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Ashford, 23 miles
Auburn, 62 miles
Buckley, 59 miles
Crystal Mountain, 46 miles
Eatonville, 44 miles
Elbe, 31 miles
Enumclaw, 63 miles
Greenwater, 19 miles
Mineral, 19 miles
Morton, 30 miles
Packwood, 29 miles
Randle, 48 miles
Tacoma, 60 miles
Yakima, 74 miles
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Description of the Park
Mount Rainier National Park was designed from a master plan which included such things as roads with scenic lookouts, trails and visitor centers. The roads were carefully engineered to make the least impact on the landscape, so you will notice they are narrow, and trees grow close. This creates a wonderful atmosphere to quickly transport you beyond the reminders of the nearby urban belt and bring you to the many beauties of the park which are easily accessed in short walks that ring the mountain. The further you are willing to hike, of course, the more you will see of the views, vegetation, wildlife, rivers, waterfalls, springs and canyons.
The
park has more than 300 miles of trails that are usually snow-free from
mid-July through September. They range from short walks from viewpoints and
visitor centers to the 93-mile Wonderland Trail which completely encircles
the mountain. A circuit of the latter takes about 10-14 days. There are a
number of self-guiding nature walks. Ask at the visitor centers about
naturalist talks and walks in summer, and snowshoe walks in winter. Horses
are allowed on 100 miles of the trails.
The mountain is encircled by old-growth forest, filled with majestic Douglas-fir, red cedar and western hemlock. In the wettest area of the park near Carbon River in the northwest, some botanists contend the vegetation is an example of temperate rain forest. In summer the Park puts on displays of wildflowers that carpet the sub-alpine meadows. The greening meadows follow the zone of contact between advancing springtime and retreating winter, up the mountain. The best time to see the flowers is mid-July to mid-August.
The area abounds with wildlife which is readily seen upon the open, sub-alpine landscape. You can usually see birds, marmots, chipmunks, chickarees, squirrels, pikas and deer without wandering too far. Elk and black bear are more elusive. To see mountain goats, you'll have to hike up to the high country where they live. If you are serious about seeing wildlife, you will need to be on the trails well before 11:00 am.
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Mt.
Rainier: Adventures and Views by John Harlin III and James Martin. Get
up close and personal with the of Mount Rainier. Photographer James Martin
captures the awesome beauty of this majestic peak, from its icy glaciers to
its lush alpine meadows, while climber and writer John Harlin provides
engrossing accounts of adventure on the mountain.
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Washington's
Mount Rainier National Park: A Centennial Celebration by Tim McNulty and
Pat O'Hara. In this official book, O'Hara and McNulty view the mountain
through all its facets: from the geologic and climatic forces that continue
to shape it, the rich legacy of humans' relationship with it and its
delicate ecosystems.
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Adventure
Guide to Mount Rainier: Hiking, Climbing and Skiing in Mt. Rainier National
Park by Jeff Smoot. Includes descriptions of tourist trails, nature
trails, off-trail hiking, bike routes, minor peak scrambling, skiing and
snowshoeing areas, and of course, summit routes.
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Mount
Rainier: A Climbing Guide 2nd Edition by Mike Gauthier. From the Lead
Climbing Ranger for Mt Rainier National Park. The latest information on
logistics, regulations and permits. Expanded material on understanding and
surmounting Rainier's glaciers, tips on selecting a guide service,
mountaineering training sites around Rainier and bonus routes on adjacent
Little Tahoma.
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Flora
of Mount Rainier National Park, 1st Edition
by David Biek.
Oregon State University Press.
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Day
Hiking: Mount Rainier National Park Trails by Dan A. Nelson and Alan L.
Bauer. Compact, portable and beautifully packaged, Day Hiking Mount Rainier
provides the most thorough coverage of Mount Rainier National Park to date.
Nearby camping options are included, plus info on how to extend your hike, a
full-color photo insert and overview map, quick-reference icons for kids,
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