Mount Rainier National Park has over 260 miles of maintained trails, but 15 of them account for most of what makes the park worth the drive from Seattle. This list covers all five park areas — Paradise, Sunrise, Ohanapecosh, Carbon River, and Mowich Lake — with actual distances and elevation gains (not estimates), difficulty ratings based on steepness not just distance, and the best season for each. The hikes are ordered easy to strenuous so you can find your level quickly. Not up for hiking? See our Mount Rainier scenic drives guide — Stevens Canyon Road and Sunrise Road put you at the best viewpoints without leaving your car. Hiking with an eye toward wildlife? Marmots are nearly guaranteed at Paradise and Sunrise; elk, bears, and mountain goats frequent many of these same trail corridors — see the wildlife viewing guide for where and when to spot each species. Deciding between Mount Rainier and Olympic National Park for your Washington trip? The Mount Rainier vs. Olympic National Park comparison breaks down hiking quality, wildlife, distance from Seattle, and which park suits which traveler.
At a Glance: All 15 Hikes
| # | Trail | Area | Distance | Gain | Difficulty | Best Month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trail of the Shadows | Longmire | 0.7 mi loop | 20 ft | Easy | May–Oct |
| 2 | Grove of the Patriarchs | Ohanapecosh | 1.3 mi loop | 40 ft | Easy | May–Oct |
| 3 | Carbon River Rainforest Loop | Carbon River | 1.5 mi | 30 ft | Easy | Year-round |
| 4 | Alta Vista Loop | Paradise | 1.5 mi loop | 500 ft | Easy–Mod | Jul–Sep |
| 5 | Naches Peak Loop | Chinook Pass | 3.5 mi loop | 600 ft | Easy–Mod | Jul–Sep |
| 6 | Bench and Snow Lakes | Stevens Canyon | 2.5 mi RT | 650 ft | Easy–Mod | Jul–Oct |
| 7 | Comet Falls | WA-706 | 3.8 mi RT | 1,200 ft | Moderate | Jun–Oct |
| 8 | Sunrise Rim / Emmons Vista | Sunrise | 2.5–5 mi | 400 ft | Moderate | Jul–Sep |
| 9 | Skyline Trail Loop | Paradise | 5.5 mi loop | 1,700 ft | Moderate | Jul–Sep |
| 10 | Tolmie Peak Lookout | Mowich Lake | 6.5 mi RT | 1,050 ft | Moderate | Jul–Sep |
| 11 | Spray Park | Mowich Lake | 8 mi RT | 1,500 ft | Moderate | Jul–Sep |
| 12 | Summerland | White River | 8.4 mi RT | 1,500 ft | Mod–Stren | Aug–Sep |
| 13 | Burroughs Mountain | Sunrise | 7 mi RT | 1,900 ft | Strenuous | Aug–Sep |
| 14 | Van Trump Park via Comet Falls | WA-706 | 5.5 mi RT | 2,200 ft | Strenuous | Jul–Sep |
| 15 | Pinnacle Peak Saddle | Stevens Canyon | 2.6 mi RT | 1,100 ft | Strenuous | Aug–Sep |
Easy Hikes
1. Trail of the Shadows — 0.7 mi loop, 20 ft gain, Easy
Area: Longmire | Best: May–Oct | Parking: Longmire lot (free with pass)
The shortest hike on this list and a genuine surprise for first-timers. The paved and boardwalk loop circles a natural mineral spring pool (the water is not drinkable), passing the ruins of James Longmire's early homestead buildings and towering old-growth fir. It takes about 20 minutes to walk but the forest atmosphere — ancient trees, mossy understory, bubbling springs — is the same magic as the higher trails. Open May through October; accessible throughout the year but trail can be muddy in spring.
2. Grove of the Patriarchs — 1.3 mi loop, 40 ft gain, Easy
Area: Ohanapecosh (Stevens Canyon entrance) | Best: May–Oct | Season note: Stevens Canyon Road open July–Oct
One of the most remarkable short hikes in any national park. The trail crosses a narrow suspension footbridge over the Ohanapecosh River onto a river island that protected an old-growth stand from the fires that swept the surrounding forest centuries ago. The result: Douglas firs and western red cedars up to 1,000 years old and 25 feet in circumference. Kids and first-time visitors are uniformly stunned. Park at the trailhead just off Stevens Canyon Road, 0.1 miles from the Ohanapecosh entrance. October is the best month — big-leaf maple turns gold beneath the ancient trunks. See the complete Grove of the Patriarchs trail guide for tree species, October timing, and getting there from Ashford and Packwood.
