Mount Rainier National Park is the most popular park in the state. It has fantastic areas to explore. The Mountain is a popular challenge for people wishing to scale the peak. The park also has 240 miles of trails and is a super place to visit.
Established in 1899. 235,625 acres (97% is designated Wilderness). Includes Mount Rainier (14,410'), an active volcano encased in over 35 square miles of snow and ice.
The park contains outstanding examples of old growth forests and subalpine meadows. Mount Rainier National Park offers excellent opportunities for scenic drives, hiking, and mountain climbing. Most roads are open from late May to early October--all provide stunning views and access to a variety of hiking trails and other sites.
Lots of campgrounds, great drives through the area and plenty of places to stay the night. You can stay at the Lodges in the park or just outside in one of the entrance towns.
It will be crowded on the weekends, so be prepared.
Entering from the Southwest Nisqually entrance, it is a great drive up to Paradise.
You will pass Sunshine Point(camping,picnic) and then Kautz Creek Trailhead. Very nice trail up towards Mount Ararat(6010') and Indian Henrys Hunting Ground(Views are great).
As you continue up the Main road you will reach Longmire(lodging, museum, Info Center and dining). There is a short Trail of the Shadows as well as Rampart Ridge trailhead(good trail). After Longmire you drive on to Cougar Rock campground. Continue higher up to Christine Falls and on up to Paradise.
Paradise is the main visitors area with many short trails through meadows right at the base of the Mountain. (Visitor center, lodging, dining)
Past Paradise you will find the road continue through the park towards Sunrise in the Northeast section of the park. Past forest, meadows, lakes, and streams. Box Canyon is a nice hike. You pass Cougar Falls and head south around Backbone Ridge, then back north through the Stevens Canyon Entrance. Grove of the Patriarchs trail is a great hike through some old growth forest.
Heading north the road goes past the Shriner Peak Lookout Trailhead. Up to Cayuse pass and down to the White River Entrance. White River has camping and some good trails to explore. If you continue on to the Sunrise visitor center you will find some outstanding views and quite a few trails to sample.
At less then 2 hours drive from Seattle it makes a perfect getaway. With great hiking trails to explore. For additional Mount Rainier hiking information visit http://www.washington-hiking-advisor.com
Copyright 2005
M. Johnson publishes the Washington Hiking Advisor website. 300 pages of Washington State Hiking Information. http://www.washington-hiking-advisor.com
limousine chicago serviceA Botswana safari is an excellent trip to undertake because... Read More
Contrary to what many think, ultralight backpacking is not just... Read More
Bird Watching is a great way to escape the rat... Read More
Costa Rica's mountainous topography and copious rainfall are both responsible... Read More
In a previous article, I wrote primarily about box ovens.... Read More
1st day : Airport / Amman, O/N Our representative will... Read More
A saddle is a static object, but your horse is... Read More
There were four of us on that first Tom Sawyer... Read More
Before you take off on that great outdoor adventure, be... Read More
Ask me which Pacific island has the most to offer... Read More
Eaton Canyon Natural Area Nature Center, entrance, 1750 N. Altadena... Read More
Mt. Washington Valley Trails & Mt Washington - NHThe highest... Read More
Lake Winnipesaukee is the largest and one of the deepest... Read More
The Wandle offered wonderful trout fishing up to the latter... Read More
Western Australia ? South-West Coast driving holiday. Great Australian Road... Read More
Generally speaking, Greek drivers are not the best in Europe,... Read More
No one can truly say... Read More
Base camp sits at 12,000 feet - stark, windy, unshaded... Read More
We weren't planning to go rock and arrowhead hunting in... Read More
Boston is a great destination city for a vacation. There's... Read More
The last thing you want on an African safari is... Read More
The thing with enjoying the great outdoors is seeing aspects... Read More
If you're a birder, you want to keep a list... Read More
Yes, it's real. There is a place called Timbuktu and... Read More
Truly a small wonder, the eTrex takes the best features... Read More
outdoor induction lights induction lighting fixtures Pete's produce ..A river cruise in Bangkok gives an insight to the... Read More
The first recorded mapping of what is now Koombana Bay... Read More
SAFE WALKING TREKKING OUTDOORSIf you are contemplating a long distance... Read More
Spain offers the visitor over 4,000 kms of coastline where... Read More
"Do you know about Wal-Mart camping?" We didn't know, but... Read More
Table Mountain sheltered the original Cape explorers in the 16th... Read More
New experiences make me nervous, and I assume that holds... Read More
We think that Cape Town has some of the best... Read More
The great state of Washington offers some of the best... Read More
Rafting through the Grand Canyon is the experience of a... Read More
As any keen mountain biker will know, there are some... Read More
Do you think the only thing to do in Las... Read More
Spring:Essential items when preparing for a walk-Compass-First aid kit -... Read More
Pictures of a massive dead Great White shark on the... Read More
The Udzungwa Mountains National park was created primarily for the... Read More
There were four of us on that first Tom Sawyer... Read More
Okay, it wasn't quite a sleeping bag. However, it was... Read More
Why should you use hiking poles is perhaps the first... Read More
I stood at the observation point on the balcony at... Read More
Some people have fought many years of their lives to... Read More
A camping gear checklist is an important tool to help... Read More
Magnetic declination is an essential principle to understand when navigating... Read More
Once described in a 1950 article as "The Town That... Read More
There is something about a town tucked between the mountains... Read More
The thing with enjoying the great outdoors is seeing aspects... Read More
Outdoors Outdoors |