The best hikes in Mount Rainier National Park cover some of the country’s most incredible scenery, including epic mountain peaks, magnificent waterfalls, thick forests, and plenty of wildlife.
From our experience, the hiking trails here are some of the best in the world.
With that in mind, here’s our guide to the best hikes in Mount Rainier National Park for all kinds of hikers.
Five Main Sections of Mount Rainier National Park
Before we get into the best Mount Rainier hikes, it’s essential to understand the different sections that make up this park:
Paradise: This is the most popular area of the park, located on the southern side of Mount Rainier. It’s famous for its beautiful wildflower meadows in summer and stunning snowy landscapes in winter. It’s an excellent spot for both leisurely walks and more challenging hikes.
Sunrise: Located in the northeast part of the park, Sunrise is the highest point that can be reached by car. It’s known for its incredible views and is perfect for more arduous hikes.
Ohanapecosh: Located in the southeast corner, Ohanapecosh is quieter and less crowded. This area is known for its old-growth forests and the scenic Silver Falls. It’s a great spot for peaceful hikes and enjoying the park’s natural beauty.
Longmire: Situated in the southwest, it offers several great hiking trails. It was one of the first developed areas in the park and still has a visitor centre and a historic lodge. It’s a good starting point for exploring the park’s western side.
Carbon River/Mowich Lake: In the northwest section, this area is less crowded and offers a more rugged experience. The Carbon River area is lush and green, with temperate rainforests and glaciers. At the same time, Mowich Lake is a beautiful alpine lake perfect for camping and hiking.
10 Best Hikes in Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park is a hiker’s paradise, offering trails for all skill levels, from easy strolls through wildflower meadows to challenging ascents up rugged peaks. Here’s a guide to some of the best hikes in the park.
The Skyline Trail is the quintessential Mount Rainier hike, offering an up-close encounter with the mountain.
Starting from the Paradise Visitor Center, the trail takes you through various terrains, including meadows filled with wildflowers in the summer, rocky landscapes, and even snowfields.
The trail’s highlight is Panorama Point, where you can enjoy some of the best views of Mount Rainier and the surrounding Tatoosh Range. Along the way, look for marmots and other wildlife.
This is one of the best rainier hikes, but it’s also generally the most popular route, so we’d advise an early start to avoid the crowds.
Reaching the summit of Mount Rainier is a dream for many, but it’s a seriously challenging hike that requires some decent mountaineering skills.
Those not ready for the full summit attempt can take a hike to Camp Muir to taste the experience.
If you’re prepared for the whole challenge but want to take it slow, you could always spend a night at Camp Muir and continue to the summit in the morning.
The hike starts from Paradise and ascends to 10,188 feet, offering spectacular views of the surrounding glaciers and peaks.
This trail is not for the faint-hearted; the ascent is steep, and the weather can change rapidly.
It’s undoubtedly one of the best hikes in Mount Rainier National Park for the sheer sense of accomplishment and the unbeatable view from the summit, but most park visitors won’t attempt it due to the climb’s difficulty.
3. The Burroughs Mountain Trail
The Burroughs Mountain Trail is one of the best hikes for anyone after rugged, alpine landscapes and close-up views of Mount Rainier.
It’s also one of the best Mount Rainier hikes if you want to get away from the more popular trails.
The trail takes you across three “Burroughs” (rocky outcrops), each offering increasingly spectacular views.
The third Burroughs is the highest and most challenging, but it’s worth the effort for the panoramic views of the White River Valley and the towering Mount Rainier.
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The Naches Peak Loop is a family-friendly hike that offers some of the best views for minimal effort. It’s one of the best hikes for an easy day walk.
Starting at Tipsoo Lake, the trail winds through meadows and past small tarns, with Mount Rainier frequently visible in the background.
The trail also briefly joins the Pacific Crest Trail, giving you a taste of this famous long-distance route - one of the
best hikes in the USA.
The best time to hike is in late summer when the wildflowers are in full bloom, and the reflection of Mount Rainier in Tipsoo Lake is picture-perfect.
The Mt. Fremont Lookout Trail is a great hike for anyone after one of the best panoramic views in the park.
From the Sunrise Visitor Center, the trail takes you through wildflower meadows and up a rocky ridge to an old fire lookout.
The lookout provides sweeping 360-degree views, including Rainier, the Cascade Range, and possibly Mount Baker on a clear day.
It’s a relatively short hike, but the elevation gain can make it more challenging.
Pinnacle Peak Trail is a short but steep hike that rewards you with some of the park’s best views.
The trail begins at Reflection Lakes and climbs steadily to Pinnacle Saddle, where you can gaze across the valley at the south face of Mount Rainier.
For the more adventurous, continuing up to Pinnacle Peak involves scrambling over loose rocks, but the views are worth it. This is certainly one of the best hikes in Mount Rainier National Park if you want a good sense of achievement after a relatively short hike.
7. Bench and Snow Lakes Trail
The Bench and Snow Lakes Trail is another relatively short hike that offers a peaceful retreat from the park’s more crowded areas.
The trail starts with a brief climb before descending to Bench Lake, where, on calm days, you can catch a stunning reflection of Mount Rainier. A bit further along is Snow Lake, a beautiful alpine lake surrounded by forest.
This hike is perfect for those looking for tranquillity and scenic beauty instead of a tough climb.
The Lakes Trail Loop is a scenic hike that takes you past some of the park’s most beautiful lakes, including Reflection Lake and the lesser-known Louise and Faraway Lakes.
It’s one of the best hikes in Paradise Mt Rainier for a fun day out, so bring a picnic and your swimming gear and take your time.
Starting from the Paradise area, the trail loops around, offering stunning views of Mount Rainier and the surrounding wilderness.
It also passes by Myrtle Falls, one of the park’s most photographed waterfalls and a great place to stop.
The Comet Falls Trail is a relatively short but steep hike to one of the park’s most impressive waterfalls.
It’s one of the best hikes in Mount Rainier National Park, although many visitors overlook it because there are other more popular trails in the Paradise section of the park.
The trail follows Van Trump Creek, offering several smaller cascades before you reach the main attraction - Comet Falls, which plunges over 300 feet.
If you want to keep going, the trail continues to Van Trump Park, adding another 1,000 feet of elevation gain.
If you’re after Mount Rainier National Park’s best hikes, then you can’t leave out the Wonderland Trail. This is the ultimate hiking experience in Mount Rainier National Park.
It’s an extensive 93-mile loop that encircles the entire mountain, taking you through diverse ecosystems, from dense forests to alpine meadows and offering unparalleled views of Mount Rainier from all angles.
Of course, it’s a multi-day backpacking adventure that requires careful planning, including permits and camp reservations. Most hikers take 10-14 days to complete the entire trail, but sections can be done as shorter hikes.
If you want to completely immerse yourself in Mount Rainier’s wilderness, this is the hiking experience for you.
These are our top picks for the best hikes in Mount Rainier National Park, which also happen to be some of the
best hikes in Washinton state. However, this list offers only a few fantastic trails, and there’s much more of the park to explore.
Without a doubt, the best way to experience the beauty of Mount Rainier National Park is with an experienced guide. Check out our 7-day
Washington Olympics and Cascades adventure that covers some of the most amazing hiking trails in Mount Rainier.
