Hiking★ 4.5
Wonderland Trail
strenuousAbout 93 miles around the mountain with roughly 27,000 ft of climbing each way; mostly snow-free from mid-July to October. Overnight camping requires a wilderness permit.
Destinations
WA, US
MOUNT RAINIER (ASHFORD & PARADISE)
A 14,410-foot glaciated volcano with subalpine meadows, the 93-mile Wonderland Trail, and a gateway town at the park's year-round entrance.
3
Sports
1,750 ft
Elevation
303
Population
Mount Rainier National Park surrounds the 14,410-foot volcano that dominates the Washington skyline. Ashford is the small gateway community just outside the Nisqually entrance on State Route 706, and Paradise, on the mountain's south slope at about 5,400 ft, is the park's busiest area, with wildflower meadows in summer and deep snow in winter. The Wonderland Trail loops the whole mountain for about 93 miles; shorter trails, such as the Skyline Loop, Narada Falls and Comet Falls, cover the same country in a day. Climbers start from Paradise for Camp Muir and the summit, and ski tourers use the Muir Snowfield in winter and spring.
3 sports to explore
ADVENTURE SPORTS IN MOUNT RAINIER (ASHFORD & PARADISE)
HikingMid-Jul-OctWonderland Trail mostly snow-free mid-July to October; Paradise wildflowers late July to mid-August; Spray Park mid-July to early August.ClimbingLate Jun-early SepSummit season per guide sites; most climbs go via Camp Muir and the Disappointment Cleaver.SkiingNov-JunBackcountry ski touring and splitboarding from Paradise onto the Muir Snowfield in winter, spring and early summer; free overnight permit required.
Leave no trace
TREAD LIGHTLY
- Stay on trails in subalpine meadows (they are fragile); full-loop Wonderland hikers must use designated camps only, and cross-country camping is not permitted.
- Pack out all waste.
The hit list
TOP SPOTS
The places you can't miss in Mount Rainier (Ashford & Paradise), best rated first.
Hiking★ 4.5
Skyline Trail (Paradise)
moderateLoop from Paradise through wildflower meadows to glacier viewpoints and Myrtle Falls; the lower part is paved. Wildflowers often peak late July to mid-August.
Climbing★ 4.5
Camp Muir via Muir Snowfield
strenuousThe standard climbers' staging point at about 10,080 ft, reached from Paradise over snow with roughly 4,600 ft of climbing; navigation in whiteout is the main danger.
Climbing★ 4.5
Mount Rainier summit (Disappointment Cleaver)
expertGlaciated 14,410 ft summit climb from Camp Muir, usually starting around midnight; season is roughly late June to early September. Requires a climbing permit and fee.
Skiing★ 4.5
Muir Snowfield ski tour
advancedLong backcountry ski descent from Camp Muir back to the Paradise parking lot in winter, spring and early summer. A free overnight permit is required for Paradise-basin ski touring.
Hiking★ 4.5
Spray Park (Wonderland alternate)
strenuousWildflower meadow section of the Wonderland Trail reached from Mowich Lake; peak bloom mid-July to early August.
Hiking★ 4.5
Summerland and Panhandle Gap
strenuousWonderland Trail section to the trail's high point, just under 6,800 ft; snow patches linger in some years.
Hiking★ 4.0
Narada Falls and Paradise River
easyShort walk to one of the park's best cascades, on the Wonderland Trail between Longmire and Reflection Lakes.
Plan the trip
GETTING THERE
A car is the only practical way in. The Nisqually entrance (SR 706 from Ashford) is the only entrance open to cars year-round and leads to Longmire and then Paradise, about 19 miles of winding road from the gate; allow 30 to 45 minutes. Parking at Paradise fills on busy days. In winter the Longmire-Paradise road can close for weather, so check NPS alerts before driving, and carry tire chains. Sunrise Road is closed for the winter.
Airports
- SEASeattle-Tacoma International Airportabout 80 mi · about 2h to the Nisqually entrance (longer on summer weekends) drive
Major international hub with domestic and international service; the practical airport for visitors. Distance and time are as quoted by travel guides, which range from 65 to 85 mi.
Drive from
| City | Distance | Drive to Mount Rainier (Ashford & Paradise) |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | about 85 mi | about 2h to the Nisqually entrance |
| Tacoma, WA | about 60 mi | about 1h 30m (estimate) |
| Portland, OR | about 140 mi | 2h 30m to 3h 30m (sources vary) |
Field notes
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
What a trip to Mount Rainier (Ashford & Paradise) costs, what to sort out ahead of time, and how to stay safe.
What it costs per day
Budget · cheapest
$60-100 / day
camping at Cougar Rock · self-catering
Mid
$180-300 / day
Ashford lodge or National Park Inn · restaurants
Luxury
$400+ / day
Paradise Inn · guided trips
Permits & reservations
Park entry
$30 per vehicle in 2026 or $80 America the Beautiful pass; no timed entry reservation per most 2026 sources (confirm at nps.gov/mora).
Wonderland Trail / wilderness camping
A wilderness permit is required for every overnight stay; reservations are strongly recommended in summer and walk-up permits exist. Full-loop hikers must use designated camps.
Summit climbing
Climbing permit and fee required; conflicting 2026 figures ($61 vs $82 per climber); confirm on NPS/recreation.gov. Camp Muir overnight is about $12 per person per night plus a $6 reservation fee per one source.
Backcountry ski touring (Paradise basin)
Free overnight permit from the Jackson Visitor Center per the park's visitor guide as reported by Visit Rainier.
Entry, health & culture
- Entry & visas
Standard US entry rules; ESTA for Visa Waiver Program countries.
