Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park
Towering over Puget Sound, Mount Rainier is the most beloved landmark in the state of Washington. This active volcano has the largest alpine glacial system in the contiguous United States bringing climbers from around the world to test their strength year after year. The park's rich conifer forests, waterfalls, spectacular subalpine wildflower meadows and abundant wildlife offer unlimited pleasure to outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds.
At A Glance
In The Park
Superintendent: David UberuagaPhone Number: 360-569-2211
Entrance Fees: Individual Pass (valid for 7 days): $5; Vehicle Pass (valid for 7 days): $15; Commercial Tour Fees: $25-$200 (varies depending on seating capacity); Mount Rainier Annual Pass: $30
Sights: Longmire; Paradise Valley; Narada Falls; Nisqually Glacier; Nisqually Icefall; Ohanapecosh River; Sunrise; Mount Rainier; Mount Baker; Mount Adams; Emmons Glacier; Carbon River; Temperate Rain Forest; Carbon Glacier; Mowich Lake
Endangered Species: Spotted Owl; Gray Wolf; Grizzly Bear; Bull Trout (threatened); Chinook Salmon (threatened)
Important Dates
Established as Park: March 2, 1899By The Numbers
Acres: 235,625.00Highest Point: Mt. Rainier (14410 feet)
Annual Visitation: 1,113,601 (2006)
Location
Latitude / Longitude :46.856700 / -121.728260 (map it)
State: WA
Nearby Big City: Longmire, WA
Gateway Communities: Packwood, WA; Randle, WA; Goose Prairie, WA; Longmire, WA; Glenoma, WA; Enumclaw, WA; Buckley, WA; Morton, WA; Black Diamond, WA
Nearby Airports: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA); Yakima Air Terminal (YKM); Portland International Airport (PDX)
Green Features
Has Recycling? : YesHas Shuttle System? : No
Has Volunteer Program? : Yes
Park Photos
Mt Rainier Myrle Falls
Michael J Thompson
Reflection Lake
Carly Rose Hennigan
Reflection Lake 2
Yanming Di
View More Mt. Rainier Photos
In Detail
Activities & Programs Throughout the year, you can enjoy numerous activities, from nature walks and fishing to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Certain activities and programs may have been affected by the flood. Alwa ... read more.
Animals at Mt Rainier Bald eagle (Haliaetus leucocephalus) Living in coastal woodlands and along waterways, the bald eagle feeds on fish it grabs from the water with its talons, as well as salmon carcasses. Although sti ... read more.
At Your Fingertips Park Headquarters and Information (360) 569-2211 Emergencies 911 Wilderness Information www.nps.gov/mora Camping Information (360) 569-2211 Campground Reservations reservations.nps.gov Rainier Mo ... read more.
Camping at Mt Rainier Spend a night camping in Mount Rainier's lowland forests. There are over 600 campsites, half of which are available on a first-come, first-served basis; register at individual campgrounds. Although ... read more.
Hiking Trails Burroughs Mountain Trail — strenuous The five-mile loop trail crosses high mountain meadows and ridges. Beginning at Sunrise, walk along the subalpine meadows and watch for pika and marmots, sm ... read more.
Human History 5000 B.C. to A.D. 1800s — American Indian tribes live in the foothills of the mountain they call "Takhoma." 1792 — British explorer Captain George Vancouver names the mountain Mount Raini ... read more.
In A Nutshell On November 6 and 7, 2006, almost 18 inches of rain fell on Mount Rainier National Park in 36 hours. Park rivers became a churning mass of mud, trees, and rocks causing extensive damage to park roads ... read more.
Just For Kids MOUNT RAINIER A Walk in the Woods Walk the Trail of the Shadows at Longmire or the Hot Springs Trail at Ohanapecosh. These and other short nature trails have self-guiding booklets or interpretive tra ... read more.
Land of Ice Volcanic activity built Mount Rainier, but it is glaciers that shape it. True glaciers consist of at least three layers: snow, mixed snow and ice, and pure ice. They are formed because the mountain's ... read more.
Lodging & Dining Due to a two-summer, planned rehabilitation, the Paradise Inn will be closed, but the National Park Inn is open year-round. Because of limited space, book as far in advance as possible, especially in ... read more.
Mount Rainier History As the face of Mount Rainier constantly changes depending on weather, season and time of day, so does the mountain's interior. Its inner rumblings remind us that it is a mountain whose story is still ... read more.
Mt Rainier Campgrounds Cougar Rock 173 yes $15/$12 Ipsut Creek 28 Not advised $8 Ohanapecosh 188 yes $15/$12 Sunshine Point 18 yes $10 White River 112 yes $12 * For additional RV information, visit www.GoRVing.com or cal ... read more.
Oh, Ranger! "Do you get to just hike around the park everyday?" That is the question visitors often ask me on the park's trails. My quick answer is "yes" and then I attempt to explain the many facets of a visito ... read more.
Preserving the Park Old-growth forest is defined as having stands of trees more than 200 years old, but they may be much older. In Mount Rainier and Olympic National Parks, many trees are 500 to 1,000 years old! Diversi ... read more.
