How do you plan the perfect Mount Rainier National Park itinerary?
The answer to this question depends on how much time you have to spend in the park and how much you like to go hiking.
At a minimumyou need two days in the parkin order to visit the highlights and hike a few trails. With a third dayyou can explore a quiet corner of the park for a highly underrated experience. And if you are an avid hikeror if you like to travel at a slower paceit would be easy to spend a week here and never run out of things to do.
In this postget an overview on the best things to do in the parkwhen to visitand learn how to plan your Mount Rainier itinerarybased on your interests and available time.
IMPORTANT: There is a construction project planned for 2026which will impact travel through the park and what is open to visit. Ohanapecosh Campground is also closedwhich will affect those who want to hike the Silver Falls Loop. Get the full details on the National Park Service website.
Overview of Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier is a glacier-cappedactive volcano that can be seen from hundreds of miles away. At 14,411 feet (4,392 meters)Mount Rainier is the tallest mountain in Washington state and the Cascade Range.
With its forests of evergreen treessubalpine lakesand network of hiking trailsthis is an outdoor paradise for many travelers.
Mount Rainier is located centrally within the national park. Due to its massive sizesnow fieldsand forested lower slopesno roads cut across the center of the park. To visit Mount Rainier National Parkyou will drive the roads that circumnavigate around the mountain and take the short access roads to get closer to Mount Rainier.
The geography of this national parkplus its large sizemakes it impossible to zip through the park in just a day or two. Mount Rainier is a beautiful park to explorewhether or not you are a hikerwhich is why I recommend spending a minimum of three days here.
Best Time to Visit Mount Rainier National Park
The summer and early fall is the best time to visit Mount Rainier National Park. This is when all of the roads will be open and many hiking trails will be free of snow. During the summer monthsthe weather is also the warmest and driest of the year.
The wildflowers typically bloom from mid-July through mid-August. If you want to see Mount Rainier during the peak blooming seasonplan your visit for early August.
In the spring and fallthe weather is damp and chilly. During the winter monthsmassive amounts of snow can fall in the park. It is not unusual for Paradise to get over 50 feet of snow each winter.
During the winter monthsyou can visit Paradise and go snow shoeingsleddingskiingand snowboarding. Snowmobiling is permitted in the southwest corner of the park.
In early fallseveral main roads close in the park and don’t reopen to mid to late-springcutting off access to some of the best places to visit in Mount Rainier.
Road Closures in Mount Rainier National Park
Here are the opening and closing dates for the roads in the park:
- Stevens Canyon Road: open during the summer and early fall
- Sunrise Road: opens in late June or early July and closes in late September or early October
- Chinook Pass and Cayuse Pass: Chinook Pass and Cayuse Pass are generally open from Memorial Day through mid-Novemberdepending on snowfall
For updates on road statusvisit the National Park Service website.
Bench Lake
Best Things to Do in Mount Rainier National Park
Here is a list of the top things to do in Mount Rainier National Park. For more informationand many more photoscheck out our guide to the Best Things to Do in Mount Rainier National Park ↓
14 Amazing Things to Do in Mount Rainier National Park
Best things to do in Mount Rainierfrom epic hikes to scenic drives and gorgeous viewpoints.1. Visit Paradise. Paradise is one of the most beautiful areas of Mount Rainier National Park. Take your pick from numerous hiking trails that lead higher onto Mount Rainier. The shortereasier trails take you up to nice viewpoints of the mountainand these include the Alta Vista Trail (1.7 miles) and the Nisqually Vista Trail (1.2 miles).
2. Hike the Skyline Trail. Located in Paradisethis is one of the best hikes in Mount Rainier National Park. It’s a tough 6 mile hike but the views from Panorama Point are jaw-dropping.
3. See Myrtle Falls. Myrtle Falls is also located in Paradise. It’s a short stroll to one of the prettiest waterfalls in the park (and more great views of Mount Rainier).
Myrtle Falls
4. Visit Reflection Lake. This colorful lake is located near Paradise. From here you have a great view of Mount Rainier and it’s a great spot for a family photo.
5. Go hiking in Sunrise. Like ParadiseSunrise is one of the best places to spend your time in Mount Rainier National Park. There are a handful of hikes that start in Sunriseranging from shorteasy strolls to challenging day hikes.
6. Walk the Grove of the Patriarchs Trail. This easy1.5-mile walking trail takes you past some of the largest and oldest trees in Mount Rainier National Park.
7. Scenic Drives and Overlooks. Drive the Cayuse Pass and Chinook Pass for stunning views of Mount Rainier. As you drive through the parkthere are also numerous overlooks to visit. Our favorites are Sunrise Point and Ricksecker Point.
8. Go Hiking. One of the best ways to experience Mount Rainier National Park is from a hiking trailof which there are many. Read our article 15 Epic Hikes in Mount Rainier to learn more.
9. Ride the Mount Rainier Gondola. For one of the best views of Mount Rainierride the Mount Rainier Gondola to Crystal Mountain. As you have lunch or dinner at Summit House Restaurantenjoy the spectacular view.
