Located approximately an hour and forty five minutes southeast of Seattle, Mount Rainier is one of Washington's most iconic and beautiful natural attractions. Ascending to a height of over 14,400 feet, the stratovolcano is a horizon fixture on clear days. Its snow-capped peak is impossible to miss from all over Western Washington and Mount Rainier National Park offers a wondrous getaway location for a weekend excursion.
The park is one of the oldest national parks in the United States, having been established back in 1899. It is home to the Wonderland Trail, a hiking trail over 90 miles long that encircles the park. Each turn reveals stunning vistas, hidden waterfalls and glimpses of native wildlife like snowshoe hare, deer and even elk. The trail is broken up into multiple paths of varying difficulty if the full hike seems a bit daunting.
For accommodations, Mount Rainier National Park offers a variety of inns. The historic Paradise Inn has been a destination for travelers since 1916. Located on the south slope of the mountain, Paradise Inn offers an ideal starting point for those hoping to make a weekend out of exploring the mountain. The National Park Inn at Longmire is the second most visited lodge in the park. Longmire offers a more secluded location than the heavily visited Paradise. Sunrise is the most remote lodging area, located on a ten mile turnoff from the White River park entrance.
Mount Rainier National Park is a guaranteed crowd pleaser.
