The Best Easy Hikes in Mount Rainier

Short trails with the biggest payoff: wildflowers, waterfalls, and the mountain itself.

By Chris Hayworth, Nestward

Mount Rainier rewards short hikes better than almost any park in the country. You don't need to climb a 14,410-foot volcano to feel like you've earned the view. A half-mile of paved trail at Paradise can put you in a wildflower meadow with glaciers overhead. The trick is knowing which short loops actually deliver, and when the snow finally melts off them.

Paradise: the most scenery per step

Paradise is the south-side hub, and its meadow trails are the easiest way to stand in subalpine wildflowers with the summit looming behind you. The paved Nisqually Vista Trail is about 1.2 miles round trip and mostly gentle, good for strollers on the flatter stretches and a clear look at the Nisqually Glacier. Just up the hill, Glacier Vista climbs a bit harder into Paradise Meadows for a closer glacier view; it's short but the grade is real, so call it moderate.

Two warnings. First, "wildflower season" here usually means late July into August. Before that, much of Paradise is still under snow well into June and July. Second, Paradise gets crowded; arrive before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. in summer, and note that timed-entry reservations have applied in recent peak seasons. Check the park site before you drive up.

Ohanapecosh: forest and a waterfall

The southeast corner trades alpine views for deep old-growth forest, and it's the better choice on a cloudy day when the mountain is hidden. The Silver Falls hike loops through towering conifers to a powerful drop on the Ohanapecosh River, roughly 3 miles round trip on a well-graded trail, easy to moderate depending on your loop. Keep kids back from the wet rock near the falls; it's slick.

This area is home to some of the few remaining old-growth groves in the Cascades, with cedars and Douglas-firs big enough to make a six-year-old go quiet. The Ohanapecosh entrance and campground sit right here, so it's an easy base for a forest-focused day.

Sunrise: the high, easy ridgeline

Sunrise is the highest point you can drive to in the park, and that head start means short trails with enormous views. The Sourdough Ridge Trail climbs gently to a ridgeline overlooking the mountain and the White River valley, and the Silver Forest Trail runs nearly level out to open viewpoints of Rainier and the valley below, both short, kid-friendly, and stuffed with payoff. You're already at elevation up here, so the air is thinner; pace little legs accordingly.

The catch: Sunrise Road opens late, typically late June, and closes again in mid-October. It's a summer-only destination. The NPS lists kid-friendly hikes and day hiking guides for the park if you want to match a trail to your crew before you go.

Logistics worth knowing

• Best time: July and August for wildflowers and open roads. Spring and fall are gorgeous but many high-elevation trails stay snow-covered, and several entrances close seasonally.
• Getting in: Entrance is $30 per vehicle for seven days. The Nisqually entrance (near Ashford) is the only year-round gate; Sunrise, Stevens Canyon, and others close in the off-season.
• Weather: Cool and changeable, summer highs in the 60s and 70s, rain likely outside July and August. Bring a layer even on a clear morning.
• Dogs: Be honest with yourself here. Pets are not allowed on Mount Rainier's trails or in the meadows. They're limited to roads, paved areas, parking lots, and campgrounds, on a leash. If you're hoping to hike with your dog, this isn't the park for it.