1. This review is for Skyline Loop which was a ~5.7 miles round trip that took ~4 hours to…read morecomplete. This was a strenuous, popular and crowded hike with stunning views from beginning to end in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington. Starting the loop counterclockwise; trail was paved at the beginning and end of the loop. Furthermore, trail was mostly a narrow rocky dirt path. Plenty of steep inclines and declines! Large parking area at the trailhead, however most were filled up by 7am. Additional parking on the side of Paradise Rd. Restroom available at the parking lot. Possibly the most crowded hike I have ever done thus far with most people doing the loop clockwise. Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/wqZbrcfw_7Y 2. This review is for Bench & Snow Lakes Trail which was a ~2.3 miles round trip that took ~1 hour to complete. Located 12 minutes away from Skyline Loop, Bench & Snow Lakes Trail was a short hike with a stunning view of Snow Lake in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington. Trail was mostly a narrow dirt path with rocks and roots. Furthermore, there were a mix of inclines and declines with stairs. Small parking area at the trailhead. Additional parking on the side of Stevens Canyon Rd next to the parking lot. No restrooms at this location. For the purpose of the AllTrails route, there was a viewpoint with Mt Rainier and Bench Lake from the top with the option to detour to the bottom of Bench Lake. In addition, there was a sign for Snow Lake Camp (left) and Snow Lake (right), both will take you to the opposite sides of the lake. Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/fOkP6l29UKE

There is so much serenity and quiet magic at Mt Rainier NP, that words are simply not enough to…read moredescribe it all! Having arrived early in the morning through the Nisqually entrance, we immensely enjoyed visiting the following treasures with the Mt Rainier NP: Narada Falls, Reflection Lake, the Trail of Shadows and Paradise. The views were breathtaking! We had a wonderful time exploring the snow-covered mountain, the lake and the forest together! We even enjoyed a game of snowballs in Paradise during our visit in late May there!

One of my favorite hikes in Mt Rainier. The hike is rough, but the end is 100% worth it…read more You'll access the Sourdough Ridge Trail about 600 feet from the visitor center, take it for about 1.1 miles, you'll hit Frozen Lake, and then it's another 1.3 miles up to the Overlook. You will get the most incredible views of Mt Rainier. The initial start of the Sourdough Trail is steep and strenuous, but give it about 0.2 miles - it's going to level out and be easy until you get to Frozen Lake. Don't hold your breath for Frozen Lake. We came in September - there was nothing frozen, no snow, and it was more like a small pond. Maybe it looks pretty in early spring when the park re-opens? Anywho, the trail is definitely strenuous. Pace yourself, take breaks if you need it, and drink lots of water (and make sure to BRING plenty of water). The overlook is incredible, and the views of Mt Rainier are breathtaking. The ranger station wasn't staffed while we were there, but you could climb up it for a better view. Otherwise, take a seat on a rock, eat some snacks, and enjoy! Overall, this hike will probably leave you feeling a bit wrecked, but it is well-worth all the effort.

Arrived 5:50am Saturday in mid September. It was also free national park day. The last hour or so…read moreto Sunrise Visitor Center (the trailhead) from Portland area is long and meandering and dark. I recommend downloading an offline map since there's no service. I wanted to get to the trailhead before sunrise. Once I got to Sunrise, the parking lot was 20-25% full and there were several parties starting their hike as well. I wish I brought a headlamp because it was pitch black. The bathrooms were open and the toilet flushed and the sinks had soap still. The trail is right behind the bathrooms. It took about an hour to get to the top. It's pretty rocky and most parts it's narrow so I would recommend hiking shoes. I was warming up because of the hike but at the lookout, it was so cold! Bring gloves, a hat and layers. The forecast said it would be cloudy. I checked Windy.com to see the cloud patterns before I left and there was an opening. I've been to Mt Rainier on a clear day but on a partially cloudy day it was just as nice.

For a 1.2 mile this trail will surely be an ultimate favorite for families with strollers and…read moregrandparents who just wanna have an easy stroll yet still have that gorgeous view. Also a paved trail this one will made you stroll in loop at the same time do some photowalk. It is so gorgeous in here and as a bonus, you get to see part of Mt. Rainier in several viewpoints. The only cons in here is that there's a lot of bugs that flies around. And if you keep talking there's a possibility that they'll fly straight inside your mouth. These flies also keep coming to you as you stroll so if I were you, better carry some bug spray when you plan to hike here during summertime. PS: for those hardcore hikers, this might bored you. So skip this one or you can keep going to its connected trails available at Paradise Area located Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center. Mahalo for reading and happy juandering fellow yeeps!

