The Best Hikes in Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington State

I have been fortunate enough to create a life that allows me to travel around the world. In the last 5 years I have visited over 15 countries and have seen some incredible sites. Regardless of where I go, my home in Washington State, USA is one of the most beautiful places in the world to me.

Washington State has some of the best hiking trails and mountain views that you can find anywhere. Washington State in the Pacific Northwest has an endless amount of beautiful outdoor views and adventures that anyone can appreciate. I want to share with you a variety of my favorite hiking trails and viewpoints in Washington State’s Mt. Rainier National Park.

Mt. Rainier National Park Trails

Mt. Rainier National Park offers an abundance of options of different trail hikes to do. The trail hikes in Mt. Rainier National Park offers options for various skill levels and different views. There are 4 different entrances to the park itself which are Carbon River, Nisquilly, Sunrise/White River and Stevens Canyon. There are other surrounding areas to Mt. Rainier National Park that offer great trails as well.

Naches Peak Loop Trail

-3.3 miles, elevation change of 575 feet

Naches Peak Loop Trail is located about 45 minutes past Naches, WA , near the town of Ashford, Wa and it just off Chinook Pass (SR 410). This particular trail is connected to the Pacific Crest Trail (a walking trail that runs from the border of Canada to the border of Mexico). The Naches Peak Loop trail is just 3.3 miles. It does have changes in elevation that make it a bit challenging but doable for all ages and levels. You will see seasoned hikers, families and joggers all using this scenic route. It offers stunning views of Mt. Rainier. This trail is great to do year round. In the Spring and Summer you are greeted with beautifully colored wildflowers, in the Fall with the gorgeous fall colors and snowfall in the winter. You can get more information, maps and current weather information from All Trails. Tipsoo Lake is on this trail, which is a gorgeous stopping point and beautiful views of Mt. Rainier in the background. This trail is a loop and it is recommended to complete it clockwise to offer the best view of Mt. Rainier.

Naches Peak Loop Trail (August) by Courtney Brady

Skyline Trail

-5.5 miles, gain of 1700 ft of elevation

Skyline trail is said to be on of the must do hiking trails in Mt. Rainier National Park. This trail is done in a loop and begins at the Henry M Jackson Visitor center in Paradise, WA. This hiking trail in Mt. Rainier National Park offers different varieties of terrain, even snow can be seen year round. It offers stunning views through meadows and glaciers. This hike is considered to be at a moderate level.

Glacier Basin Trail

-7 miles, elevation gain of 1700 feet

This Washington State hiking trail is in the White River area of Mt. Rainier National Park. This trail is also of a moderate hiking level. You can actually meet up with the Burroughs mountain trail (below) along this basin route.

Mount Freemont Lookout

-5.4 miles, elevation gain of 900 ft

This trail and several others, begin at the Sunrise visitor center within the Mt. Rainier National Park. This trail is of a moderate level and takes about 3 hours to complete it. This trail features a historic fire lookout and according to Visit Rainier it is also kid friendly. You can see a great map of the trails that can be taken from Sunrise Visitor Center HERE.

Burroughs Mountain

-6.3 miles, elevation gain of 1,000 ft

This trail begins at the Sunrise Visitor Center as well. This mountain trail gives you 360 degrees of stunning views. When I completed this trail it was actually a bit of a foggy/rainy day. This mist added to the the experience and gave it a whole different feel the than views you may see on a clear day. Typically you can see stunning views of Mt. Rainier along your journey. Either forms of weather provide a great day hike with great views in Mt. Rainier National Park.

Wonderland Trail

-93 miles with a gain of 22,000 ft

This trail is for those that are looking for an ambitious trek of 93 miles long. This trail runs around the whole basin of Mt. Rainier. This is not a trail to do for beginners. You must get the right permit to camp overnight and takes up to 14 days to complete the whole thing. This trail can start from a number of points, as it is a loop there does not have to be a specific start or end point but some choose to use Longmire to begin the trail. For more detailed information about completing this hike and what to bring, refer to Visit Rainier.

Camp Muir

-8 miles, elevation gain of 4700

Camp Muir is the base camp of Mt. Rainier. It is the highest you can go without needing to get a permit. This is a hike for experienced hikers, as much of it may need to be completed through the snow. Unexpected weather changes can happen on this hike being so close to Mt. Rainier. It is very important that those who complete these know what they are doing and have the right equipment. Use the Nisqually entrance to the park and begin at Henry M. Jackson Visitor center in Paradise.

When to go

If you choose one time of year to go to Mt. Rainier national park, summer is probably your best choice. You can see beautiful green all around wild flowers, with the beautiful contrast of white capped Mt. Rainier. However there are options to also go in the spring and fall bringing other colors that are beautiful as well. The winter may make it a bit more difficult to get into the park.

Hiking Experience with Photos

Have you ever wished you could get those epic photos you see on Instagram on one of your hikes? Local photographer Ross James has created the experience just for that. You can check it out HERE. You can also contact him directly at https://rossjames.net/ or follow him @rossjamesphoto to get some beautiful photos in Mt. Rainier National Park.

He also just released some clothing with his stunning photo below. Check them out HERE

Photo by Ross James https://rossjames.net/

There are many amazing hikes throughout the Pacific Northwest and in Washington State in particular. Mt. Rainier National Park holds some hikes with the most stunning views you can find. No matter what your hiking ability or level is, there is a chance for you to see some incredible views and be surrounded by nature.

by Courtney Brady