Mount Rainier NPis such a gorgeous park. The drive up from Seattle was simple and didn't feel like…read morethe 2 plus hours. I was grateful for nearly perfect weather- even with the various microclimates throughout the park. I was prepared for the heavy humidity and the chilli weather. The park was "closed" due to the government shutdown and so we didn't have to pay the entrance fee which was nice. I do however feel bad for the park rangers and staff that were unable to work. We took the route of the Paradise route and stopped at the different viewpoints but there were a few closures. Reflection lake was beautiful but a bit crowded.

OMG OMG OMG. YOU ALL NEED TO JUST DO IT. THERE ARE TRAILA THERE ARE ELKS DEER RABBITS YETI ...AND…read moreOMG THERE'S SNOW !!! Yes I was like a child in a toy store. I literally scared my hubby (he was driver) when I screeched in excitement... some of the trails were closed down to vehicles because of flooding and rock falls (takes time to clear)....but we did go all way up but as for Mother Nature some ares once at top summit are also closed cause she's shedding winter snow yet... If you get a chance do it. This trip is not one I'll say you check and decide for yourself, This time ISAY GO JUST GO YOU WONT REGRET IT!!!!

Really awesome visitor center on the south side of Mt Rainier national park. During peak months in…read morethe summer, the parking situation can be a bith frustrating. We were lucky and patient and snagged a great spot close to the entrance after making a couple of rounds. This is the place to use the restroom, fill up water bottles at the water fountain, and grab souvenirs at the gift shop. While the shop was small and difficult to maneuver, the rangers were stationed in a wider area so it was easier to get those commemorative stamps and ask your questions. We also visited the little cafeteria for lunch. They had high chairs that we were able to grab and sit our toddlers down. It's line up in the respective line for your food item, load it onto your tray, and pay at the cashier stand type of self service. They had walking tacos, so a bag of chips, opened up and you pick shredded chicken or beef with the fixings (lettuce, cheese, salsa, packets of sour cream). It was actually quite satisfying. Unfortunately the cup of clam chowder we got was quite thin and lacking in ingredients, though it did have a nice smokey flavor from the bacon.

This is a nice visitor center in the Paradise area of Mt. Rainier Natl. Park. It's warm, has a cute…read morelittle museum upstairs and a gift shop. And a cafe downstairs. Cozy seating. Nice for a rainy, snowy, cold day. If you hike up the loops, you can see a waterfall and a glacier. And marmots are popular!

I really enjoyed this visitor center and the surrounding area. It was a bit of a drive because I…read morewas staying in Packwood, but it was worth it. It took me over an hour to get here. I wanted a different view and perspective of Mount Rainier after spending time on the Skyline Trail the day before. Sunrise is the highest point that can be reached by vehicle at Mount Rainier National Park at 6,400 feet. The visitor center has some nice exhibits and a gift shop. Park rangers are available to answer questions. There is a larger gift shop with food and snacks in the building next door. The nearby nature trail around the visitor center has picnic tables for eating and relaxing. Mount Fremont Lookout Trail is next to the Sunrise Visitor Center and is a popular trail to hike. The views are gorgeous from this location. The parking lot is huge, but does fill up during the day. Sunrise is only open in the summer months.

This is a really nice NP visitor center. It's not quite as big as the main one at Paradise, but it…read morehas a good size gift shop, educational area, and in a separate building nearby they have a little cafe for snacks. There is a bathroom there but I didn't have a chance to use it since they were cleaning right when I got there. I think it has running water though, it looked like it would. This visitor center has a nice big parking lot just like the one in Paradise but don't be fooled - it'll still fill all the way up. By the time we were leaving around noon, people were parking in non-spot areas along where the trail and the road run along each other.

Very beautiful visitor center. It reopened in 2025 after being closed for renovations and I have to…read moresay, the architecture is GORGEOUS with vaulted ceilings and large windows to let in the surroundings. There's wood paneling which helps you feel immersed into nature. There's an informational desk about the area, helpful for visitors newish to the area or those with questions. The gift shop is also accessible with the usual offerings of post cards, tchotchkes, and such. Do note that the restrooms are accessible outdoors at the side of the building. There's a pay area part of the center which is $5/18+, $2.50/7-17, free for 6 years old or younger, and family $15 for 2 adults and children 7-17 years old. They also honor veteran's disabled pass, WA state disabled pass, and senior limited income pass. It's definitely worth the admission, since there's a lot of exhibits explaining the geology of the area, the flora and fauna, the native peoples, and the later commercial and recreational uses of the area. There's even a place where you can walk into a huge mock up of Mt St Helens! Very fun. They have a short film playing about the eruption too. I didn't get to explore much outside as it was super rainy, but I saw a boardwalk trail out in the back. I did not see Mt St Helens due to the weather, but I'll be back when the weather is nicer!

Surprisingly complex and very informative. The variety of exhibits is great. And the native…read morenarratives put the mountain's significance into perspective. Easy access from I-5. Take the time to stop

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.

It was neat to see the salmon jumping up "the river." Since it wasn't the right season that is all…read morewe got to see, but we met a lady who worked there and she was super knowledgeable and answered all our questions. The welcome center was nice and had a cool and interactive way of showing how many salmon actually make it from one place to the other.

Stopped by the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery on our travels to stretch our legs. It ended up being a fun…read morelittle place to stop! They had a visitors center with an interactive salmon egg exhibit. Very cool! Clean restrooms as well. Outside they had the sign to the adult salmon collection, but when we got to the top, everything was closed up. However, they had jumping salmon over in the juvenile raceways! We saw quite a few. Plus this place is less than a mile off the highway!

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

The Visitor's Center is in a very small building that looks like a cabin in the center of town…read more Although there are public restrooms and brochures of many attractions there are not many other resources. There is a small private parking lot, in addition to street parking. The center is also not open during normal business hours, so if you visit in the middle of the day or on a weekday, it may be closed.

First and best place to stop along the way to Mt St Helens. Helicopter ride (2 person minimum)…read morestarting at $270 and a good restaurant are two things the other stops further up won't have.

My mother was here visiting from California. Weeks ago she saw a segment on TV about a man in…read moreTacoma who plays taps on his trumpet at sunset to honor the military. Mom wanted to see him. We had no idea where to go, so I went to the Internet for details. That is where I came across the Visitor Information Center in Tacoma. It was our good fortune to have Keith intercept our call. I explained everything to Keith, but he had little information for us. He said he wanted to research our request, and call us back. A short time later Keith called back with the exact info we were hoping for. He was kind, polite, and so very helpful. Keith ROCKS!