MT. Rainier National Park is one of, if not the most beautiful and stunning parks to visit in Washington. Views from Seattle and surrounding areas are breathtaking in itself let alone getting up close and personal. Even if you don’t want to hike there are plenty of viewpoints and spots to take amazing pictures just steps from your car. If you are a hiker then you will be for some absolutely stunning spots to take photos. If you are traveling in the peak season of Summer you will want to get there early enough before the lines begin. We got to Sunrise Lodge around 6:30am and started hiking around 7am. Watching the sun rise onto the mountain on a clear day is spectacular. If you are wondering which way to go is the best start, I would suggest the trail head below the parking lot and not the trail head near the lodge. This is because it starts off way prettier and gradually unlike the other trail head that is a very exposed and steep for the first while. The other route you can loop and come back finishing at the Lodge. I seriously felt bad for the people starting out their hike from that direction and in the heat of the day. The views are so stunning around every bend and finally you get up to the top of Burroughs Mountain which provides a 360 view of the entire mountainous range.

The other hike we did was to the lookout station. This is a pretty steep climb but then flattens out near the last leg of the trail. Once at the end there is a lookout station you can climb up on and on a clear day you can see all the way to Seattle, Glacier Peak and Mt. Baker. This is also a great place to have lunch and feel like you are on top of the world. We even saw a couple doing weather color paintings of the mountain.

Next time we are going to visit the other side Paradise Lodge, as the crowds were too much to deal with this time around. Paradise lodge is beautiful and the backdrop of the Mountain is gorgeous. The wonderland trail goes around the entire mountain, but it’s not easy for most and you’ll want to train pretty rigorously I hear. It’s a total of 93 miles and more information can be found here Wonderland Trail. Getting out in nature is such great therapy and breathing the mountain air is refreshing and energizing.

Tips:

1. Leave early in the morning if you want to get a great view of the Sunrise and also you wont’ have to wait in the long lines.

2. Go on off season days when crowds are less.

3. Check the website for road closures as they are working on one of the major roads.

4. Check the weather and if it’s cloudy you’ll want to wait for a clear day as it really makes a different in the views.

5. Wear good shoes! I can’t tell you want a difference this makes. I have hiking shoes that are like tennis shoes but thicker sole and outside which provide a ton of support and give me more confidence on the trail. l