mount rainier

从Bellevue出发大约2.5小时的路程，当中因为unexpected detour和GPS的“智能”导航绕了些弯路。将近3小时的赶路之后终于到了national park的门口，门票15刀/车的价格还是十分亲民。一路盘山，不少拐弯都是U字型的超级大弯，最好让熟手来驾驶上下山的这段。我们老大因为谨慎开得慢些，还被后面的车子叭了几声。抵达汽车驾驶最高点paradise之后，只能用走的。一路向上，巨大的雪山还是相当amazing。当回头看山下风景时，绿树、溪流、雾气、夕阳的各种组合都让一切美轮美奂。山上还会有各种野生动物。传说运气“好”还能遇见熊。:-)

Thee really wasn't the snowfall expected in February when we came but up by the visitor centre the snow was plentiful. A ranger announced that a guided snowshoeing walk would start in an hour's time so we had lunch and joined the 20 or so guided walk- after getting kitted out. The walk lasted for 2 hours and it was absolutely amazing- so incredibly enjoyable and more so from the educational games we played along the way. Very knowledgeable and helpful rangers make a great day amazing!

It was a fantastic drive passing dense forests, rocky ridges, beautiful rivers, unique volcanic rocks, tall pines, pristine lakes. It was vista after vista. We enjoyed some of the most scenic and majestic views of Mt Rainer. Incredible view of the valley from Chinook Pass Summit too.

Did the day trip from Seattle rainier mational park, it was a beautiful drive and destination with lots of places to pull over to admire the nature and capture them in camera.Check weather before starting the trip !

This is such a spectacular mountain. Beautiful from afar, and even more beautiful as we hiked through the trails.

The, drive to mount Rainier is very scenic and also great areas to stop and take pictures, once inside the gates it get better with its beauty - the main building at the end of the drive have snacks, souvenirs, and rental area for snow gear, not motorized - it also have telescopes to view the peak of Mount Rainier and a table with model of the mountain showing everything on it including where you are.

Didnt expect such a great experience.I went with my wife and son a had a great time alot of trails and surprises to much todo in one day

Like the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, this also a must see. It's so thick and green. It's beautiful in the summer. What can I say, it's something you have to experience for yourself.

Its my first time to go up the mighty Mount Rainier. And also my first time to see snow! Having grown up in a tropical country, this experience was totally magical, stunning and breathtaking! Nature at its finest! I am out of words to describe it! Its worth the travel from my bf's home in Tacoma. About 3hrs drive. I will take my family and friends here given the opportunity so they experience the same feeling i had. By the way, we visited Mount Rainier around Spring specifically April last year so i believe its the best time to go up there.

Not to be missed. A beautiful view from any direction. The weather changes make for great photo opportunities. Plenty to see and do there, and not far from the Seattle area.

has to be this beautiful Mountain placed in the middle with all these great towns and cities around it.It just makes you feel good about yourself and the amazement of earth when you're around this area.

Visiting Mount Rainier National Park as well as taking one of the drives up to the mountain is a wonderful place with views to dream about. Make sure your camera has a long lens and you will bring back photo's that will be very memorable. If you are afraid of large drop offs on the road, just drive very carefully. A clear summer day will be worth the trip. AND seniors, be sure to get your senior park pass as you can use it on ALL National Parks. A real deal for seniors.

You have to see this place both in summer and winter. An active volcano area but a picture takers delight and climbers heaven. At 14,000 ft a must see when out in the Pacific northwest. Go via Crystal Mts. Ski area for best views.

