Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park is nestled in the heart of Washington State, the place I am lucky enough to have been born and raised in. Being able to spend a weekend in the lush, old-growth forest, vibrant wildflower fields and alpine terrain is by far one of my favorite parts of summer in the Pacific Northwest. It is truly a gift to know these trails and have access to the beauty surrounding this mountain.
Tattoosh Mountain Range
This year was the second annual camping trip I have had at the park, last year we camped right outside but this time around I got a spot at Cougar Rock Campground. 2024 is the first year the park has required a timed entry permit, which you do still need if you have a camping reservation. The timed entry permit is not ideal for people that have been visiting the park for years but overall, it does help reduce traffic, even with the permit it is still extremely busy in the more popular areas (sunrise and paradise specifically). We arrived at the park on a Friday evening around 6 pm through the Ashford entrance, quickly set up our tent and camping gear then headed up to the Paradise Visitor Center to get on the trail for sunset. We went up Dead Horse Creek (2.3 miles roundtrip, 725 ft elev.) trail to a viewpoint that we found last year; it was incredible. There was still a bit of snow on the trail but we made it just fine. Last year there was absolutely no snow and a lot more wildflowers, I’m hoping to visit again later this summer to catch them but either way the view from this spot is unreal. The Tattoosh Mountain Range is south of the mountain and this trail gives a great view of them, even from the parking lot of the Visitor Center. There are a couple small trails right across from lot where you can find an even better view of this range. Seeing this entire area at sunset is a highlight of this trip. (More information here about reservations)
Emmons Moraine
The following day we woke up around 7, made breakfast and had a campfire. One of my bucket list hikes has been Emmons Moraine Trail (4.2 miles roundtrip, 935 ft elev.) so we set off to hike it. We had to exit the park to get to the Sunrise Corridor of the park, this is when we learned that you need a park pass even if you have a camping reservation. Park passes are required from 7 am to 3 pm at all entrances, we drove about an hour and a half from the campground to the Sunrise entrance and had to turn back until 3 pm when the timed entry permit was no longer needed. We had to kill some time, so we had lunch at a nice spot along the Ohanapecosh River and ended up finding the Silver Falls Loop (2.9 miles roundtrip, 521 ft elev.) trail. This trail goes along the river and ends up at one of the most beautifully colored waters I have ever seen on falls. When we hiked down to the main falls there was a rainbow over the bottom! It was an easy trail and could be done by hikers at any experience level. We were so happy to have stumbled along this magnificent surprise and got back to the car at 2:30 pm giving us the perfect amount of time to get back to the Sunrise Corridor. Once we got parked and started the Emmons Moraine trail it was marked as easy, but I would say it’s closer to moderate, the trail starts at the Glacier Basin trailhead, located in the D loop of the White River campground. Most of the trail is hiking through forest and a few switch backs, once you get a little over 3/4 of the way to the top the trail becomes rocky and even crosses over the river. I absolutely love it when the terrain of a hike changes and keeps you interested, this one definitely does that. We climbed up the rocks and up to the top with a gorgeous view of Mount Rainier, it seemed so close! To the left we started to see the turquoise water of the lake and my heart skipped a beat! I had been waiting years to see this view and it was so much better than I had expected! Reaching the top of a hike like this fills me with so much energy and gratitude, one of the many reasons hiking has become such a passion of mine.
Silver Falls
Silver Falls
After our last hike of the day, we went back to camp, changed out of our dirty adventure clothes and changed into my personal favorite outfit, pajamas. Then we drove into Ashford and got dinner at Whittaker’s Bunkhouse which is a fun and outdoorsy restaurant and lodge. I love this place because on weekends during the summer they have live music and the environment is so welcoming, they have done an incredible job at portraying the mountain lifestyle in the best way, I would highly recommend checking it out. Once we got back to camp, we spent our last night around the campfire enjoying good company, peacefulness and being out of reception!
We woke up Sunday morning, had a nice breakfast while we read and made the most of the little time we had left at camp. After we packed up, we headed for Snow Lake (2.2 miles roundtrip, 456 ft elev.), a hike that changed my life last year causing me to fall in love with alpine lakes! It was a hot weekend, so we prepared for the hike with snacks, water and swimsuits. This is one of my all-time favorite hikes not only because of the lake but the trail itself goes along wildflower meadows with spectacular views of the mountain. The last 0.3 miles is the hardest part, but the heat combined with working your body makes it that much easier to jump into the water. Once we got to the top we found a spot, ate some snacks and jumped in. The water was very cold but jumping into an alpine lake is one of the most refreshing feelings in the world. We ended up meeting people from all over the country that were exploring the Pacific Northwest and her beauty. The way back down the trail is always bittersweet on the last hike of any trip, spending a couple days on this mountain makes me wish I never had to leave.
Mount Rainier never fails to leave me filled with a deep sense of peacefulness and gratitude. There is something about spending a couple days here connecting with nature and reminding myself of what is truly important. Whether you’re leaving with tired legs or a full camera, these trips to the mountain are always with me. Until the next adventure, let the spirit of the mountain inspire future explorations.
Snow Lake Trail
Snow Lake
