Day Tripping to Mount Rainier National Park

On a clear day, Mount Rainier’s hulking white dome looms just behind the buildings of downtown Seattle. The active volcano is also the most heavily glaciated peak in the lower 48 states, making it a stunning place to visit. Beyond the glaciers, there are trails to explore, waterfalls to visit and, in summer, huge expanses of wildflowers.

Rainier makes for a long day trip from Seattle, but it’s a worthwhile visit. The national park has several areas to check out.

Paradise, the south-central district of the park, is complete with a visitor’s center, lodge and myriad trails. Ranger-led programs take off from here, as do most of the guided climbs to the volcano’s summit. Wildflowers abound too, and trails leading up to the mountain’s base. Look for marmots, chipmunks, bears and mountain goats in this area.

Sunrise is where you’ll get an incredibly close view of the mountain’s Emmons Glacier. There’s also a visitor’s center here and myriad trails to explore.

At the Stevens Canyon Entrance, to the east, there’s the Grove of the Patriarchs trail, where old growth trees abound, as well as Reflection Lakes and Box Canyon.

Various hikes are scattered around the other regions of the park; there’s quite a variety based on what your interests and fitness level are. The Washington Trails Association is a great resource for picking a hike.