Mount Rainier National Park

 

Mount Rainier National Park

Established in 1899 as the nation’s fifth national park, Mount Rainier National Park encompasses 236,381 acres of pristine wilderness in west-central Washington. At its heart stands Mount Rainier, an active stratovolcano rising to an elevation of 14,411 feet, making it the highest peak in the Cascade Range. Located roughly 60 miles southeast of Seattle, the park features a rich tapestry of ecosystems ranging from dense, old-growth lowland forests to subalpine meadows, and 25 named glaciers.

 

About Our Hike

Setting off on the Alta Vista Trail from Paradise, our morning hike brought us right into the heart of Mount Rainier’s subalpine beauty. What started as a short route quickly proved its punch, leading us up stone steps and steep paved climbs reaching inclines as steep as 28.9%. As the paved trail transitioned to dirt, every step delivered incredible scenery—from vibrant alpine wildflowers and cascading hillside waterfalls to a surprise grouse sighting and word of bears roaming the upper slopes. Though shifting clouds eventually drifted across the peak, this climb up the Alta Vista loop offered an unforgettable, front-row experience on the mountain.

 

Hike Overview
  • • Location: Paradise and Alta Vista Trails in Mount Rainier National Park
    • Start/Finish: parking lot at visitors center
    • Course Type: out and back
    • Course Surface: paved and dirt
    • Distance: 1.41 miles
    • Moving time: 40:54
    • Average Pace: 29:07 minute/mile
  • • Elevation Gain: 514 feet
    • Elevation Range: 5,434 feet to 5,958 feet
    • Weather: 53° (feels like 56°) and mostly sunny
    • Date of Hike: July 30, 2026
    • Start time: 10:51 AM
  • • Route map from Strava:

 

Pictures Tell the Story

Eager to find the Tanwax Country Chapel in Eatonville, Washington, the church famous for welcoming visitors with a bench and a sweeping view of Mount Rainier, we pulled into the parking lot. While the mountain was practically hidden from the naked eye by foggy mist, our camera caught it peeking through, and we were thrilled to get our very first glimpse!

 

Concerned about the dreaded two-hour mid-morning entrance lines we’d read about online, we left our hotel early and arrived at the park shortly after 9 AM.

 

We lucked out with brilliant blue skies and a few puffy white clouds, getting our first look at Mount Rainier in all her glory from a roadside pull-off just inside the park.

 

Wispy clouds drifted in and out all morning, but luckily the peak was never socked in, and the clouds just added great depth and character to our photos.

 

After stopping at the visitor center to stamp my passport and pick up a few stickers, we crossed the parking lot and headed up the Alta Vista Trail for a closer look at Mount Rainier.

 

But first, a touristy picture! Part of the quote was cut off on the steps, but the full text reads: “…the most luxuriant and the most extravagantly beautiful of all the alpine gardens I ever beheld in all my mountain-top wanderings.” — John Muir, 1889

 

Our short hike started with a flight of steps before turning into a steady climb along a paved trail, reaching grades as steep as 28.9% as we made our way up the mountain.

 

Eventually, we reached the top of the steepest paved climb and were greeted by a magnificent view of Mount Rainier as the trail transitioned to dirt.

 

A very friendly ranger had warned us earlier about several bear sightings along the trail that morning. As we approached this spot with a beautiful alpine cascade tumbling down the slope in the distance, fellow hikers mentioned they’d just watched a couple of bears saunter into the trees that can be seen on the middle left side of the photo!

 

Once we reached the intersection of the Alta Vista and Skyline Trails, the large viewing area rewarded us with a crystal-clear view of Mount Rainier.

 

We continued up the lollipop loop of the Alta Vista Trail, but instead of completing the full circle, we turned around at the summit and retraced our steps back down.

 

By the time we hiked back down to the main viewing area and were ready to ask someone to take our picture, a few clouds had rolled in, partially blocking our once crystal-clear view.

 

In addition to taking in the stunning views of Mount Rainier, I loved admiring the beautiful alpine flowers along the trail and even spotted a grouse tucked into the meadow.

 

Our descent was quick and easy, with a few occasional stops to snap more photos along the way.

 

Post-hike, we walked a mile down Valley Road back to where my husband had parked the SUV—since the lot was full when he dropped me off at the visitor center earlier. The extra walk gave us a chance to admire even more beautiful alpine flowers and spot a black-tailed deer trotting along the side of the road.

 

Garmin Stats

Garmin map and elevation chart…

 

Final Thoughts on Our Hike

Overall, the Alta Vista Trail was an absolute highlight of our morning at Mount Rainier. Though short, its steep inclines provided a fantastic workout, and the views made every step worthwhile. If you ever have the chance to visit Mount Rainier National Park, we highly recommend adding it to your list!

 

Questions
  • • Have you ever visited Mount Rainier National Park, or is it on your travel wishlist? ~ This was our first visit.
  • • Have you ever spotted bears or other wildlife while out on a hike? Where was your most memorable sighting? ~ Our most memorable wildlife sightings happened in Glacier (grizzly bears loping toward us) and Grand Tetons (a huge moose standing on the trail).
  • • Are you the type of hiker who powers straight to the summit, or do you stop every few minutes to take photos like we do?

 

I’m linking up with Jenn from Runs with Pugs and Jenny of Runners Fly for Tuesday topics Link-Up. Be sure to check out not only the hosts’ posts, but those of the other great bloggers joining in on the fun!