Mount Rainier Mountain

Address: Mount Rainier National Park, 39000 State Route 706 E, Ashford, WA 98304, USA

Website: https://www.nps.gov/mora/

Hours: Park open 24/7; visitor centers and facilities have seasonal hours (see NPS).

Admission: Entrance fee: $30 per vehicle (valid 7 days); $15 per person on foot/bike - check NPS for current rates.

Mount Rainier is a glaciated stratovolcano in Washington State and the highest mountain of the Cascade Range at 14,411 feet (4,392 metres). It dominates the surrounding landscape and is a prominent landmark visible from the Puget Sound region.

Recreation centres on alpine climbing, backcountry hiking, ski routes and day visitor facilities at the Paradise and Sunrise areas; both serve as primary trailheads and visitor access points. The mountain supports around 26 named glaciers and extensive alpine ecosystems.

Mount Rainier was named by an explorer in the late 18th century and has long held cultural significance for Indigenous peoples of the region; modern national park designation dates to the late 19th century. The mountain is monitored closely for volcanic activity and is managed for conservation, recreation and public safety.

The peak sits in south-central Washington within Mount Rainier National Park, rising above surrounding lowlands and serving as a major natural landmark south of the Seattle-Tacoma metropolitan area.

• Elevation: stands at 14,411 feet (4,392 metres) and is the highest peak in Washington State and the Cascade Range.
• Glaciers: contains a large number of named glaciers (around 26), giving it more glacial ice than any other peak in the contiguous United States.
• National Park: protected as Mount Rainier National Park, which was established in 1899.

What to See#

• Paradise: A major visitor area on the mountain’s south slopes with trails, interpretive programs and facilities for hiking and snow activities.
• Sunrise: The mountain’s northeast high-country visitor area and trailhead, offering alpine views and access to higher-elevation trails.
• Emmons Glacier: One of the mountain’s largest glaciers, notable for its size and crevassed surface at the north and east flanks.

Mount Rainier National Park is reached by road from the Seattle/Tacoma region via I‑5 south and then by state highways to the park’s several entrances (for example the southwest Paradise area reached via the Ashford/Elbe gateway). Drive times are typically a couple of hours from the Seattle area; once at a park entrance you must park and proceed on foot to trailheads (hiking required to reach viewpoints and the summit).

• For the clearest summit and mountain views, aim to be at Paradise or Sunrise at first light-weather often deteriorates and clouds build during the day at Mount Rainier.
• Choose your gateway based on the experience: Paradise (south) offers established trailheads and the Nisqually routes, while Sunrise (northeast) is higher and typically less crowded for alpine views; both have separate park access roads that can close seasonally.
• Check National Park Service current road, trail and snow conditions before you go-Stevens Canyon and other park roads close in winter and after storms, and parking can be limited on busy days.
• To see the wildflower meadows that the park is famous for, visit mid‑summer (July-August) at Paradise or Sunrise and start hikes early to beat the bulk of day visitors.