10. Wonderland Trail. The Wonderland Trail is a 93-mile trail that circumnavigates around Mount Rainier. On averageit takes between 9 and 13 days to hike the entire loop.
11. Summit Mount Rainier. It takes most people 2 to 3 days to summit Mount Rainier. You will need a climbing permit and you should have experience mountaineering and hiking glaciated peaks before doing this climb.
Overlooking Paradise from Panorama Point on the Skyline Trail.
How Many Days Do You Need in Mount Rainier?
I recommend spending at least three days in Mount Rainier National Park (one day for Sunriseone day for Paradiseand one day to either explore the Carbon River area of the park or spend more time on the hiking trails). Extra days give you more time for hikingfor exploring quiet corners of the parkand some contingency time just in case you get bad weather.
We spent six days here and still could have used more time. The hikes are incredible and there are a lot to choose from.
Please practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace: plan aheadstay on the trailpack out what you bring to the hiking trailleave areas as you found themminimize campfire impactsbe considerate of other hikersand do not approach or feed wildlife.
Mount Rainier National Park Itinerary
FirstI list a sample 2 day itinerary which gives you a nice overview of Mount Rainier National Park. This itinerary includes the highlights (SunriseParadiseand Ohanapecosh).
Note: This was originally written as a 3-day itinerary. With the Mowich Road closurethe Carbon River area of the park is not open (that was day 3 of the itinerary).
Following the 2 day Mount Rainier National Park itineraryI give you suggestions on how to add more timeand the exact 6 day itinerary from our visit.
These itineraries work best from July through mid-Octoberwhen the roads are open and the weather is warm.
Wildflowers on the trail to Summerland
2 Day Mount Rainier National Park Itinerary
This 2-day itinerary is a good place to start when planning your trip. It is easy to add on to thisif you have more time.
This itinerary starts in Packwood, which is located near the southeastern corner of Mount Rainier National Park. Packwood makes a great home base for exploring the Sunrise and Paradise corridors of the park. You can also spend the first night in Ashford or at the Paradise Innbut you will spend a lot more time on the road today.
In Packwoodwe stayed at the Cowlitz River Lodge. The Packwood Lodge and the Packwood Ski or Vacation Getaway also get good reviews. For dinnerwe recommend Packwood Brewing Company and Cliff Droppers.
Day 1: Sunrise
On the Road (from Packwood): 110 miles3.5 hours
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Morning: Sunrise
Spend the morning in Sunrise. This is the highest you can get by car in the park. At an elevation of 6,400 feetnot only do you have fantastic views of Mount Rainierbut you can also look out over the Cascade Range.
On the driveget out and stretch your legs at Sunrise Point. From this hairpin bend in Sunrise Park Roadnot only do you get a great view of the peak of Mount Rainierbut you can also see Mount Adamsthe second highest peak in Washington.
Sunrise Point
Take your pick from the list of trails that start in Sunrise. Some are short and sweet and others are much more strenuous.
I recommend hiking the Sourdough Ridge Trail…the views of Mount Rainier are awesome. For the best experiencecontinue out to the Mount Fremont Fire Lookout for truly spectacular views (6 miles round trip). The Sunrise Nature Trail is also nice hike if you are looking for something shorter.
For a detailed list of hikes in Sunrisecheck out our article 15 Epic Day Hikes in Mount Rainier National Park.
Sourdough Ridge Trail
PRO TRAVEL TIP: Sunrise Road is only open during the summer. The road opens in late June or early July and closes in late September or early October.
Afternoon: Crystal Mountain
For one of the best views of Mount Rainier with very little effortride the Mount Rainier Gondola to Crystal Mountain.
From Crystal Mountain Resortride the gondola up to the peak of Crystal Mountain. This is the location of the Summit House Restaurant, Washington’s highest elevation restaurant.
The food is great and the view from the outdoor patio is absolutely amazing. There is also indoor seating if it is cold. Even during the summer monthstemperatures can be very chillyso bring extra layers for warmth.
For more details on hours and pricingvisit the official website.
Late Afternoon: Grove of the Patriarchs
As you drive south to Packwoodit’s worth hiking the Grove of the Patriarchs trail this afternoonif you still have energy and if you can get a parking spot. Doing this now this frees up more time tomorrow.
This easy1.5 mile round-trip trail takes you past some of the largest and oldest trees in Mount Rainier National Park. These ancient Douglas firswestern red cedarsand western hemlocks are enormous. You will cross a suspension bridge and then walk on a series of boardwalk and dirt trails through the forest.
The Grove of the Patriarchs Trail is closed due to damage to the suspension bridge from flooding. Get updates on the National Park Service website.
Tonightsleep in Packwood.
Grove of the Patriarchs
Day 2: Paradise
On the Road: 60 miles2 hours
Morning: Sights Along Stevens Canyon Road
If you didn’t walk the Grove of the Patriarchs trail yesterday (once it reopens)this is the perfect place to start your day.