3. Carbon River Rainforest Loop — 1.5 mi, 30 ft gain, Easy
Area: Carbon River (NW entrance) | Best: Year-round | Note: Road is unpaved 5 miles to trailhead
Mount Rainier's northwest corner receives more than 140 inches of rain per year, producing the only temperate rainforest inside a national park in the contiguous United States. The boardwalk loop runs through mossy bigleaf maple, Sitka spruce, red alder, and ferns the size of small trees. The scale of everything — trees, ferns, silence — is legitimately otherworldly. The entrance road washed out years ago and is now a gravel path (park at the entrance station and walk or bike 5 miles in, or check current status with the NPS). Open year-round; the wet season (Nov–Mar) is when it looks most rainforest-like.
Easy–Moderate Hikes
4. Alta Vista Trail — 1.5 mi loop, 500 ft gain, Easy-Moderate
Area: Paradise | Best: Mid-July–September | Parking: Paradise lower or upper lot
If the Paradise parking lot is already crowded and you want a short wildflower hike without committing to the full Skyline Trail, Alta Vista is the answer. The loop climbs 500 feet above the visitor center to the Alta Vista summit knob, passing through the densest concentration of Paradise's iconic wildflower meadows. Lupine, paintbrush, bistort, and avalanche lily are thick on both sides of the trail in peak season (late July–mid August). The top has a clear Rainier summit view. Most hikers do it in 45–60 minutes. Works well combined with a visit to the visitor center.
5. Naches Peak Loop — 3.5 mi loop, 600 ft gain, Easy-Moderate
Area: Chinook Pass (SR-410, east side) | Best: Late July–September | Parking: Tipsoo Lake parking area
This is arguably the best easy-ish hike in the park for scenery relative to effort. The loop follows a section of the Pacific Crest Trail above Tipsoo Lake (which reflects Rainier perfectly on calm mornings), contours around Naches Peak through wildflower meadows, and descends back to the trailhead with panoramic views of Rainier, Tipsoo, and the Cascades in every direction. The east side of the loop (non-PCT) has the best Rainier views. Relatively modest crowds compared to Paradise. Drive to Chinook Pass on SR-410 from Enumclaw (about 1h40m from Seattle). Note: dogs are only allowed on the National Forest (north) half of the loop — not the National Park section with the reflection tarns. See the complete Naches Peak Loop trail guide for the dog-rule breakdown, wildflower timing table, and parking strategy.
6. Bench and Snow Lakes — 2.5 mi RT, 650 ft gain, Easy-Moderate
Area: Stevens Canyon Road | Best: Late July–October | Season note: Stevens Canyon Road open July–Oct
Two quiet subalpine lakes tucked above Stevens Canyon Road, reached by a trail that gains elevation briskly but not brutally. Bench Lake (1 mile in) is rimmed with subalpine fir; Snow Lake (1.25 miles) sits in a tighter cirque with a rocky headwall. In September, the surrounding meadows turn gold and rust. Far less traffic than Paradise or Sunrise on a summer weekend. The trailhead is at a pullout on Stevens Canyon Road; Stevens Canyon is summer-only (closed in winter).
Moderate Hikes
7. Comet Falls — 3.8 mi RT, 1,200 ft gain, Moderate
Area: WA-706 (between Ashford and Longmire) | Best: June–October | Parking: Van Trump Creek trailhead, WA-706
Comet Falls drops 320 feet in a single curtain — the tallest waterfall in Mount Rainier National Park. The hike to the base gains 1,200 feet in 1.9 miles, which is efficient but sustained; the trail is good quality throughout and well-traveled. The falls thunders with snowmelt in June and early July; by August and September the flow moderates but is still impressive. The trailhead is on WA-706 approximately 10 miles past the Nisqually entrance — guests at Refresh House can drive here in about 25 minutes. This is also the starting point for the longer Van Trump Park hike (#14). See the complete Comet Falls trail guide for parking strategy, waterfall flow by month, and what to expect on the trail.
8. Sunrise Rim / Emmons Vista — 2.5–5 mi, 400 ft gain, Moderate
Area: Sunrise (NE side) | Best: Late July–September | Parking: Sunrise parking lot (fills by 10am on weekends)
Sunrise sits at 6,400 feet — the highest point reachable by car in the park — and the Emmons Vista overlook trail from the visitor center delivers unobstructed views of Emmons Glacier (the largest glacier in the contiguous US by area) in the first 0.75 miles with almost no effort. Extend to the Sunrise Rim Trail for a 5-mile loop along the ridgeline above treeline with 360° Cascade views. Considerably less crowded than Paradise and with a longer open season in terms of trail conditions (east-side rain shadow means drier trails earlier in the season).
