Most of us Joe Schmos don’t have enough PTO to explore every inch of Mt. Rainier National Park’s 236,381 acres. Just hiking the 93-mile Wonderland Trail takes the fittest foot travelers about two weeks. And my knees hurt just thinking about daily elevation gains/losses of 3,500+ feet. Instead, use this 3-day Mount Rainier itinerary to hike a few highlights in the summer or early fall.
Day 1: You Have Arrived
Fly into the airport of your choice, then set your GPS to Ashford, Washington. The quaint gateway town is approximately 75 miles from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) or 130 miles from Portland International Airport (PDX).
There are several lodging options in Ashford. Our family of five loved staying in a cabin on Tenas Creek, conveniently located less than a mile from the Nisqually entrance. There are also two historic inns within the park boundaries. Wherever you prefer to stay, make your reservation early. Summer months are typically booked 9-12 months in advance.
Check in, have an early dinner then head into the park around 5 or 6 p.m. You’ll likely see a stream of cars exiting the park, but very few entering.
Make your way to Christine Falls first. Park in one of the pullouts and walk down to the overlook to see the 60-foot waterfall plunging beneath the arched stone bridge.
Get back in the car and drive to Narada Falls. Hike 0.2 miles down the trail to the base of the waterfall. Enjoy the view of the clear water tumbling over the hardened lava, then choose your next adventure.
Will you A) continue north on the Wonderland Trail and hike 3.5 miles to Reflection Lakes, or B) drive there? If you choose option B, you can 1) walk a short distance on the sidewalk to see the volcano’s glaciated peak reflected in the water, or 2) hike the 3.1-mile High Lakes Loop trail clockwise and wait for the reflection to be revealed near the end of the hike. We chose option B-2 and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Return to where you came from and get your head in a bed. You’re gonna need fresh feet and wide eyes for tomorrow.
Day 2: Hike Your Heart Out
There are numerous national parks with a lookout named Panorama Point, and the ones I’ve been to are nothing short of spectacular. Ditto for all the Skyline Trails in the world. But Panorama Point via the Skyline Trail in Mount Rainier National Park is my absolute fave. Photos don’t do the view justice. You can see for miles and miles. Oh, yeah. There are a few different routes to get there and back, so once again you can choose your own adventure.
But first … logistics. Reservations are required to enter the park between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. during the summer months. Find release dates and other important information on Recreation.gov.
As far as parking goes, it fills up fast. And there are several schools of thought on the best time to get there to find a spot. Our timed entry for the Paradise Corridor was 7 a.m., the first available. We drove straight to the Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center in Paradise and all the folks who entered before reservations were required or were already staying in the park had filled the parking lot. There were a few spots left in the lower overflow parking, and we managed to snag one.
It took us about three hours to complete the 6.8-mile route we chose and hit the gift shop before returning to our vehicle for lunch. By this time, there were a lot more parking spaces available. So if you aren’t an early riser, consider stopping at Comet Falls in the morning and hitting Skyline trail in the early afternoon instead. Whichever trail you traverse first, however, the second trail will be toasty.
Though the 4-mile roundtrip Comet Falls trail offers some shade at the beginning, there are a few steep stretches in full afternoon sun. A hiker on the way down saw our red faces and said, “This is the worst stretch, and you’re probably questioning your life choices right now, but the falls are totally worth it.” She was not wrong. Neither was the “challenging” rating given by All Trails.
This was one of the most stunning waterfalls I’ve seen. And a great reminder that I can do hard things. Sit in the cool mist of the falls and soak in the view, both literally and figuratively. Descending the 1,250 we’d just hiked up was easier, but still hot and tiring.
Hungry yet? You betcha. We had ice cream appetizers from the general store (a must!), followed by a delicious dinner at our vacation rental and s’mores around the fire for dessert.
Day 3: Before You Depart the Park
Hop back in your vehicle and drive to the other southeastern side of the park. Stop at Box Canyon and walk the 0.5-mile loop trail to get a better glimpse of the river rushing through the deep slot canyon. Note: The fear of fumbling your phone at this photo op is real! Camera straps are highly recommended.
The last stop on this 3-day Mount Rainier Itinerary is Silver Falls. And it’s time to make another choice that might be dictated by parking. Will you A) be lucky enough to snag a spot at the Ohanapecosh Visitor Center or in the adjacent campground, or B) have to park on SR 123?
The odds were ever in our favor and we parked in the designated area within the campground. We hiked the 2.9-mile loop clockwise, but I would recommend going counterclockwise for a more spectacular reveal of the turquoise water spilling over the rocks into the deep pool. Either way, the trail meanders through the forest along the river and crosses a bridge. It is scenic and serene. And a mere 500-foot elevation gain doesn’t make your muscles scream the way mine did on the Comet Falls trail. Silver Falls is easy, peasy.
If you park on SR 123, you don’t have to complete the entire loop to see Silver Falls. A short spur trail offers quick and easy viewing. But the loop is worth the extra time, in my opinion.
When you are back in your vehicle, head out through the Stevens Canyon gate and make your way home.