An active 14,410-foot stratovolcano dominates the horizon of Washington States South Cascade range.
MRNP, at 369 square miles, is relatively compact compared to its Pacific Northwest counterparts.
On a map, the mountain resembles an avalanche lily with glacial petals jutting out in all directions.
Thats fitting, since the park ranks among Americas best places to view wildflowers.
(The Visit Rainier tourism board recommends these10 hikesto soak up the splendor in the grass.)
Bald eagles and spotted owls soar here, too, and listen for the buzz of tiny calliope hummingbirds.
Younger folks can pay $80 per year for the same unlimited access.
When to go
This is really a summer playground.
The parks Nisqually entrance is the only one accessible by car year-round.
Visitors should pack layers of clothing and a raincoat.
Travel with a companion and leave an itinerary with a trusted friend.
Cell coverage is very limited.
In winter, a serious amount of snow blankets MRNP.
In fact, nearly 56 feet piles up at the parks Paradise area each year.
Reserve ahead for visits from June to September onrecreation.gov($26 per trip).
Self-drive options provide the most flexibility, especially since the park cant be reached by shuttles or public transport.
But there are day tours out of Seattle and her southern sister city of Tacoma.
The park cant be driven across, due to that central, heavily glaciated 14,410-foot volcano.
So visitors tend to orbit Rainier and take spoke roads into five primary areas.
But with that easy-access beauty comes large crowds during peak season.
Parking lots in both areas can overflow by late morning on weekends and holidays.
Carbon River/Mowich Lake (northwest):This area shelters temperate rainforests, an inland rarity.
The Carbon River entrance remains open throughout the year, but only to hikers and bicyclists.
The car-friendly Mowich Lake entrance operates in summer and closes after the first snowfall, usually in early October.
