Most people only see Mount Rainier from a distance. It’s visible from nearly the entire state of Washington, with its glacier-capped peak rising above the horizon.
But what’s even better is a trip to Mount Rainier itself.
As one of the oldest national parks in the United States, Mount Rainier is a place that we keep going back to. It’s wild, unpredictable, and absolutely beautiful, no matter how many times we visit.
In this guide, we’ll share all our favorite things to do in Mount Rainier. Whether you’re looking to venture deep into the backcountry, or prefer just to explore scenic viewpoints from the comfort of your car, there is something for everyone in Mount Rainier.
12 Unique Things to Do in Mount Rainier
Go on a hike
Mount Rainier’s trails are world-class. You can hike to waterfalls, wildflower meadows, alpine lakes, and glacier views. Sometimes all in a single day.
And what’s even better is that Mount Rainier has trails for every kind of hiker. From short paved paths perfect for families, to steep scrambles up difficult terrain, to everything else between.
Without a doubt, the best way to experience Mount Rainier’s nature is to hike its trails. You simply see and feel so much more than you can from the road.
To help you plan your hike in Mount Rainier, we’ve compiled a list of our 20 favorite hikes in Mount Rainier. You can check it out in the link below.
Read our full guide: 20 Incredible Hikes in Mount Rainier
Have a picnic
There aren’t many food options in the park, so bringing your own lunch is not only practical but can be part of the fun!
There are several picnic areas in Mount Rainier, including Cougar Rock, Paradise, and Box Canyon.
But our personal favorite is the picnic area at Sunrise. It’s set within the trees with generous space between the picnic tables. And the best part are the views of Mount Rainier’s summit!
We usually stop at a supermarket before heading to Mount Rainier. Then we grab some cheeses, crackers, spreads, and fresh berries to make our own little feast. And if you’re visiting in summer, you can stop at one of the cherry stands on the side of the road during your drive to pick up some Rainier cherries!
It’s an amazing spot and a worthy activity in itself since you get to be out in nature while enjoying some good food.
Narada Falls
Narada Falls is a 168-foot high waterfall, tumbling over a rocky face along the Paradise River. It’s also the largest waterfall in the park that’s accessible by car.
From the parking area, there’s a short trail that leads down to the waterfall’s main viewpoint. Along the way, you’ll cross a stone bridge that spans the upper part of the falls before descending to the overlook below.
Once you reach the viewpoint, you’ll be face-to-face with Narada Falls!
Its water source originates from snowmelt high on the mountain, near the Skyline Trail.
Behind the cascade, look closely at the rock face near the base. Those jagged columns were formed when lava from one of Mount Rainier’s eruptions came into contact with glacial ice. The rapid cooling created andesite columns that now jut out of the surface under the waterfall. It’s a cool example of how unique conditions at the right time all went into play to create the landscapes that we live in today.
Ruby Falls
After exploring Narada Falls, I recommend hiking up the short trail to Ruby Falls. It’s a spot that I stumbled upon by accident, but I was totally glad that I did!
The trail is a short, 1-mile round-trip. It follows the Paradise River up to Ruby Falls, a waterfall that’s usually hidden from view. Most people drive right over it without even knowing! It’s an easy trail that most people can do, even without hiking gear.
Read our full blog post: Ruby Falls in Mount Rainier: Complete Hiking Guide
Reflection Lakes
There are amazing views of Mount Rainier from every side of the park, but not many of them let you see two Rainiers at once!
The Reflection Lakes are famous for their still, mirror-like surface that perfectly reflects the mountain’s snow-covered peak. It’s one of Mount Rainier’s most iconic spots and has been one of its main attractions since the park’s early days.
There are two Reflection Lakes, and they are located right next to each other. There are two pull-out parking areas right in front of the larger lake, so you can easily walk up to the shoreline and catch a reflection of Rainier’s summit.
But timing matters. Even the slightest breeze will ripple the lakes’ surface and obscure the reflection. Your best chances for a flawless mirror image are at sunrise and sunset, when the air is calm and the light is golden.
Christine Falls
Christine Falls is another popular waterfall that’s easy to reach by car. What makes it special is the picturesque stone bridge that crosses right above it. It’s one of the most photographed spots in Mount Rainier National Park.
