Encompassing the lands around the tallest mountain in the Pacific Northwest (that is, if you exclude Alaska), Mt. Rainier National Park is an outdoor lovers’ playground with old-growth forests, miles of scenic trails, waterfalls around virtually every corner, and, of course, its glacier- and wildflower-filled slopes.
While this park is best explored over a whole weekend or even a whole summer, it is still a great place to visit if you only have a single day.
The park’s roads lead far up onto the alpine meadows on the flanks of this still geologically active volcano, so it’s easy to take in some of the best views in just a couple of hours.
Add in some side trips to some of the park’s best waterfalls and alpine lakes, and you have a day that you won’t soon forget—and will probably have you coming back again and again.
The Perfect One-Day Itinerary in Mount Rainier National Park
One of the benefits of visiting Mt. Rainier during the early fall months (besides being prime huckleberry season, the leaves turning the alpine meadows into a carpet of red and orange, the days cooling off, etc.) is that timed entry permits are no longer required.
While this can lead to more traffic at the entrance on warm September weekends, it takes the stress off planning the visit and allows for a bit more spontaneity.
Enter at the Paradise Gate
There are several entrances to the park, but our favorite is through the Paradise Gate, otherwise known as the Nisqually Entrance.
This area offers the most bang for your buck for first-time visitors or those who want to make the most of one day in the park.
Once you make your way past the gate, the road will take you through massive stands of fir trees and along the Nisqually River.
While there are tons of places to stop along this road, we suggest making a beeline straight up to Paradise. This area fills up very fast, especially after permit season ends, and late arrivals can mean walking along the road for a mile or more once the main parking lots fill up.
Exploring Paradise
The Paradise area of Mt. Rainier is home to the Paradise Inn, a historic timber-framed lodge with a restaurant, gift shop, and coffee shop; the Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center, a must-visit to check out the maps and trail conditions and learn about the area; and access to one of the most stunning trails in the Pacific Northwest.
If you’re up for a somewhat strenuous hike, the Skyline Loop Trail should be the first on your itinerary.
At 5.5 miles and 1,700 feet of elevation gain, this trail will take a good 3 to 4 hours to complete and will probably leave you wiped out at the end, but we promise it is worth it.
With head-on views of the mountain’s glaciated slopes, wildlife galore (our last time on the trail, we saw a black bear, marmot, deer, and pika), and wildflowers that can last well into the fall months due to their late blooms.
A shorter but still equally beautiful hike is the one-mile walk along a paved path to Myrtle Falls. With minimal elevation gain and a stunning payoff with the cascading falls perfectly framed by the slopes of Mt. Rainier, this area is a must-visit.
Once you’ve gotten your fill of nature, head over to the Paradise Inn to grab a bite to eat and explore the massive timber-framed structure.
Much of the timber furniture that adorns the lobby and seating area was made by hand when a German carpenter overwintered at the lodge!
Reflections of the Moutain
After you’ve had your fill of alpine goodness at Paradise, it’s time to head downslope a bit to take in some more sights that are equally stunning and also require a little less hiking.
By heading east on Stevens Canyon Road, you’ll quickly arrive at the parking area for Reflection Lake. This spot is usually pretty busy, but there is plenty of room to spread out and take in the stunning views of the mountain as it reflects in the lake before you.
The shoreline is also lined with tons of huckleberry bushes, which make for a perfect afternoon snack while taking in the view.
If you’re feeling up for another short hike, head just another mile down the road to the small parking lot for the Bench and Snow Lakes trail.
The trail to Bench Lake is only a mile round trip, and the lake here offers a far better and more peaceful reflection of the mountain.
Take in the Waterfalls
Odds are, at this point, the day is starting to grow long, and you’ve probably hiked all the miles you want to hike for the day.
This makes it a great time to begin making your way out of the park. But luckily, there are still plenty of sights to take along the way that barely require getting out of your car.
I’m sure you will have noticed them on the way in, but in case not, there are two stunning waterfalls right alongside the road.
First, you’ll pass by Narada Falls, a wide, cascading waterfall that gently pours over the rock ledge onto the boulders below. The top of the falls can be seen right from the parking lot, but for a better view, you’ll want to walk down the short trail.
The second is Christine Bridge Falls. These can be seen directly from the road or, once again, for a better view from a viewpoint along a very short trail.
Making Your Way Out of the Park
From here, it’s time to make your way out of the park. There are plenty more areas to explore along the way, such as walking along the Nisqually River or exploring Longmire, which are two favorites.
We hope this inspires you to get out and explore the wonder of Mount Rainier National Park.