Sights to See "Of all the fire mountains which, like beacons, once blazed along the Pacific Coast, Mount Rainier is the noblest." — John Muir The following sights are a sampling of the best Mount Rainier ... read more.
Walking at Hiking at Rainier With more than 260 miles of trails, Mount Rainier is a hiker's paradise. The floods in November 2006 altered the entire landscape of the park, making hiking a little more challenging. Many of the tra ... read more.
Welcome to Mount Rainier Welcome to Mount Rainier, Olympic and North Cascades National Parks! Congress gave these spectacular mountain reserves their common mission when it established the National Park Service in 1916. All ... read more.
Who's Who National Park Service (NPS) Since its founding in 1916, the NPS has endeavored to preserve America's parklands for generations to come. It is responsible for preserving and protecting the environment ... read more.
Recent News
- Scientists Study Effect Of Rainier Glacier Melt September 2, 2008, 6:10 pm
- Kautz Creek: Nature's Power Is Evident August 28, 2008, 6:06 pm
- A $20 Million Remodel Preserves Paradise Inn's Charm August 25, 2008, 12:39 pm
- Ascend to Paradise on Washington's Mount Rainier August 12, 2008, 10:51 am
- Ascend to Paradise July 28, 2008, 11:36 am
- Snow greets visiting hikers at Mount Rainier July 25, 2008, 11:15 am
- Renovated Paradise Inn is back in business May 15, 2008, 1:20 pm
Mt. Rainier In Depth
News from the Parks
Ken Burns on Vacation/Location at Glacier National Park
September 5, 2008 - 1:39pm
It's too early for civilians. As dawn's first light falls on the jagged peaks, creeps down the dwindling glaciers and glides across glass-faced Swiftcurrent Lake, most of the tourists in the Many Glacier Hotel are still snoozing.
September 5, 2008 - 1:39pm
It's too early for civilians. As dawn's first light falls on the jagged peaks, creeps down the dwindling glaciers and glides across glass-faced Swiftcurrent Lake, most of the tourists in the Many Glacier Hotel are still snoozing.
Town Government Rejected by Tusayan
September 5, 2008 - 12:15pm
Tusayan voters have rejected creating a town government for their small community just outside Grand Canyon National Park. Voters turned down incorporation 69-56 in a divisive election over development issues. "We once again said no to massive commercial development here in Tusayan," said Clarinda Vail, a spokeswoman for the Vote No on Tusayan Incorporation group.
September 5, 2008 - 12:15pm
Tusayan voters have rejected creating a town government for their small community just outside Grand Canyon National Park. Voters turned down incorporation 69-56 in a divisive election over development issues. "We once again said no to massive commercial development here in Tusayan," said Clarinda Vail, a spokeswoman for the Vote No on Tusayan Incorporation group.
Tauck Hosts its 10,000th Guest-Volunteer in Yellowstone National Park
September 4, 2008 - 4:32pm
Tauck World Discovery celebrated a unique milestone recently when it hosted the 10,000th participant in its award-winning guest-volunteer program in Yellowstone National Park. The 10,000th volunteer was in one of three Tauck tour groups working in the Park over the weekend of July 19 - 20. The volunteers each donated a portion of their vacation time with Tauck, an escorted tour operator, to work on preservation and beautification projects in Yellowstone National Park.
September 4, 2008 - 4:32pm
Tauck World Discovery celebrated a unique milestone recently when it hosted the 10,000th participant in its award-winning guest-volunteer program in Yellowstone National Park. The 10,000th volunteer was in one of three Tauck tour groups working in the Park over the weekend of July 19 - 20. The volunteers each donated a portion of their vacation time with Tauck, an escorted tour operator, to work on preservation and beautification projects in Yellowstone National Park.
Dupuyer Elementary School Offering Students Unique Learning Experiences
September 4, 2008 - 4:24pm
Dupuyer students started class Wednesday, Aug. 27, and though their numbers are way down from last year, teacher Lydia Mild has some special educational treats for her five students. To kick off the year, the Dupuyer students are doing a comparison unit between Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park. According to Mild, the unit will cover migratory trails, native tribes and many other aspects of the parks.
September 4, 2008 - 4:24pm
Dupuyer students started class Wednesday, Aug. 27, and though their numbers are way down from last year, teacher Lydia Mild has some special educational treats for her five students. To kick off the year, the Dupuyer students are doing a comparison unit between Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park. According to Mild, the unit will cover migratory trails, native tribes and many other aspects of the parks.
Boston Trustees Discuss Township Issues
September 4, 2008 - 3:52pm
Boston Township Trustee Gerald Ritch told board members at the Aug. 27 meeting that it appeared unlikely the township could obtain state Issue I grant money to repair or replace failed septic systems of some township businesses. Ritch said a Summit County official told him Coventry Township was able to obtain money in a similar situation, but septic systems are not considered infrastructure, making it unlikely township businesses would qualify.
September 4, 2008 - 3:52pm
Boston Township Trustee Gerald Ritch told board members at the Aug. 27 meeting that it appeared unlikely the township could obtain state Issue I grant money to repair or replace failed septic systems of some township businesses. Ritch said a Summit County official told him Coventry Township was able to obtain money in a similar situation, but septic systems are not considered infrastructure, making it unlikely township businesses would qualify.
