This summer my mom and I went on vacation traveling through the Pacific Northwest and spent two days in Mount Rainier National Park. There were a lot of things within the park that we were able to take advantage of so I wanted to share the details of our trip because we truly maximized our time. While planning our trip we checked out the Adventures of A + K’s blog post and video where they outlined all of the trails and places they visited within the park which gave us a great game plan before traveling.
We stayed in the city of Packwood which was about a 10 minute drive from the Ohanapecosh area so our first day was spent in the Southeast corner of the park. When entering the park from this area we came in through the Stevens Canyon Entrance. There was a fee of $30 per car for the week – we made sure to keep our receipt because we had to show it anytime we reentered the park. From there we visited the Grove of the Patriarchs trail and Silver Falls which were both located right beyond the entrance. This area was the first place we visited on day one and I would recommend to hit it early since the Grove of the Patriarchs was heavily populated later in the day. We visited the park during Memorial Day weekend so it was pretty crowded but I am sure during any weekend or peak time it is busy since it has an easier trail.
Ohanapecosh Area: Grove of the Patriarchs & Silver Falls
The Grove of the Patriarchs is said to be one of the easiest trails in the park. It is a 1.1-mile round-trip, self guided nature trail that is great for all ages and hiking abilities. The majority of the trail is flat and there are multiple markers along the way with information about the trees, the water and the park. Towards the end of the trail loop there is a suspension bridge that takes you over the crystal clear water and onto the other side which has large featured and fallen trees.
Across the street from the Grove of the Patriarchs trail is access to Silver Falls. From the road Silver Falls is about 0.5 miles in and it is worth the trip. The beautiful turquoise water is stunning the entire way to the falls and from all vantage points along the trail. If you are looking for a quick trip, once you see the falls you can turn back around and follow the trail back to the road. But if you want to follow the entire Silver Falls trail, which we did, it will take you to the Ohanapechosh Campground and Visitor’s Center. It ended up being about a 4.6 mile round-trip adventure but honestly you wouldn’t miss anything if you visited the falls and then turned right back around. We didn’t have intentions to complete the 4.6 mile trail but we kept walking thinking we would eventually loop around but then popped out at the campground! You can also visit the Ohanapechosh Visitor’s Center by car as it is accessible by the road, right off of State Route 123 before you hit the Stevens Canyon Entrance.
Paradise Area: Paradise Inn, Reflection Lakes & Lookouts
There were a few trails and sights we planned on visiting in the Paradise area – Skyline Trail, Myrtle Falls, Reflection Lakes and Narada Falls. We started at the Visitor’s Center and found out that all of the trails and lakes were covered in snow and ice. Luckily, the main roads to the areas within the park had been plowed so we were able to hit up all the lookouts and could see the snowy trails from a distance. It was crazy to see piles of snow taller than me, especially in May.
Next to the Visitor’s Center in this area is Paradise Inn which is a national historic landmark that opened in 1917. We were able to pop in, visit the gift shop and take a seat inside to relax for a bit. There was also a cafe inside and rocking chairs on the porch which had a beautiful view of the mountain. The Paradise Inn made an impression on me and I would love to stay there one day because it was so close to the action and the view of the mountain from the rooms has to be breathtaking!
Longmire Area: Trail of Shadows & Carter Falls
On day two we entered through the Nisqually Entrance which is in the Southwest corner of the park. From there we drove 6.5 miles east to the Longmire area. Before arriving to the park I didn’t know too much about the Longmire area but I’m glad we stopped by because of the different views of the mountain with the greenery. The first place we visited in this area was, of course, the gift shop which was connected to the National Park Inn in Longmire. Across the main road from the Inn and Information Center is the Trail of Shadows. This is a 0.7 mile trail with historical and informational placards that paint a picture of the different ways this area of the park was used and developed. It took us less than 30 minutes to leisurely walk this trail, learn about the history of the park and snap a few great pictures.
Carter Falls Trail
For the Carter Falls Trail, I feel like the picture speaks for itself! This trail had one of the best views of the mountain and is a definite must see. After visiting the Longmire area we traveled about 2 miles north along Paradise Road to the Cougar Rock Campground and visited the Park Ranger who suggested Carter Falls. There were a few more places they suggested for longer hikes but since this was the end of our trip we were looking for shorter, ‘hotspot’ trails. The Carter Falls trailhead was across the road from the Cougar Rock Campground and was a pretty populated area. The first picture where you can see Mount Rainier with the bed of rocks was only about 0.1 or 0.2 miles into the trail and Carter Falls can then be seen 1.1 miles into the trail. We walked to the falls and then turned around so it was about 2.6 miles round-trip for us. As we got closer to the falls the trail started to be covered in snow more and more the further we walked. The walk alone was an adventure in itself because there were a few laughable moments where we thought we were going to fall on our boo-tays but it was a great trail to see for the pictures alone!
Before we left the park we visited the Paradise area to hit up the Paradise Inn one last time because what is better than one postcard from the giftshop… ten postcards! I was truly amazed at how much I loved this park because I never thought one mountain could look so beautiful from tons of different views. If you are ever in the area or thinking about visiting a national park, this is a great place to put on the list. I will 100% be making a trip back to Mount Rainier but will probably plan the trip for July or August since most of the snow and trails are clear during that time.
If you plan on visiting a national park, I highly recommend the National Park Service phone app. It is pretty much like a park ranger in your pocket with trail details, maps and everything you need to know to plan a great trip. Thank you for tuning into my adventures and now that traveling is picking by up I will be sharing much more camera shots and must-see spots!
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