Magnificent paved trail with beautiful views of Mount Rainier throughout. I love that trail options…read morelike this are available that are very easy for younger children, elderly, etc. We arrived very early before 9 am and only saw a couple others on the trail. I recommend always coming early to avoid crowds/long car lines to enter the park.

Visiting Paradise Glacier Trail at Mt Rainier National park during the snowy season was an…read moreexperience I will NEVER forget. If you're planning to go before the winter conditions become too severe DO plan ahead by ensuring you have tire chains (there is a $500 fine if you don't,) and arrive early enough to enjoy your visit as the entrance to paradise closes earlier because of inclement conditions. I'm looking forward to returning next summer for hikes; I highly recommend!!

Excellent food! My fiancé didn't agree with the authenticity…read moreof the food but it's the most delicious of Borsch I have had since moving to the USA 14 years ago! So proud of my Ukrainian brothers and sisters making a mark in the States with their menu

This is a nice 80 acre multipurpose park in Ashford that is located right off the main road. It has…read morean amphitheater, walking paths, restrooms and a playground. There are plenty of parking spaces to park at. I ran a 5K over the summer that began and ended at this park. It was well organized and the park provided enough room for all of us runners and for the tents that were set up for the event. The amphitheater was designed to be used for various festivals, concerts, movies and other events.

After leaving the Nisqually entrance to Mt. Rainier, we (two families with a total of 5 kids under…read morethe age of 6) happened to notice this park/playground just off the road. It is brand new, and is a wonderful playground. Lots of really neat features, along with drinking fountains and bathrooms and trails. One of the best playgrounds I've been to, and it was a great way for the kids to burn off some excitement before we finished the drive home.

The views are incredible and the staff at the gift shop were friendly and patient despite the long…read morelines. Unfortunately, this administration decided that funding the national parks was unimportant therefore there were minimal staff and maintenance. Fortunately, it appeared that most patrons were very respectful and mindful of the need to pick up after themselves.

When you go to Mount Rainier, this is one of the main stops you want to go to. This is the large…read morevisitor center in Paradise and is one of the most visited locations. If you want to let the kids out to stretch, use the bathroom and get a bite to eat, you can do it here. The parking lot will be full but if you keep circling around, you'll eventually find someone leaving. The chicken tacos with rice and beans were actually pretty good. Worth trying if you're needing a bite to eat. The top floor of the visitor center has a lot of different exhibits that tell about Mount Rainier and the wildlife in the area. Would recommend stopping if in the area.

I had my second very positive experience with RMI this past month. The biggest takeaway is that…read morethis is a service for people who are seriously prepared for an enormous mental and physical challenge - if you're looking for something wild to do without months of preparation, regardless of the trip you choose, you might feel a little put off with RMI. Rainier IS something you can do with no previous climbing experience, but that doesn't mean you can just show up the day-of and expect to be fine. "No experience needed" doesn't mean no training is required. They make it clear that you need to be in the best physical condition of your life to execute these trips. I am someone who wants to pursue mountaineering as a lifelong hobby but doesn't have a climbing community of my own to go with. As a result, finding a Rainier concessioner was a natural choice. And even though it's nerve-wracking to climb with a bunch of pro guides and strangers, I felt like I found the type of community I've been dreaming of! I'm a female climber and my first experience was less positive because I didn't feel very included as a woman, but this second trip was amazing. I think inclusivity can often depend on the attitudes of the guides. Shoutout to Dominic, Sam, Marissa, and Rylee for making sure I felt strong and capable. No notes. I had the BEST time with them! There are other Rainier vendors (or guide services for other mountains) that are known to be a bit more gentle and flexible in their approach and pacing of their trips. Consider those alternatives if you're not craving absolute grit. No judgement, it's a personal preference. All in all, putting on multi-day climbs with clients of all backgrounds and dangerous terrain is no small feat, but I believe RMI does an incredible job at this. For as long as I'm climbing and able, I will choose RMI again.

Recently did a 5 day Rainier climb with RMI. Could not have asked for a better group of guides,…read moreboth in their knowledge and skill expertise as well as their overall friendliness with all the climbers. It's a hard climb and they push you hard in order to stay safe and give everyone the best possible chance of success. We had an amazing summit climb! On the way down I had a medical emergency and the guides went above and beyond with extreme mountaineering skill to help get me down the mountain as quick as possible, likely saving my life. Amazing company to work with. Amazing climb!

Forget Paradise! THIS is the real alpine meadow you're looking for!…read more Seriously though, there's no one on this side of the park, and the views are incredible. The only downside is that this road has to melt out before you can get in here. It's definitely not open in the winter. There are wildflowers and marmots, and views of cracking glaciers. This is also where the approach to Observation Rock is.