Hiking Mt Rainier - Everything You Need To Know
If it’s your first time visiting Mount Rainier National Park, it can be a bit daunting trying to figure out where to hike and the best times to hike.
This is a common query: I’m visiting Mt. Rainier in (enter day, month, season) and I want to know which trails I should hike?
The answer is - it depends. Primarily on the current snow levels and melt out. However, we’ll try to provide a general guideline by month.
But first, let’s get the lay of the land.
Which Entrance Should I Use For Mt. Rainier National Park?
There are four entrances to Mount Rainier National Park:
Nisqually entrance - located near Ashford, WA and open year round. The road passes by Longmire and then continues up to Paradise. The Nisqually entrance is open year round but they often close the gate at Longmire in winter to restrict access to Paradise. It’s best to check the alerts on the park website for the most up to date info.
Closest town: Ashford and Elbe
White River entrance - located near Greenwater, WA. This entrance is seasonal and usually re-opens in conjunction with the reopening of hwy 410 each spring. This is the route to Sunrise, however, the road to Sunrise itself doesn’t open until late June.
Closest town: Greenwater and Enumclaw
Stevens Canyon entrance - located on the East side of the park, this entrance is seasonal.
Closest town: Packwood
Carbon River entrance - Not accessible with permanent closure of the Fairfax Bridge (we wrote about this here.).
Map of Mount Rainier National Park and park entrances.
What are the Best Hikes at Mt. Rainier in May?
Hiking Mt. Rainier in May
In May, the only entrance to Mount Rainier that is open is the Nisqually entrance. At this time of year the snow at Paradise can still be ten feet deep (you can check the daily webcams here)!
If you want to hike Mt. Rainier in May we suggest exploring the trails out of Longmire. These are at a lower elevation and usually free from snow. The elevation at Longmire is only 2,760’ vs the 5,400’ at Paradise.
Our favorite hikes out of Longmire:
Carter Falls: accessible from Longmire or Cougar Rock picnic area. The hike is a little longer from Longmire. Note that in winter 2025 the Nisqually River washed out the bridge to Carter Falls. Check the website for current status.
Rampart Ridge: accessible from Longmire. Lovely 4.5 mile loop hike climbs to the ridge with views of Mt. Rainier. Reaches an elevation of 4,060 feet which is usually snow free by May.
What are the Best Hikes at Mt. Rainier in June?
Hiking Mt. Rainier in June
As the snow melts out, you can move a little further up the mountain. Again, usually in June the Nisqually entrance is still the only entrance open.
Our favorite hikes in June:
Comet Falls: accessible via the road to Paradise. Limited parking at the trailhead. Highest point in this 3.8 mile hike is 4,875.
Glacier Basin: accessible via the White River entrance. Gobs of wildflowers and wildlife at Glacier Basin as the snow melts out. 6 mile hike.
What are the Best Hikes at Mt. Rainier in July?
Hiking Mt. Rainier in July
Now we are really starting to get to the good stuff!
By now the snow is melting out and the meadows are beginning to pop with early season wildflowers. We realize July doesn’t seem like the right time for wildflowers but it’s spring on the mountain and you have to remember that these higher alpine elevations are often covered in snow well into July. By July the road to Sunrise is open and the Stevens Canyon entrance is open for access to Paradise from the Packwood side of the mountain.
Our favorite hikes in July:
Burroughs Mountain (Sunrise) - Truthfully the most stunning hike on the mountain. Burroughs Mountain can be a 4, 6, or 9 mile hike depending on how far you want to go. It starts from Sunrise and climbs Sourdough Ridge before passing by Frozen Lake and taking you up to the rare subalpine tundra and to the top of Burroughs Mountain. Mountain goats frequent the high meadows here and you are bound to catch sight of a marmot before the trail descends back through the meadows around Sunrise Camp. Wildflower viewing is spectacular through this section and there is a resident black bear that is often spotted digging for grubs and eating berries in the meadows. This hike is our all time favorite and it’s why it’s our feature hike at Mount Rainier for our Guided Day Trips from Seattle. If you want the most bang for your buck - this is the hike to do.
Skyline Trail (Paradise) - While many may argue this is the prettiest trail on the mountain, we think it’s just because those folks haven’t seen the view from Burroughs Mountain yet. That being said, Skyline is stunning in its own right - but be prepared for crowds! This hike has made a name for itself on social media and it’s no secret spot. But if you are prepared for the crowds, get there early or try for a week day, you’ll find lush wildflower filled meadows, lots of marmots and views of Mt. Adams, Mt. Saint Helens and even Mt. Hood on a good day. Views of Mt. Rainier are a given. Best pro tip is to go clockwise around the loop. This allows you to get the steep stuff out of the way while you are still fresh and then gives you the option to shorten the loop on your descent should you find yourself flagging a bit. Don’t forget you are over a mile high! Note that commercial tour operators cannot guide on Skyline Trail. So if someone promises you a hike there - they may not be operating legally in the park. The exception to this rule are the climbing guide companies that utilize the Skyline Trail to get up to Camp Muir and beyond.
What are the Best Hikes at Mount Rainier in August?
We could easily just copy and paste the hikes from July into August here. Our guided hiking trips continue on the Burroughs Mountain Trail because of the phenomenal wildflowers and epic glacier views. But for those finding their summer hiking legs - we offer the following for your hiking consideration.
Our favorite August hikes
Gobblers Knob: historic fire lookout. It’s 11 miles roundtrip and 2,565’ elevation gain to get there but the views are incredible. Accessed via Westside Rd.
Crystal Peak: 8 miles and 3,100’ make this one a thigh burner. But the views are worth it from this old fire lookout site. The foundations for the building are still there. Keep an eye out for mountain goats.
What are the Best Hikes at Mount Rainier in September?
Hiking Mt. Rainier in September
And just like that - summer has come to a close on the mountain. September brings fall colors quickly to the mountain. The mountain huckleberries offer their last sweet morsels and then their leaves turn a stunning red-orange color. Washington is known as the Evergreen State which means we don’t have as many deciduous trees to change colors. But the shrubbery around the mountain still knows how to put on a show.
Our favorite hikes in September
High Lakes Trail (Paradise) - easy 3 mile trail around Reflection Lakes winds it’s way through meadows with the flowers having gone to seed. The lake overlook captures the entire Stevens Canyon and all its fall glory colors. While Mt. Rainier hides for most of this hike besides it’s stunning and bold reflection at Reflection Lakes, this hike offers great views of the Tatoosh Range - a range 25 - 40 million years old.