Mount Rainier or How to Throw Snowballs in a National Park
Have you ever wanted to have a snowball fight on the side of a mountain? In the middle of Spring? How about seeing wild waterfalls or trees that are neverendingly tall? Mount Rainier National Park is a must-visit stop during your next trip to Washington state!
Some links may be affiliate links. By clicking on them and/or making a purchase, I may make a small commission at NO extra cost to you! Safe Travels!
Mount Rainier National Park
What:
Mount Rainier is a part of the United States National Parks system. It stretches almost 370 miles in Washington State. The focal point of the park is obviously Mount Rainier. The park also has many streams, waterfalls and old-growth forests. Since the park is so big, it is separated into five distinct areas:
Where:
As I mentioned above, Mount Rainier National Park is located in Washington state. It is about 75 miles southeast of Seattle.
Mount Rainier National Park Weather:
Depending on the time of year you visit, the weather will determine what areas of the park are actually accessible and available for you to see. Always visit the park’s website ahead of time to see what closures are currently in effect.
We visited Mount Rainier during early May and found several feet of snow still on the mountain as well as the Paradise area mostly closed. Summer highs are generally in the 60’s and 70’s (Fahrenheit) with rain possible at anytime of the year.
What to Wear to Mount Rainier National Park
When touring the park in early May, I was prepared for snow and weather in the 50’s. Dressing in water-resistant layers is key! Here are some of the items my family wore during our day in the park:
–Water-Resistant Hiking Shoes
–Women’s Packable (thin) Down Jacket
-Thin gloves
-Winter hat
–Kid’s Waterproof Hiking Pants
–Men’s Waterproof Hiking Pants
–Women’s Waterproof Windbreaker (Packable)
–Women’s Waterproof lined leggings (WITH POCKETS!)
**I love these leggings and have gotten so much use out of them. They are cozy without being too warm or bulky. They truly keep you dry and I wore them often during our Alaska trip too!
-Layers: T-shirts, sweatshirts, jacket (I also packed extra socks for each of us)
–Crampons for hiking the mountain (these were provided to us by our tour group)
I chose to also use waterproof spray on our shoes just in case! There’s nothing worse than a long day ahead and wet feet.
How to See Mount Rainier National Park in One Day
We were in Seattle for just one and a half days prior to boarding our Alaskan cruise and wanted to catch at least one of the area National Parks during our time…without renting a car. I began searching and booked our first ever third-party tour and it was amazing!
Small Group Tour of Mount Rainier National Park
We booked the Mt. Rainier National Park Day Tour from Seattle. This was not a sponsored trip and this review is completely my own. This tour includes pick up from several hotels in the downtown area. Once you book the tour, the company sends plenty of communication, including texting where and what time they will pick you up. We stayed at the Seattle Marriot Waterfront and the shuttle met us right on time at the front doors of the hotel.
Tour Itinierary
The tour begins early, around 7:15 AM. We drove through the downtown Seattle area and picked up from about four other hotels for a total of around 20 passengers. The shuttle was very comfortable and the tour guide provided bottled water for us. Our guide was named Lucas and he was excellent! He was able to provide us with so much information that we never would’ve gotten by driving through the park on our own.
Along the way we made a stop at a large grocery store (similar to a Walmart). As there is no food available in the park during the tour, this is where you can stock up on lunch and snacks for the day. **Hot tip: Bring a cooler bag or plan to buy one at the store. Buy a package of Uncrustables to keep the rest of your items cool all day as they slowly thaw and then you’ll have a snack for the way home!
At any time if you needed an extra restroom stop, Lucas was glad to find one along the route.
Longmire Area
Our first stop was in the Longmire area of the park. Using the expansive Mount Rainier as a background, we took photos. We also explored the National Park Inn and were able to get a National Parks Passport stamp.
Next we walked around the Longmire Meadow area across from the Inn.
Twin Firs Trail
Between the Longmire area and the Nisqually Entrance is the Twin Firs Trail. This .4 mile loop trail features massive trees and old forest growth.
Paradise
Although most of this section was still closed for the season (including the Henry M Jackson Memorial Visitor Center) we still were able to see some areas of interest on the outskirts.
Christine Falls Viewpoint
Narada Falls
Follow the .2 mile in and out trail to see Narada Falls up close. As you can see in the photo below, in early May the trail was still covered in snow. It goes slightly downhill and is quite slippery. This is one of the trails where we used our crampons.
One of the main attractions of Mount Rainier National Park is Reflection Lake. The road to the lake is generally open from July to October. Sadly we were too early in the year to enjoy the scenic views the lake is famous for. If you’d like to hike the lake, it is a 2.75 mile loop trail. For more information and photos of this beautiful area, see the National Parks’ website.
Ohanapecosh
While there is a slight possibility that I’ve gotten my locations mixed up, I believe the Ohanapecosh area is where my children scraped together snowballs. They were able to throw them over the edge of the lookout point at nature below.
This area is known for its lookouts, visitor center, hot springs and old-growth forest. Be sure to check the website for up to date information on road closures and construction. Camp grounds are also available.
Sunrise
NOTE: If you are not on a tour, timed entry may be required for this area! Learn about timed entry here.
In May, the Sunrise Visitor Center is still closed. However we were able to be driven to the parking area to best explore the mountain. With some areas being very slippery and others having thigh-deep snow, crampons and waterproof pants made the hike very enjoyable.
Snowball fights, snowman building and seeing just how far you could hike made this stop our most memorable of the day.
I cannot fully explain the vastness of this area. Even though we were there with our entire tour group and others visiting, I was still able to find solitude on the mountain. Despite the snow, the sun was very warm!
Carbon River & Mowich Lake
Much of this area of the park was washed out in 2006. Due to this road access is limited and camping requires wilderness permits. For the best information please see the National Parks’ website for the area.
The tour does make for a long day and I’m not sure I would recommend it for kids under the age of 8. However, my youngest is very much used to long road trips and travel and was able to hang tough with a lot of snacks and a nap on the way back to the hotel.
What National Parks have you visited? Comment!
One Comment
Pingback: