Mount Rainier - Washington's Highest Peak

Mount Rainier in the State of Washington is located 54 miles southeast of Seattle. With its 14,410 feet Mount Rainer is the highest mountain in Washington and in the Cascade Range. Native Americans gave the peak the name Talol, which means “mother of waters”. The first European to see the mountain, was Captain George Vancouver in 1792, and he named it after his friend - Peter Rainier. In 1899 President McKinley established Mount Rainier National Park as the fifth national park in America, which aimed to protect the nature, provide employment and increase tourism. Mount Rainier's rich archives include official park records and manuscript collections with a great number of reports, publications, logbooks, plans, history collections, artwork, poems, songs and more about this notable destination.

Mount Rainier National Park is easy to get to from all directions in the summer, but many of the roads are closed in the winter. It offers amazing opportunities for hiking, scenic drives and mountain climbing. For camping fans there are half a dozen campgrounds that you can go to. There are also a variety of locations to explore. For instance, the Paradise area is very famous for its amazing scenery and wildflower meadows. Amongst roadside recreations you can enjoy Paradise Valley Road, Reflection Lakes and Inspiration Point, which gives you a great vista of Mount Rainier and the Tatoosh Range. There are also over 260 miles of maintained trails that lead through peaceful old forests, river valleys and high meadows. Why not explore the forests, lakes and streams of this stunning area? Outdoor activities also include bicycling, fishing, boating and climbing. You can also visit the Longmire, Sunrise, Ohanapecosh, Carbon and Mowich Areas. The Sunrise Area is the highest point at Mount Rainier National Park that can be reached by vehicle.

The landscape at Mount Rainier transforms dramatically in winter. The colorful meadows and the beautiful forests are deeply covered in snow for the most of the year, creating a unique winter setting. You can take a snowshoe tour with a park ranger and see how wildlife copes with the long winter. At Jackson Visitor Center you can watch a film, see some exhibits, browse the gift shop, have lunch and enjoy the view from the great hall. Winter activities include snow sledging, skiing, winter camping and snowboarding. You can also join a ranger-led program, to learn more about the area during the guided walks, talks and campfire programs suitable for visitors of all ages.

Mount Rainier's famous wildflowers bloom for a short time in summer. Depending on the weather; it is hard to make definite predictions, but mostly, they bloom in mid-July. Despite the fact that frosts occur at the end of August, even then the meadows are still astonishing with their colourful blossoms. Mount Rainier National Park is open year-round, but is mostly visited in July and August, when the weather is warm and the flowers are blooming. But ephemeral waterfalls in spring and amazing colours in autumn also attract a lot of visitors.

The area of Mount Rainier is full of wonderful opportunities waiting to be explored. If you want to learn more about it, choose Mount Rainier for your next holiday.