Mount Rainier: the giant volcano that towers over Seattle

Mount Rainier is a 4,392-metre volcano, standing alone above the forests of Washington State. In clear weather you can see it from Seattle, 100 km away. It carries more ice than any other mountain in the contiguous United States, and its flanks are covered in flowers in summer.

History and origins

It’s an active volcano, lying dormant. Its last eruption was in the 19th century. Geologists watch it closely: the volcano’s heat could melt its glaciers and send mudflows towards the inhabited valleys.

The peoples of the region call it Tahoma. The present name was given in 1792 by Captain Vancouver, in honour of an admiral friend who never came here. The park was created in 1899: it’s the fifth in the country.

What to do there

• Paradise: the most famous area, at 1,650 metres, at the foot of the glaciers. Trails head off into the meadows, among lupins and red flowers, with the summit straight ahead.
• The Skyline Trail: the big loop at Paradise. It climbs to a viewpoint from which, in fine weather, you can see other volcanoes on the horizon.
• Sunrise: the highest point you can reach by car, at 1,950 metres, on the north-east side. The view of the mountain’s largest glacier is superb. The road only opens in July.
• Reflection Lakes: small roadside lakes, where the summit is reflected in calm weather.
• The waterfalls: Christine Falls and Narada Falls, a few steps from the road between Longmire and Paradise.
• The old-growth forests: in the valleys, firs and cedars a thousand years old.

Stories and good to know

• Paradise holds a record: 28.5 metres of snow fell in a single winter, in 1971-1972.
• About 10,000 people attempt to climb to the summit each year. Half of them make it. It’s a mountaineering route on glaciers, not a hike.
• A 150 km trail goes all the way round the mountain. It’s walked in ten days.

Practical information for your road trip

• Pass: the America the Beautiful pass covers the entrance fee. Everything is explained in our guide to the national parks pass.
• Getting there: the south-west entrance is about 2 hrs from Seattle. It’s the only one open all year.
• Fuel: there’s none in the park. Fill up in Ashford or before.
• Clothing: it’s cool at Paradise, even in August, and the weather changes fast. Bring layers.
• Where to stay: in the park’s two historic hotels, at Longmire and Paradise, or in Ashford.
• Combine it with: Olympic and North Cascades, for a tour of the parks of Washington State.