Mount Rainier is a stratovolcano located  54 miles S.E. of  Seattle, WA.  At 14,410 feet, it is the tallest and most extensively glaciated volcanic peak in the contiguous United States. It is also the fifth tallest peak in the U.S.  Native Americans originally referred to the mountain as Tacoma, Tahoma and Ta-co-bet. The first European to see the mountain, Captain George Vancouver, re-named it in 1792 after his friend Rear Admiral Peter Rainier of the British Royal Navy.  Mount Rainier National Park was established by President William McKinley in 1899.

In November 2006 Mt. Rainer National Park suffered extensive flood and storm damage  after more than 18 inches of rain fell on the park in a 36-hour period.
See images of the storm damage.

Although most roads remain closed, there are several areas to hike, snowshoe or cross-country ski:         

• Foot traffic on the Nisqually Road is allowed on Sundays from the Nisqually Entrance to the Westside Road, from 10am to 5pm.  The Westside Road is open for foot traffic on Sundays as well.
• From the closed park gate on Highway 123 you can snowshoe or ski the road towards Ohanapecosh.  You can also park at the junction of Highway 410 and the Crystal Mountain Road and explore Highway 410.
• Carbon River Road and the Paul Peak/Mowich Lake area are open to non-motorized use.
• Climbers and campers are asked to check in with the Park Service headquarters in Ashford before entering (360) 569-2211
• Alternative recreation opportunities near Mt. Rainier

Flood Damage Updates and Trail conditions

Mt. National National Park Website

Mount Rainier Climbing blogspot

"Park News"

Visitor Centers, Campgrounds, Lodges

Traffic and Road Conditions

The park plans to expand its volunteer program this spring to assist with flood cleanup and trail reconstruction. Individuals who are interested in helping may contact Volunteer Program Manager Kevin Bacher at 360-569-2211 ext. 3385 or Kevin_Bacher@nps.gov.

COORDINATES: 46°51′11.9″N, 121°45′35.6″W

Google Earth: Get a bird’s eye view of Mt. Rainier. If you have Google Earth installed, you can double-click on the linked Placemark file and it will fly you to Mt. Rainier, Washington State. If not, you will need to install Google Earth first (available at http://earth.google.com). Available for PC and Mac OSX.

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General Area Map

Mt. Rainer National Park Map

Wilderness Zones

Glaciers and Rivers

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(August 1870) Hazard Stevens and Philemon Beecher Van Trump were the first people known to have summited Mount Rainier.

The average round trip to the summit takes two days and one night.

There are 26 named glaciers that are the source of 5 major river systems on Mt. Rainier.

Mt. Rainier National Park GeologyFieldnotes

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Climbers must register to go above 10,000 feet or to travel onto glaciers. Under normal conditions, primary registration locations are the Paradise Ranger Station, White River Wilderness Information Center, and the Wilkeson Ranger Station. Permit information.  Common Climbing Routes, General Climbing Information.

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Mount Rainier’s weather is strongly influenced by elevation and the Pacific Ocean. Paradise. The south side of the Mountain receives and average of 52 feet of snow each year! The lens-shaped clouds that often collect around the peak are called lenticular clouds. They indicate strong winds at the summit.

Weather Forecasts and Historic

Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center

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Passion fuels passion: Industry leading technical innovation, meticulous attention to detail, relentless pursuit of the best materials.  Mountain Hardwear makes gear to perform when you need it most.
Mountain Hardwear.  Radical Thinking™

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Rainier Mountaineering, Inc.

Training for Mountaineering

Webcam

Visitor's Guide

TradGirl

Kids Trip Planning Guide for Rainier

--Classic Hikes of the World by Peter Potterfield, $39.95—available at all Adventure 16 stores and online.

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Avalanche Danger

Geologic Hazards

General Safety on Rainier

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MT. RAINIER NATIONAL PARK RESTORATION EFFORTS

Student Conservation Association

Washington National Park Fund

Washington Trails Association

National Park Service

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Hiking, backpacking, and other wilderness activities, are potentially dangerous and unpredictable.  Adventure 16 assumes no liability for injuries associated with the use of information provided on this site. The trails, activities and areas described on this site are to be used for informational purposes only and should not be your sole source of guidance.  Always thoroughly research any outdoor area you plan to visit using various resources--including contacting local ranger stations--to obtain the most up to date information for your destination. Contact your physician if you are unsure about your health or physical abilities.