Mount Rainier National Park

Mount Rainier is an active volcano.
Mount Rainier is an active stratovolcano and is considered one of the most closely monitored volcanoes in the United States. Although it has not had a major eruption in centuries, scientists continue to monitor it for seismic activity.

It is the tallest mountain in Washington.
Mount Rainier rises to 14,410 feet, making it the highest peak in Washington State and the most prominent mountain in the Cascade Range.

You can see it from over 100 miles away.
On a clear day, Mount Rainier can be seen from much of western Washington, including Seattle, Tacoma, and even parts of Oregon and British Columbia.

It is one of America’s most photographed mountains.
Because of its dramatic prominence and year-round snow-covered summit, Mount Rainier is one of the most photographed mountains in North America.

Mount Rainier has more glaciers than any other mountain in the lower 48 states.
Mount Rainier is home to 25 named glaciers, containing more glacier ice than all the other Cascade volcanoes combined.

It creates five major rivers.
The mountain’s glaciers feed five major river systems:

Nisqually River
Carbon River
Puyallup River
White River
Cowlitz River

These rivers provide water to communities, agriculture, and wildlife throughout western Washington.

Paradise receives enormous snowfall.
The Paradise area averages around 650 inches of snow each year, making it one of the snowiest places on Earth where snowfall is regularly measured.

Mount Rainier is known for one of America’s greatest wildflower displays.
Every summer, Mount Rainier’s subalpine meadows fill with colorful wildflowers, including lupine, paintbrush, avalanche lilies, beargrass, and asters. Peak bloom usually occurs from late July through early August.

The park protects ancient forests.
Mount Rainier National Park protects magnificent old-growth forests filled with Douglas fir, western red cedar, western hemlock, and silver fir. Many trees are more than 500 years old.

The park is home to incredible wildlife.
Wildlife found in Mount Rainier National Park includes:

Black bears
Roosevelt elk
Mountain goats
Marmots
Pikas
Black-tailed deer
Coyotes
More than 180 species of birds

Mount Rainier is a paradise for hikers.
The park contains more than 260 miles of maintained hiking trails, ranging from easy nature walks to challenging alpine adventures.

The Wonderland Trail circles the mountain.
One of America’s most famous backpacking routes, the Wonderland Trail is a 93-mile loop that completely circles Mount Rainier. Along the way, hikers climb and descend more than 22,000 feet.

Only about 10,000 people reach the summit each year.
Although thousands attempt the climb annually, only about 10,000 climbers successfully reach the summit in a typical year. Nearly every route requires glacier travel, crampons, ropes, and mountaineering experience.

Paradise Inn is a historic mountain lodge.
The beautiful Paradise Inn opened in 1917 and is one of the last remaining grand mountain lodges built in the national park rustic style.

Mount Rainier became a national park in 1899.
Mount Rainier National Park became America’s fifth national park on March 2, 1899, preserving one of the country’s most spectacular volcanic landscapes.