Mount Rainier National Park

Mount Rainier National Park lies in southeast Pierce County and northeast Lewis County in Washington State, roughly 95 kilometres southeast of Seattle. It covers about 236,000 acres and is managed by the National Park Service.

Established on 2 March 1899, it was the fifth national park in the United States. Its centre is Mount Rainier, an active stratovolcano and the highest peak in the Cascade Range at about 4,392 metres. More than 25 named glaciers descend its slopes, the largest number on any mountain in the lower 48 states.

The Paradise area on the south side is famous for its summer wildflower meadows and is the start of the Skyline Trail. Sunrise, on the northeast side, is the highest point reachable by car in the park and has close views of the Emmons Glacier. Grove of the Patriarchs, Narada Falls and Reflection Lakes are other popular stops, and the 150-kilometre Wonderland Trail circles the mountain.

The entrance fee is $30 per private vehicle for seven days, or $15 per person on foot or by bicycle (under-16s free), and the park annual pass costs $55; entrance stations do not accept cash. The park has said it will not use timed entry reservations in 2026 and manages crowds through parking controls. Many roads close in winter, with Paradise reachable on most days by the road from Longmire. Weather on the mountain changes quickly, so bring warm layers.

The park drew over 1.6 million visitors in 2024, and most of them come between July and September. Its several entrances lead to three main areas: Paradise on the south side, Sunrise in the north east, and the quieter Carbon River and Mowich Lake area in the north west. Parking at Paradise and Sunrise fills by late morning on summer weekends.

The ice is the main reason to come. Glaciers and snowfields on the mountain cover about 91 square kilometres. Carbon Glacier is the largest glacier by volume in the contiguous United States, and Emmons Glacier, seen from Sunrise, is the largest by area. Storms off the Pacific often wrap the summit in cloud and bring heavy rain and snow, so a clear view is never guaranteed.

The park was designated a National Historic Landmark District on 18 February 1997 for its 1920s and 1930s rustic architecture, best seen at the Paradise Inn and in the stone buildings at Longmire. Floods have cut roads more than once; parts of the Carbon River Road, once a vehicle entrance to the park, washed out.