9. Skyline Trail Loop — 5.5 mi loop, 1,700 ft gain, Moderate
Area: Paradise | Best: Late July–mid-September | Parking: Paradise upper lot (fills by 9am weekends)
The definitive Mount Rainier day hike. The Skyline Trail loop starts from the Paradise visitor center, climbs through the wildflower meadows to Panorama Point (5,830 ft) with an almost aerial view of Nisqually Glacier and the summit, then descends back through a different section of meadow. The 1,700 feet of gain comes in stages so it doesn't feel punishing, and the payoff at Panorama Point — Rainier's massive glaciated face filling the sky — is one of the great views in the national park system. Wildflower peak is late July through mid-August. See the full Skyline Trail guide for the complete breakdown.
10. Tolmie Peak Lookout — 6.5 mi RT, 1,050 ft gain, Moderate
Area: Mowich Lake (NW park) | Best: Mid-July–September | Parking: Mowich Lake lot (unpaved access road)
One of the best hikes in the park that most Seattle day-trippers skip — because Mowich Lake requires driving an unpaved road that most cars handle fine but feels unfamiliar. The payoff is significant: the trail passes Eunice Lake (a classic tarn with a Rainier reflection) before climbing steeply to the historic Tolmie Peak fire lookout with panoramic views of the Cascades in all directions. In August, huckleberries line the trail on the way to Eunice Lake. Far fewer people than Paradise or Sunrise on the same day. Wildflower timing at Eunice Lake is mid-July to mid-August.
11. Spray Park — 8 mi RT, 1,500 ft gain, Moderate
Area: Mowich Lake (NW park) | Best: Early August–mid-September | Parking: Mowich Lake lot
The best wildflower hike in the park that isn't overrun with people. Spray Park is a vast, open subalpine meadow on Rainier's northwest shoulder, reached by a 4-mile trail from Mowich Lake that passes through old-growth forest and Spray Falls (a 354-ft waterfall viewable from the trail). The meadow itself is extraordinary in early-to-mid August — lupine and paintbrush in waves, a perfectly isolated feel, and close views of the Carbon and Puyallup Glaciers. The trail doesn't have the infrastructure of Paradise, which is exactly why it's better in August when Paradise is overwhelmed. Allow a full day. For bloom timing, species identification, and a Paradise vs. Spray Park comparison, see the Mount Rainier wildflowers guide.
Moderate–Strenuous Hikes
12. Summerland — 8.4 mi RT, 1,500 ft gain, Moderate–Strenuous
Area: White River (NE park) | Best: August–September | Parking: White River Campground trailhead (SR-410)
Summerland is a high alpine meadow at 5,900 feet on Rainier's east flank, reached via a trail that follows the Fryingpan Creek drainage through old-growth and then bursts into the open at one of the park's most dramatic landscapes: a broad, glacier-carved basin with Fryingpan Glacier directly ahead and the jagged Cowlitz Chimneys above. Snow can linger into July; the trail is fully open from mid-July in average years, peak condition in August. Strong hikers can continue another 1.5 miles to Panhandle Gap (6,800 ft), the high point of the Wonderland Trail, for a 360° alpine panorama.
Strenuous Hikes
13. Burroughs Mountain — 7 mi RT, 1,900 ft gain, Strenuous
Area: Sunrise | Best: August–September | Parking: Sunrise lot
Burroughs Mountain is a volcanic ridgeline above Sunrise that puts you in high Arctic-tundra terrain — no trees, no shelter, low-growing sedges and wildflowers clinging to rocky soil, and Emmons Glacier (the largest glacier in the lower 48) pouring down Rainier's northeast face directly in front of you. The trail gains 1,900 feet over 3.5 miles out to Second Burroughs (7,400 ft). Snow typically doesn't clear until early-to-mid August. On a clear day you can see Mount Adams and Mount Baker from the ridgeline. Bring windproof layers regardless of the forecast below — it's exposed and the wind is real above 7,000 feet. See the full Burroughs Mountain guide.
