Mount Rainier National Park is located in western Washington state about 90 miles southeast of Seattle. The big attraction in the park is of course, Mount Rainier. It is still considered an active volcano even though it is encased in 35 square miles of snow and ice.
Mount Rainier National Park is approximately 97 percent wilderness and 3 percent National Historic Landmark District and receives approximately 2 million visitors per year.
At 14,410 feet, Mount Rainier is the most prominent peak in the Cascade Range. It dominates the landscape of a large part of western Washington State.
The mountain stands nearly three miles higher than the lowlands to the west and one and one-half miles higher than the adjacent mountains. It is an active volcano that last erupted approximately 150 years ago.
Mount Rainier National Park is open all year, but access is limited in winter.
The area known as Paradise inside the park is one of the snowiest places on earth and is certainly worthy of a winter visit. From November to late May expect to find 10 to 20 feet of snow on the ground. The last time we visited in 1993 we encountered 12 feet of snow at the end of May.
Approximately 630" of snow falls in an average winter at Paradise--in the winter of 1971-72, Paradise established a world's record with 1122" of snow! That's more than 93 feet of snow in one season!
Mount Rainier National Park is really an incredible place and you can enjoy winter like conditions at higher elevations well into June. The scenery is impeccable, the wildlife is diverse, the plant life is gorgeous and the history is captivating.
Plan your Mount Rainier vacation escape today. Here are some maps of the park and surrounding areas to help you get better acquainted with Mt Rainier.
Mount Rainier National Park
Mt Rainier National Park was established in 1899 and covers 235,625 acres (97% is designated Wilderness). Includes Mount Rainier (14,410'), an active volcano encased in over 35 square miles of snow and ice. The park contains outstanding examples of old growth forests and subalpine meadows.
For accommodations in and around the park we recommend the service below. Enjoy your stay...
