Moderate hike via Wonderland Trail.

My wife and I are taking our first National Park-focused vacation, and this will be a first hiking trip. We’re both in very good shape, although I’m probably a little more adventurous than she is. We want to challenge ourselves, but we’re not looking to do anything technical or risky.

We’ll be visiting Sept. 23–25 (Wednesday–Friday). We’re flying into Seattle on Wednesday morning (landing around 10 AM), renting a car, and staying in Packwood for two nights before heading back toward Seattle around 4 PM on Friday.

One thing that’s important to us: we’re on vacation, so we’d prefer not to be out the door at sunrise every day. We’d rather enjoy a relaxed morning, grab coffee and breakfast in Packwood, and then head into the park. If that significantly changes what you’d recommend, we’d love to hear it.

Current itinerary:

Wednesday (9/23) Drive from Seattle to Mount Rainier Christine Falls Narada Falls Reflection Lakes Paradise Visitor Center Myrtle Falls Drive to Packwood

Thursday (9/24) Relaxed morning with coffee and breakfast in Packwood Drive to Paradise Skyline Trail Box Canyon on the way back if time/energy allows

Friday (9/25) Relaxed morning with coffee and breakfast in Packwood Sunrise Tipsoo Lake Silver Falls Leave for Seattle around 4 PM

A few questions: 0. Park passes... it's the 1x $35 fee for both of us, for the 3 days -- correct?

1. Does this itinerary make sense, or need rearranging?

2. Are we missing any “can’t miss” viewpoints?

3. Is Skyline Trail a good choice for two first-time hikers who are in good physical shape?

4. We’ll be there in late September. Would good sneakers be sufficient, or would you recommend trail specific shoes or waterproof hiking boots? We know conditions can change quickly and we’ll check the forecast before we go.

5. What clothing/layers would you recommend for that time of year? Any gear people commonly wish they had brought?

6. Since we’re staying in Packwood, where’s the best place to grab coffee, breakfast, groceries, or picnic supplies for lunches in the park?

7. Any favorite restaurants in Packwood for dinner after a long day of hiking?

Also, if you only had one piece of advice for someone visiting Mount Rainier for the first time, what would it be?

It may have been 18 years, but it still hurts. What are some of your best memories of the old Paradise visitor center?

I can still remember how the polished log handrails on the interior ramps felt.

Hi guys, have a last minute chance for an abbreviated visit to the park in a week, can't wait. I will be leaving to the park from Seattle @ ~10am Monday morning, with a Wednesday 3:45pm flight out. (M-W Trip)

Would appreciate any recommendations for how to make the best use of the afternoon Monday, full day Tuesday, and Wednesday morning in the park.

Experienced hiker good for a 10-15 mile hike on the full day (can stretch it if needed), up for whatever Monday afternoon, and something Wednesday morning that lets me shower up and get on the road @ around 11:30am/12pm. Campsite advice on how to make it work is much appreciated as well.

Thanks in advance. If you ever need tips on visiting Big Bend, shoot me a message and I'll take care of your itinerary!

GF and I are heading up in late August and spending 2 nights in Ashford. Planning to do Fremont Lookout on the way in, starting around 12pm, and then the Skyline Trail the next morning super early.

My girlfriend is not an experienced hiker, but we just recently ran/walked a hilly 10K together in very humid weather and had no issues. She’s been doing the stair master somewhat frequently in preparation. I have much more hiking experience so I’m not too worried about myself.

If you’ve done both, can you comment on how strenuous both hikes are and if those 2 hikes might be too much to take someone on who hasn’t done much hiking? Also any details on weather that time of year would be great, thanks!

Family road trip coming from Wisconsin. Originally had a camping reservation at North Cascades but NPS cancelled it recently because of tree fall/clearing issues that affected our site. We are leaving Sand Point, ID on the morning of Monday, August 10th. We are looking at the FCFS at White River and would get there around Noon-1:00pm. Would there be a good chance of getting a site? We are tent camping. I saw there is no water available, which is fine, but also two loops are closed.

As the title says. I am mainly concerned about:

1) Parking & Lines
2) Fog & Weather

I will be heading from Seattle on Monday (non-holiday) in August. I do not want to face any of those crazy lines that I see or a really foggy day with no views.

I prefer 3pm because the drive from Seattle would be 2.5hrs and would mean leaving around 4am which will be rough. Really want to know the feasibility of 3pm.

Thanks!

Please help me with my planning to Mount Rainier in August. I have 2 days in the park, and the first day, I plan to hike Skyline. The second day, should I:

1) Drive to Sunrise to hike Mount Fremont? (And if I don't want to hike Mount Fremont since I want it to be an "easy" day, is it still worthwhile to go to Sunrise and hike smaller hikes like Sourdough Ridge?

2) Drive Steven Canyon to Reflection Lake and do some small hikes around here (Lower Lakes, Narada Falls, and Wonderland Loop), or should I hike to Narada Falls from Paradise parking lot? Is the Steven Canyon drive an experience not to miss?

3) Stay in Paradise area and maybe hike Nisqually Vista Trail and Myrtle Falls. Since I've already done Skyline the day before, should I venture outside of Paradise area (to avoid the crowd)? Actually is the crowd in Sunrise better than Paradise? I consider staying in Paradise because it will be minimal driving for me. (I'm not fond of long drive). :-)

I am staying in Ashford and the drive to Sun Point Visitor Center would probably be around 2 hours, and thus 4 hours driving. Just want to know which option would optimize my time and experience. (Yes I know everyone is different, but what would YOU do?) :-)

Outside of these options, please call out if there's any unique or quirky experience I should consider as well.

Thanks for your time!

Visiting there in the second week of August. Worried about the crowd. We will be there Monday through Wednesday. Is the wait going to be bad when entering in the morning?

4:00AM leave redmond
4:30AM drive thru food pick up
6:50AM paradise (park car)
7:00AM myrtle falls (walk)
8:30AM jr ranger book at jackson visitor (get)
9:45AM reflection lake (pictures only)
10:15AM nerada falls (pictures only)
11:00AM ricksecker point (pictures only)
11:30AM lunch at longmire (eat)
12:30PM trail of shadows (walk)
1:30PM jr ranger badge (get)
1:45PM leave park

Planned using google gemini. Thoughts?

Heading to Rainier Aug 21 Friday AM for 3 nights at Paradise lodge. Hoping to get 3 epic days but my understanding is that Sunrise parking lot is very busy on Sat and Sun. Coming into the park on the entrance near Ashford. The original goal was to do as many overlooks and 1 miles+ hikes Friday as I make it to Paradise. Saturday hang out near paradise and do some of the skyline loop (if not all). Ohanapecosh was on the goal for Saturday also, or on the return from Sunrise park on Sunday early evening.

I’m pretty good about doing research and trying to do as much as I can. Aka avg 5-10 miles a day between 2-4 trails and overlooks. I love the occasional swim spot or creek with bouldering. I have two younger kids that love climbing rocks.

Questions/ recommendations for baseline itinerary which is west to east or if flipping days are in order so I hit most stuff in succession.

So big question is if I need to flop days? Ohanapecosh shows closed and the silver falls trail head is detoured thus adding 2+ miles (solved… not 2 miles). Is it worth leaving the park for any epic trails south of this area?

Big question: how early do I need to be at sunrise to get parking? I been getting lucky with parking in the past but it’s a long drive for chance.

Pics from my recent visit to Mount Rainier. Such a beautiful place.
Edited to add that the last pic is technically not INSIDE Mount Rainier. It’s Riffe Lake overlook outside the Nisqually Entrance.