14. Van Trump Park via Comet Falls — 5.5 mi RT, 2,200 ft gain, Strenuous
Area: WA-706 (Van Trump Creek trailhead) | Best: Late July–September | Parking: Van Trump Creek trailhead
This extension of the Comet Falls hike keeps climbing past the falls into Van Trump Park — a high meadow above treeline at 5,800 feet with wildflowers, Kautz Glacier immediately above, and exceptional views of the Nisqually River valley below. The extra 0.85 miles above Comet Falls gain another 1,000 feet on a steeper trail with some loose footing. The meadow is quieter than Paradise and has a different perspective on the mountain's southwest face. Snow typically clears from the upper section in late July. Total round trip from the trailhead: 5.5 miles with 2,200 feet of total gain.
15. Pinnacle Peak Saddle — 2.6 mi RT, 1,100 ft gain, Strenuous
Area: Stevens Canyon Road (Reflection Lakes area) | Best: August–September | Parking: Reflection Lakes trailhead
Don't let the short distance fool you: this is the steepest trail on this list, gaining 1,100 feet in just 1.3 miles on a rocky, unmaintained climbers' path. The saddle at the top (5,920 ft) sits between Pinnacle Peak and The Castle, with an unobstructed view of Rainier over Reflection Lakes and down the Nisqually valley. The trail becomes a scramble in the final 400 feet — use hands on the rock. Best in late August and September when snow is fully cleared and Stevens Canyon Road is open. The Reflection Lakes parking area nearby is one of the park's best photography spots (calm mornings only — the reflection disappears by midday) and also the top astrophotography location in the park for night shooting; see the Mount Rainier astrophotography guide.
Practical Notes
- Entry fee: $35 per vehicle (7-day pass) or America the Beautiful annual pass ($80, covers all national parks). No additional day hiking permits required.
- Parking strategy: For Paradise, arrive before 8am on weekends (lot fills by 9am). For Sunrise, before 9:30am. Mowich Lake and Carbon River see significantly less traffic.
- Trail conditions: Check the NPS trail conditions page before any hike above 4,000 feet. Snow can persist on higher trails into July and even early August in heavy snowpack years.
- Gas: Fill up in Eatonville (SW approach) or Enumclaw (NE approach) — there's no gas inside the park. See the gas stations guide for all approach routes.
- Camping: Cougar Rock Campground (closest to Paradise) reserves 6 months in advance; White River is first-come, first-served. See the Mount Rainier camping guide for reservation strategy and all five in-park campgrounds.
- First time? If you're new to hiking at Rainier, read the beginner hiking tips guide before you go — what to wear, what to pack, altitude at Paradise, and the parking mistake that turns first-time visitors around at the gate.
- Weather: Mornings are almost always clearer than afternoons at Rainier. Be below treeline by 2pm if thunderstorms are in the forecast. See the full Mount Rainier weather guide for month-by-month data, the Paradise vs Sunrise weather difference, and what to pack.
- Paradise vs Sunrise: Not sure which side of the mountain to visit? The Paradise vs Sunrise comparison covers trails, crowds, wildflowers, and the parking situation for both areas in detail.
- Wildflower season: For peak timing by elevation, species guide, and the crowd-free Spray Park alternative to Paradise, see the Mount Rainier wildflower guide.
- Overnight backpacking: Day hike to Summerland, Indian Bar, or Spray Park — and want to spend the night? The wilderness permit guide covers advance reservations (mid-March on Recreation.gov) and walk-up permits at ranger stations.
- Trail conditions: Check the current trail conditions guide before driving out — it shows which areas are open by month and where to find real-time NPS updates.
- Timed entry (summer weekends): During peak season, Paradise and Sunrise require a vehicle reservation permit booked through Recreation.gov — on top of the park entrance fee. In-park campers, lodging guests, and vehicles arriving before ~7am are exempt. See the timed entry permit guide for booking steps, entry windows, and the full exemption list.
- Basecamp logistics: Staying in Ashford puts you 20 minutes from the Paradise trailhead and 25 minutes from Comet Falls and Van Trump Park — trail access without the 2-hour each-way drive from Seattle. See the August conditions guide, July conditions guide, September guide, and October guide for month-by-month snow and crowd timing.
- Going multi-day? The Wonderland Trail planning guide covers permits, campsite-by-campsite breakdown, and 10-day and 12-day itineraries for the 93-mile loop.
- Visiting with kids? Not every trail on this list is family-friendly. See the Mount Rainier family activities guide for age-appropriate recommendations — stroller-accessible loops, Junior Ranger program logistics, and which trails work for ages 3 to 12.
