Mount Rainier National Park is a photographer’s paradise, no matter the season! There are so many trails and lakes, you definitely can’t cover anything in one day, but here are 6 photo stops that require a mile or less of hiking to get to. Even though Mount Rainier National Park is only a 3-hour drive from Seattle, I’ve only been a couple of times, so I’m no expert and have mainly stuck to the well-known areas. Sometimes roads can be closed because of snow even in the summer, so definitely do some research before you head out there.
1. Sunrise
Sunrise is one of the most popular areas of the park. It is on the NE side of the park and it’s the closest you can get to Mount Rainier by car. It’s also at the highest elevation of the park (besides being on the mountain), so be prepared for slightly cooler temperatures. There is a visitor center and a lodge and a big parking lot. There are a ton of hiking trails here, and the best views of the mountain. Sunrise at Sunrise is glorious in the summer and you get that pink alpenglow. I’ve mostly been here at night/early morning to take photos of the stars. The Milky Way appears behind the mountain in the summer! I haven’t actually done a lot of the hikes, but I definitely want to.
2. Tipsoo Lake
This is a stop just off SR 420. There’s a short, easy trail called Naches Peak Loop around the lake with great views of the mountain. In the summer, there are beautiful wildflowers!
3. Narada Falls
This is one of the park’s iconic waterfalls, and it’s not too far of a drive from the Nisqually Entrance of the park. There’s a big parking lot off the side of the road and some bathrooms. You really can’t see much from the top of the falls, so there’s a short but steep trail to the bottom. It can be muddy, so watch your step!
4. Paradise
This is also a very popular area of the park. There is a large lodge and visitor center with bathrooms. The parking lot is pretty big, but it can get extremely crowded on the weekends in the summer, so definitely get there early! It can be still pretty snowy in May, and it’s a great place to see fall colors in October! People have even seen bears here! There are several short hikes that start from here including my next stop, Myrtle Falls.
5. Myrtle Falls
This is a short, but steep paved trail to Myrtle Falls, just follow the signs once you get up the stairs from the parking area. It’s a very popular trail at Paradise, so you definitely won’t have the path to yourself! You’ll get an epic view with Mount Rainier above it.
6. Reflection Lakes
This is where you can take that photo of Mount Rainier’s reflection! Definitely walk around the edge of the lake because sometimes the reflection is visible on one side, but not on the other!
To plan your trip, definitely check out the National Park Service website which will have road closures and other alerts, as well as park history/information! I also like Visit Rainier and Beautiful Washington.
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