But what most people don’t realize is that you can go up and over the top of the waterfall, too! To get on top of Christine Falls, hike the first section of the Comet Falls Trail. A short walk brings you to a wooden bridge that spans the gorge carved out by the Van Trump Creek.
The river there is intense, and watching it thunder through the canyon gives you a sense of the wild nature in Rainier. It’s a good way to get a walk in to stretch your legs and see more than just the roadside sights.
Pick blueberries
One thing that I’m surprised more people don’t take advantage of is the absolute plethora of wild blueberries in Mount Rainier. In late summer, they fruit in many areas of the park, and it’s kind of hard not to find them if you’re hitting the trails! They tend to grow in sunny wet areas, like meadows.
I’ll share two of my favorite blueberry picking spots that are also easy to reach.
The first is along the Ruby Falls Trail. It’s just a short walk from Narada Falls. Keep an eye out for blueberry bushes near the riverbank and along the side of the trail.
The second is in the meadows at the top of the High Lakes Loop Trail, which was absolutely loaded with blueberries the last time I visited.
Longmire Museum
When most people think of going to a national park, they think of going outdoors into nature. What they don’t think of is going to a museum. And honestly, I don’t blame them.
But the Longmire Museum provides a ton of insight about the park. It tells the story of the park’s early days, the people who once lived here, and the wildlife that still does.
It’s small but full of history and context, making it a great stop either on your way in or out of the park. You’ll leave with a deeper appreciation for how the park’s wild landscape came to be protected, and how it’s still evolving today.
Myrtle Falls
The Skyline Trail is one of Mount Rainier’s most popular hikes, but you don’t have to go far to see its views.
In fact, I would argue that the Skyline Trail’s best views are in the beginning, where you hike through green meadows with wildflowers in the summer, and vivid hues of red and orange in the autumn.
And better yet, Myrtle Falls is near the beginning of the Skyline Trail. It’s just half a mile along a paved pathway from the Paradise Visitor Center.
The 72-foot waterfall is framed by the summit of Mount Rainier in the background. It’s one of the park’s iconic views, and a place where you can capture the full essence of the park without leaving the pavement.
Read our full blog post: Skyline Trail in Mount Rainier: Complete Hiking Guide
Emmons Vista
The Sunrise area is the highest point in Mount Rainier National Park that you can drive to, and it has some of the most unobstructed views of Mount Rainier’s glacier-covered summit.
A short stroll from the Sunrise parking lot brings you to Emmons Vista, an overlook with a sweeping view of the Emmons Glacier. It’s the largest glacier by surface area in the continental United States.
From the Emmons Vista, you can also spot Little Tahoma, the jagged peak rising off the side of Rainier, and the glacier-carved White River Valley below. It’s an awesome place to sit, breathe, and take in the scale of the mountain.
Go backpacking
Our all-time favorite thing to do in Mount Rainier is to go backpacking. Going out in the backcountry and literally living on its land for a few days gives you a whole new perspective on the park’s vastness.
We have backpacked on all sides of Mount Rainier, and there is so much diversity in its landscapes that it’s mind-blowing. You can hike through a meadow, over a mountain pass, pass a waterfall on the way down, and then sleep in a forested river valley, all within a single day.
And what’s even better is that there are so many opportunities for backpacking in Rainier. The most famous route is the Wonderland Trail, a 93-mile loop that completely circles the mountain. But there are also many shorter options for backpacking if you have less time.
One of our favorite backpacking trips in Mount Rainier is Snow Lake. It’s a short 1-mile hike to a subalpine lake, perfect for first-time backpackers.
If you’re feeling a bit more ambitious, you can always hike a small section of the Wonderland Loop, spend a weekend at Lake George, or backpack the Northern Loop Trail.
There are just so many possibilities for awesome adventures in Mount Rainier that we keep coming back over and over.
You can get more info about Mount Rainier’s wilderness permit system at the NPS website.
Go car camping
If backpacking sounds like too much work but you still want to camp in the park, car camping is the way to go.
