The Ultimate Guide to Mount Rainier National Park

Tips for visiting Mount Rainier National Park:

-Climbing Mount Rainier itself is no east feat. Nearly 10,000 people attempt to conquer the 14,411 feet peak... and only half are successful. Come prepared if you want to make it to the top of Rainier (and remember that you'll need a permit)... otherwise, there are tons of easier hikes that are just as pretty! -The park is open 24/7, but roads and visitor centers close at night and on certain days during the winter. Call ahead, especially if it's during the snowy seasons. -Speaking of snow, the park's Paradise Valley is one of the snowiest places on Earth, getting about an average of 53 feet of powder per year. When it isn't covered in snow, Paradise features its famous wildflowers... but expect to find snow on the ground here well into July. That being said, winter sports like snowshoeing and tubing are incredibly popular in Paradise. It even has a snow-play area! -Dress in layers, since the temperature in the park is cool to begin with, and it cools off even more the higher in elevation you go. Yes, even in the summer! Just in case. -Be prepared to get to the Paradise Visitor early, especially during summer weekends. Otherwise, you might have to hoof it a mile from the further lot to the visitor center. Plus, you can spend the morning checking out the visitor center exhibits before it gets too crowded, then head out on a hike once you're done!

If you're less experienced climbing mountains but still want to try your hand at conquering one, try the hike up Plummer Peak. It's a fairly easy, 2.6 mile round trip trail that can be accomplished in about 5 hours, making it a nice day hike... but since it's the 7th tallest peak in the Tatoosh Range, it's still pretty impressive, offering views that seem to go on forever and lovely subalpine meadow sights!

If you're not up for a hike, there are loads of scenic overlooks just off the park's roads. Stevens Canyon Road features Inspiration Point, which has ample parking and incredible views of Rainier. If you keep going down Stevens Canyon Road, you'll reach another scenic point at Reflection Lakes, where you can get a different view of the mountain... as a reflection on the crystal clear water!

Colorful wildflowers like lupines, mountain heather, scarlet paintbrush, cascade asters and bistort dot the lush grass, carved stone stairs make the trail feel like something from a fairytale, and majestic peaks covered by glaciers provide endless photo ops. All in all, you can take the whole looping trail, which climaxes at the stunning Panorama Point, for a 5.4 mile journey that should last around 4 hours.

Paradise is the most popular spot in the park, for many reasons. Paradise Jackson Visitor Center is located here, and during the winter, this side of the mountain receives the most snow, making it the perfect destination for skiers and winter sports enthusiasts. If you visit during spring or summer, you'll be treated to views of the valley covered in blooming wildflowers. There are lots of trails in this part of the park, so grab a map at the visitor center to guide the way.

A slightly more intense hike is the Spray Park Trail. It's 6 miles round trip, and offers views of glaciers and the Spray Falls for which the trail is named, in addition to the extensive meadows for which the park is known. The trailhead (at the bare-bones Mowich Lake walk-in campground) is a little more remote, so the trail is less crowded than many others in the park. Plus, there's a bit of elevation gain on this trail, so be prepared.

Don't freak out with excitement, but Mount Rainier has its very own treehouse rental! Cedar Creek Treehouse is probably one of the most fun treehouses in the country, with giant swings, suspension bridges, even an observatory. You'll be sleeping 80 feet off the ground, among the branches of a stately cedar tree. There's a working kitchen and heat, but no running water or outlets, so it's more similar to camping, but the chance to sleep atop the forests of the Pacific Northwest is absolutely worth it. Pro tip: if you can't get a room, or aren't in the mood to rough it, call and ask the owners for a tour. It's seriously one of the coolest treehouses in the country.

There's a 2.7-mile trail that leads from the Ohanapecosh Campground to Silver Falls, where the super-blue river makes its final tumble before heading out to the Pacific. Fed by creeks high in the Cascade Mountains, the Ohanapecosh River maintains a bright blue color unseen anywhere else in the park. The one downside: its high-altitude H2O means that this rushing river is pretty frigid even in the hottest months.

For the classic National Park lodge experience, book a stay at the Paradise Inn. It was built in 1919 and has all the rustic, vintage charm you could ever want. From the massive fireplace and floral light fixtures in the lobby to the lack of wifi and TVs, it feels a bit like stepping back to a simpler time. If you need a quick meal or just want to stock up on souvenirs, they have a cafe and gift shop onsite as well.