This mountain is beautiful, good restaurants at Longmire and Paradise along with lodging. Walking trails and of course gift shops

I always give Mother Nature a 5 star rating. How could I not? However, I did not like this park as much as I have other national parks like Yellowstone or Glacier. The mountain is truly magnificent and hiking up around Paradise provided the best views I have ever beheld of any mountain range I have hiked. Yet, the park itself is a tad more enclosed than others. Some people are going to like this more, but when I drive, I really like to see a lot and I don’t mean just a lot of trees. Granted there are places here and there but most spots require effort and while that is fine, I also like to be able to take a day and just drive and see a lot! Also, I wanted to go back someday and take my mom but I don’t think this park is as conducive for her at her age like many other parks would be. Now, Mount St Helens has a lot to offer anyone especially someone who cannot get out and hike any distance. I entered via the southeast entrance on HWY 123 off of HWY 12. I chose this route because I heard in Yakima that HWY 410 was under construction and had long delays. I had no delays.Now this can change so check accordingly. I would go to nps.gov website because they have construction schedules planned out months in advance.The drive in was fantastic with hardly anyone on it. There is no gas until you get right outside the park. It is a one pump with small convenience store. Higher prices than normal, of course, but not as high as Ashford on the west side. I found it a little confusing when I would look at the map and see that one town would have a symbol indicating it was supposed to be a certain size and yet hardly anything was there and certainly no gas. You cannot rely on maps for your gas. Fill up when you can. Remember, cell phone service is hardly existent around this area with none in the park. I lost reception entirely when I turned on HWY 12 outside of Naches just past Yakima.Some of my favorite sites were:Grove of the Patriarchs – easy and very peacefulBox Canyon – short and easy (love narrow canyons)Reflection Lakes – easy with nice views of RainierNarada Falls – short hike but steep (really NICE large falls!)Christine Falls – short hike, not too bad (also very nice) worth the effortParadise areaParadise Loop road has one or two nice pullouts.Skyline Trail – 5.5 miles and strenuous (most gorgeous views of the entire mountain range at top). Golden Gate Trail – 1 mile, moderate (starts at Paradise Inn and joins Skyline Trail or if you are hiking clockwise, the Golden Gate splits at the 3 mile marker on the Skyline. From here, it is 1 mile to Paradise Inn. Golden Gate cuts through the valley so at peak season, this is where most of the wildflowers are. Also has numerous waterfalls coming off the valley walls.Myrtle Falls – easy and short, about 1/8 of a mile up the Golden Gate Trail starting at Paradise Inn (NICE falls). The rest of these falls can be seen on Paradise Loop road. So, if you are leaving Paradise Inn (it is one way leaving), then just down the hill on the left is the rest of Myrtle Falls coming through a narrow gorge. Grab a parking spot to the left or right.Sunrise AreaEmmons Vista Overlook – only a half mile round trip if that. There are 2 or 3 good viewpoints overlooking Emmons Glacier and a glacial lake below. I did not do Sourdough Ridge because I did Skyline the day before. A couple of nice pullouts right before Sunrise gives one a nice range of the area. Sourdough is open all the way in direct sun. Sunscreen and water!The whole drive to Sunrise, give or take a spot here and there, was mostly trees. Even Rainier was not visible most of the timeOn the road to Sunrise visitor center is White River. I liked it enough to stop.I did not continue past the Sunrise entrance heading north.Mather Memorial ParkwayI really liked this drive. This is part of HWY 410 that I originally would not enter through due to construction. I only went down to the tunnel because traffic was backing up. This is the kind of drive I like to take in a national park. There are large pullouts on either side to accommodate many cars. You can get nice landscape shots. Pacific Crest Trail crosses near the tunnel.Tipsoo Lake is pretty and I heard the hike – about 2.6 miles - provided great shots of Rainier. If you don’t have time to hike it but want a great picture then continue driving up the hill (heading east) and there is a pullout where one can get an overview of the lake and hill behind it. One could also park here to take the Naches Loop trail across the road which is touted to have excellent views as well.This is part of the Chinook Scenic Bypass. According to the National geographic map, the Chinook continues at the “T” and heads north past the Sunrise entrance. This makes sense because that is also HWY 410.There are several nice things on this route! Each visitor center has something different to offer. I thought rangers at this park were aloof - not rude just did not care to be bothered. Come prepared with your own info is all I can say.Parking is easy in the morning but starting around 10 am (peak season in August) people start to roll in and by 11 am you can forget parking at some small spots.She is a beauty of a mountain – enjoy!