Mount Rainier National Park
39000 State Route 706 E, Ashford WA 98304
There's so much to see in Mount Rainier National Park and to organize all my bucket list items for Mount Rainier, I organized them by geographic areas. Our limited time and the presence of snow (in July!) both conspired to limit the number of things we could do. Mainly the limited time :)
Myrtle Falls - So glad we hit this waterfall first. It was a fabulous first impression from Mt. Rainier NP starting with the uphill scenic drive from the park entrance to this area, Paradise Area. The Henry Jackson Memorial Visitor Center (pictures below) is reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright, has a large interactive informational/educational areas, and offers very good souvenirs in their gift shop. The Skyline Trail goes through meadows and meadows of wildflowers (so many different kinds! I have some photos above) and will lead to majestic Myrtle Falls (see video clip below). The trail goes about 4 miles past Myrtle Falls, if you wish to keep going. And, you get a great view of the rivers below and Mount Rainier!
Others to See in Paradise Area (which I'll try go to when I return)
Nisqually Vista Trail (1.2 mi, 45 mins)
Deadhorse Creek Trail (2.5 mi, 1.75 hrs)
Skyline Trail (5.5 mi, 4.5 hrs)
Paradise Valley Road
Sunday Brunch in historic Paradise Inn's Dining Room, halfway up a mountain! So sad this was closed during our visit.
STEVENS CANYON ROAD
Should you decide to just drive through Mount Rainier, take Stevens Canyon Road because there is a lot to see and do off of this road. We just pulled over at Inspiration Point and enjoyed the view of Mount Rainier and the wildflowers generously growing on the sides of the road.
Others to See on Stevens Canyon Road (and my future to-do list)
Reflection Lakes
Pinnacle Peak Hike
Bench and Snow Lake Trails
Box Canyon
Grove of the Patriarchs Trail An easy and fun 1.1 mile walk/hike through a forest, over a river via a hanging bridge and through more forest of giants.
Others to See in Ohanapecosh Area (and my future to-do list is piling up)
Route 123 Trail
Stevens Canyon Road Trail
Ohanapecosh Campground Trail
The Silver Forest Trail was so peaceful in the morning. And it was appropriately named too. The sun was hitting Mount Rainier in the morning and we got a breath-taking view of it from this trail. It's so easy to find too. The hyphen is NOT a mistake. It really took my breath away. Loved the view of Emmons Glacier on Mount Rainier so much I actually printed it on canvass and hanging on the wall behind my computer screen so I can stare at it often.
The Sunrise Visitor Center is much less busy than the Henry Jackson Memorial Visitor Center in Paradise Area but it's just as beautiful.
Others to See in (you guessed it) Sunrise Area
Tipsoo Lake for the wildflower meadows and a reflection of Mt. Rainier
Sunrise Point for views of the Cascade Range, Sunrise Lake and Mount Rainier
Sunrise at Yakima Park
Sourdough Ridge Trail
Burroughs Mountain Trail
Mt. Fremont Lookout Trail
Others we missed during our visit and have now been moved to my to-do list.
Christine Falls Trail
Trail of Shadows
Glacier Bridge
Ricksecker Point Road
CRYSTAL PEAK
Summit House Dinner & Gondola Ride
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