After visiting the Grove of the Patriarchstake Stevens Canyon Road west towards Paradise. On the drivemake the quick stop at Reflection Lake. You will also pass the trailhead for Snow and Bench Lakesbut I recommend skipping this hikein order to give you more time in Paradise.
Reflection Lake
Late Morning & Midday: Paradise
Once in Paradisetake your pick from numerous hiking trails that lead higher onto Mount Rainier. The shortereasier trails take you up to nice viewpoints of the mountain and these include the Alta Vista Trail (1.7 miles) and the Nisqually Vista Trail (1.2 miles). And don’t miss the shorteasy walk to Myrtle Falls (1 mileeasy30 minutes).
For the best experiencehike the Skyline Trail to Panorama Point, one of the best hikes in Mount Rainier National Park. It’s a big day6.2 miles round trip with some hefty elevation gainbut you are rewarded with panoramic views of the park.
Skyline Trail
Afternoon
Once you are finished in Paradisecontinue the drive west on Stevens Canyon Road. Optional stops along the drive are Narada Falls and Ricksecker Point.
With More Time
If you are an avid hikeror if you just want to see more of the parkhere are sample days to add onto your itinerary.
Hike the Summerland Trail to Panhandle Gap
This longtough hike has a little bit of everything… old growth forestsfields of wildflowersviews of Mount Rainierthe chance to spot wildlifehigh alpine viewsand panoramic views out to Mount Adams.
This hike is 12 miles long and takes 5 to 7 hours. It won’t take up a full day of your timebut most likely it will leave you feeling tiredso you could spend the rest of your day chilling at your hotel or campsite.
Summerland Trail to Panhandle Gap Hike | Mount Rainier National Park
Step-by-step trail guide for the Summerland Trail to Panhandle Gap.Go Hiking
If you don’t want to do a long hike like the Summerland Trailthere are plenty of shorter hikes to add onto this Mount Rainier National Park itinerary. Several short trails that we like and recommend are the Silver Falls Loop (3.4 miles2 hourseasy)Naches Peak Loop (3.6 miles2 hourseasy to moderate)and the Bench and Snow Lakes Trail (2.7 miles2 hoursmoderate). You can also go on another hike in Sunrisesince so many hikes start here.
15 Epic Hikes in Mount Rainier National Park
Here are 15 hikes in Mount Rainier National Parkranging from shorteasy trails to longerfull day efforts.
Silver Falls
Summit Mount Rainier
If you want to do something truly epic that does not take up a lot of timeconsider summiting Mount Rainier. This typically takes 2 days and most people do it with an experienced guide.
6 Day Mount Rainier National Park Itinerary
Here is our exact 6 day itinerary for Mount Rainier National Park. We visited Mount Rainier on a road trip through Washington. Just prior to our visit in Mount Rainier we were in Olympic National Park. From Mount Rainierwe traveled north to Leavenworththe Enchantments, and North Cascades National Park.
Day 1: Morning: drive from Olympic National Park to Packwood. Midday an afternoon: Sunrise and the hike to Mount Fremont LookoutGrove of the Patriarchs Trail. Sleep in Packwood.
Day 2: Hike to Sun Top Lookout (we found this hike to be boring and since we did this on a cloudy morningwe had zero visibility of Mount Rainier)Mount Rainier Gondola to Crystal MountainSilver Falls Loop Trail. Sleep in Packwood.
Day 3: Summerland Trail Hike. Sleep in Packwood.
Day 4: Naches Peak Loop hike. Bench and Snow Lakes hike. Reflection Lake. Paradise and the Nisqually Vista Trail. Narada Falls. Tim hiked the Skyline Trail in Paradise solo. Sleep in Ashford.
Day 5: Kara and I hiked the Skyline Trail together in the morning. Sleep in Ashford.
Day 6: Tolmie Peak Fire Lookout hike (this is currently inaccessible because of the Mowich Road closure). Sleep in Puyallup.
Tim had to work remotely on day 5which is why he hiked the Skyline Trail solo on the evening of day 4 (he had a full time job outside of running this website). We also have some lighter days in this itinerarysince we need time to answer emails and comments on the website as we travel.
Skyline Trail
Practical Information
Park Hours: The park is open 24 hours a day365 days a year. Just be aware that large areas of the park will be closed due to road closures from winter weather.
Park Fee: $30 per vehiclevalid for 7 days. For a longer staypurchase the Mount Rainier Annual Pass for $55 which gives you unlimited visits for one year.
If you plan to visit multiple national parkspurchase the America the Beautiful Pass ($80 and valid for all of the national parks for one year).
As you plan your trip and just before your visitget updates on trail and road closures and park conditions on the National Park Service website.
If you have any questions about this Mount Rainier National Park itinerarylet us know in the comment section below.
If this is part of a bigger road trip through the USAvisit our United States Travel Guide and our Washington Travel Guide for more inspiration and travel planning tips.
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