We’ve car camped several times at Mount Rainier, and love how easy it is. We can just pull up and set up our campsite without worrying about what we need to pack in and pack out. Plus, waking up already inside the park makes doing sunrise hikes way easier!
There are three campgrounds in Mount Rainier National Park:
- White River (near Sunrise)
- Cougar Rock (near Paradise)
- Ohanapecosh (currently being renovated and set to reopen for the 2026 season)
Each campground has sites for cars, tents, and RVs, along with restrooms and running water.
You can get more info about Mount Rainier’s Campgrounds at the NPS website.
Where to Stay in Mount Rainier
For most people, the town of Ashford is the best base for exploring Mount Rainier without staying in the park itself. It’s located near the Nisqually Entrance on the park’s southwest side, so it’s super convenient for exploring the popular Paradise and Longmire areas of Mount Rainier.
You’ll find a mix of cozy cabins, lodges, and vacation rentals in Ashford. And the best part is that it’s just minutes from the park’s entrance gate.
If you’d rather stay inside the National Park itself, you have a few options.
The National Park Inn and the Paradise Inn both offer rustic but comfortable rooms and unbeatable access to the park’s most scenic areas.
For a more outdoorsy experience, the park has three campgrounds: Cougar Rock, White River, and Ohanapecosh. Each campground accommodates tents, vans, RVs, and camper trailers, with restrooms and running water available.
We’ve personally stayed at Cougar Rock several times while exploring the Paradise and Longmire areas, and it’s awesome to hop out of your tent early in the morning to catch the sunrise.
If you plan to sleep in your vehicle, you must reserve a site at one of these campgrounds because overnighting in pullouts or parking lots elsewhere in the park is not allowed.
How to Get Around Mount Rainier
The best, and really, the only practical way to get around Mount Rainier National Park is by driving your own vehicle. The park is massive, the roads are steep, and the weather can change fast. So having your own transportation gives you the most flexibility and comfort.
Unfortunately, there’s no public transportation that runs into or through Mount Rainier National Park.
You may see cyclists on Mount Rainier’s roads, but cycling there is more of an activity in itself than a way to get around.
If you don’t have a car, your next best option is to book a Mount Rainier day tour from Seattle. The tour includes round-trip transportation and stops at a few of the park’s best sightseeing spots, including Paradise, and gives you time to explore at your own pace.
What to Pack for Mount Rainier
I’m not going to give you a whole packing list here because that’s not necessary. Instead, I will provide a list of a few things that you should not overlook when visiting Mount Rainier National Park.
- Jacket: It gets cold in Mount Rainier. Much more than Seattle. Even if you visit Mount Rainier on a warm summer day, by the time you step out of your vehicle in the park, it may be much colder and windier than it was when you left.
- Hat: The sun can bake down on the mountain any time of year. A hat helps protect you from sunburn and keeps you comfortable while exploring.
- Food & Snacks: Dining options inside the park are limited. Bring a cooler with your own food, snacks, and drinks so you can eat whenever and wherever you get hungry.
- Offline Maps: Cell reception in most of Mount Rainier is nonexistent, except for a few spots around the Sunrise and Paradise visitor centers. Download offline maps and save your stops in advance so you can navigate without a signal.
More Hikes in Mount Rainier National Park
We’re based in Seattle and have done a ton of hikes in Mount Rainier National Park. To help fellow adventurers, we’ve put together guides to the best trails we found. You can check them out by clicking the links below.
- Our ultimate Mount Rainier hiking guide: 20 Incredible Hikes in Mount Rainier: Complete Travel Guide
- Hike to a subalpine meadow with views of the Tahoma Glacier: Emerald Ridge Hike
- An old fire watch tower sitting atop a rocky peak: Gobblers Knob
- Rocky peak with an unobstructed view of Mount Rainier: Pinnacle Peak
- Explore the wildflower meadows below Rainier at Summerland, or proceed further to glacial moraines of Panhandle Gap
- Wooden fire watch tower with one of the all time best views in Mount Rainier: Fremont Lookout
- The tallest waterfall in Mount Rainier: Comet Falls
- A short hike that has big views without big crowds: Dege Peak
I hope you enjoyed our guide to things to do in Mount Rainier! Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions 🐸
