair accessible dining room.
The Paradise, Kautz Creek, Ohanapecosh, Cougar Rock, White River, Mowich Lake, and Stevens Canyon Picnic Areas are wheelchair accessible with packed, level paths and surfaces and accessible restrooms.
There are accessible restrooms at the following trailheads: White River Campground (Loop C), Paul Peak, Grove of the Patriarchs trailhead, and Box Canyon overlook.
The Ohanapecosh Campground has 2 individual wheelchair accessible camping sites in Loop D and the Cougar Rock Campground has 4 individual wheelchair accessible camping sites.
Service animals must be on-leash throughout the park.
Trail reviews for Mount Rainier National Park
Take the bridge going across the street that says "Mount Rainier National Park" from the furthest Eastern parking lot if you want to take the trail clockwise.
We loved hiking the Skyline Loop Trail which offered a complete package—spectacular wildflowers, majestic glacier views, dramatic landscapes, and panoramic mountain vistas. It’s one of Mount Rainier National Park’s standout hikes: challenging enough to feel rewarding, yet accessible for most reasonably fit hikers. The full loop rewards you with solitude, beauty, and variety.
Best trail at Mount Rainier National Park
Did this hike on 8/2 starting at 5:30 AM. Highly recommend staring this hike early in the morning to keep you out of the sun on the way out. Great trail but some loose rocks/slightly narrower trail as you get closer to the lookout. Amazing views at the end of Mount Rainier and the surroundings.
Stunning views of Mount Rainier and other peaks in the region. Wildflowers on the trail.
We got there early in the morning way before 7 AM (before the time required to have permits) and the parking lot was near full. However, cars were rotating through with spaces seeming to consistently open up. There was a nice breeze, however, the air quality was poor and hazy due to all the fires throughout western Washington. For the majority of the hike, you are exposed to the elements.; we lathered up in 70 proof sunscreen, wore billed hats, and sunglasses. The steepest part of the hike was the last 400 feet of elevation gain to the Summit. The summit was covered in biting insects; bees, flies, and other flying insects. We doused up in bug spray and I only ended up with one bug bite. I also wore a face net, which seemed to help as I viewed the little buggers on the outside, trying to get to my face . My husband and I each used one pole which was nice for the steeper, rocky, dry terrain. The entire trail is a walk up with the final approach, being steep, however, no scrambling. We consumed a little more water than average with having the sun on us. Beautiful views today. just could’ve done without the summit swarming bugs. This makes 34/100 of the Mount Rainier 100 peaks!