- Health
Paradise is about 5,400 ft and Camp Muir about 10,000 ft; pace yourself and watch for altitude sickness on climbs. It is about 10 degrees F cooler at Paradise than at lower elevations, and weather changes quickly.
- Local culture
Small forest gateway community and a national park built around hiking and mountaineering; English spoken.
Stay safe
Flash floods
Whiteout navigation on the Muir Snowfield has killed people; avalanches are possible in winter terrain.
Climbing the summit requires…
Climbing the summit requires glacier skills or a guide.
Water
Check NPS road, trail and bridge status before any trip.
Honest take
THE GOOD & THE REAL
Why Mount Rainier (Ashford & Paradise)
4- Iconic glaciated volcano with hiking, climbing and ski touring from the same road
- The 93-mile Wonderland Trail and many short family walks from Longmire and Paradise
- Nisqually road and the National Park Inn at Longmire stay open all winter
- Within about two hours of Seattle-Tacoma Airport
Know this
4- Paradise parking fills on busy days and entrance lines can be long
- The high country is snowbound for much of the year; Wonderland is mostly snow-free only mid-July to October
- Winter road closures between Longmire and Paradise happen with little notice
- Limited food and lodging in Ashford; Paradise Inn is open only about mid-May to early October
For Families
FAMILY FRIENDLINESS
7/10
Good for families
Good for families in summer: paved and short trails at Paradise and Longmire, a Junior Ranger program, and winter snowshoeing and sledding. Steep, exposed and high-elevation terrain needs care with small children. (Score is a judgement call.)
Family-friendliness is scored from real web evidence across multiple sources — trail difficulty, access, and how families describe each spot — not a single opinion.
Best bets with kids
Nisqually Vista Trail
8/10medium confidence
A short paved loop from Paradise with a close view of Nisqually Glacier; it stays snow-covered into June.
Skyline Trail to Myrtle Falls
8/10medium confidence
The first part is paved and works for strollers, but the viewpoint is reached by stairs. Wildflowers are best late July to mid-August.
Trail of the Shadows
8/10medium confidence
A flat, short loop at Longmire through meadow and forest with historic buildings. Sources give 0.3 to 0.7 miles.
Paradise snow play area
7/10medium confidence
Sledding is allowed only in the marked snow play area just north of the upper Paradise parking lot.
Junior Ranger program
8/10medium confidence
Free activity booklets from rangers at Paradise for kids of about 3 to 12; kids earn a badge.
By Sport
SEASON BY SPORT
| Sport | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking | — | — | — | — | — | — | ~ | ~ | ~ | ~ | — | — |
| Climbing | — | — | — | — | — | ~ | ~ | ~ | ~ | — | — | — |
| Skiing | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | — | — | ~ | ✓ | ✓ |
✓
Peak~
Shoulder—
OffPeak — Go now
Trails are mostly snow-free from mid-July into October; wildflowers at Paradise typically peak late July to mid-August; climbing season is roughly late June to early September.
Shoulder — Strategic
Late spring and early summer still have deep snow on high trails (good for snowshoeing and ski touring); October brings fall color and fewer visitors but earlier snow risk.
Avoid — Skip it
Winter hiking above Longmire needs snow skills; only the Nisqually road is open to cars and the Longmire-Paradise road can close at any time for weather. Winter is still good for snowshoeing and sledding in the Paradise snow play area.
Where to Stay
NEIGHBORHOODS
Ashford (gateway town)
$$-$$$Small string of lodges, cabins, cafes and outfitters along SR 706 just outside the Nisqually entrance.
Stay here if: You want a bed, a meal and gear rental close to the park but outside it, and you are fine with a drive of about 30 minutes to Paradise.
Longmire
$$-$$$Historic park hub with the National Park Inn, a general store and the Wilderness Information Center, in old-growth forest.
Stay here if: You want the only lodging inside the park that is open year-round, and a start point for the Wonderland Trail.
Paradise
$$$High meadow basin with the Paradise Inn (a summer lodge) and the Jackson Visitor Center; day-use crowds, no town.
Stay here if: You want to wake up at about 5,400 ft for sunrise on the mountain and the Skyline trails; the inn is open roughly mid-May to early October.
On the Ground
LOCAL RESOURCES
storefrontGear Shops
- Whittaker Mountaineeringmountaineering shop and rental
Ashford shop that sells and rents mountaineering gear, including snowshoes and chains per its site.
- Longmire General Storepark concession store
Snowshoe rentals from the park concessioner on a first-come basis (NPS winter recreation page).
tourGuide Services
- Mountain School (Alpine guides)climbing
Offers IFMGA-guided Muir Route climbs of Mount Rainier; price quoted by their site for a private 2:1 climb was $3,295 per person (park fees extra).
- Rainier Guest Services ranger snowshoe walkshiking / snowshoe
Free ranger-led snowshoe walks from the Jackson Visitor Center in winter; check whether the 2026-27 season is announced.
restaurantFood & Drink
- Copper Creek Inn Restaurantrestaurant
Northwest-style restaurant about 2 miles from the Nisqually entrance, a restaurant since 1946, known for blackberry pie; closed some weekdays.
- Wildberry Restaurantrestaurant
American and Nepali food on SR 706 in Ashford; hours vary by season.
- Rainier Basecamp Grillrestaurant / bar
Varied menu in a park-like setting in Ashford per Visit Rainier; the name has changed between sources, so confirm before going.
- Paradise Village Restaurantrestaurant
Ukrainian and American food on SR 706.
Plan it
GO TO MOUNT RAINIER (ASHFORD & PARADISE).
You've got the field notes. Time to put it on the calendar.