 | | Mount Rainier Wilderness was established in 1899. It consists of 235,625 acres (97% is designated Wilderness). Includes Mount Rainier (14,410'), an active volcano encased in over miles of snow and ice. The park contains outstanding examples of old growth forests and sub-alpine meadows. Twenty-seven named glaciers spill down the slopes, covering approximately 37 square miles, making it the largest field of glaciers in the Lower 48. The distinguishing aspects of the park only begin with the mountain. You'll find 300 miles of maintained trails, 382 bodies of water, almost 500 miles of rivers and streams, 54 species of mammals, 787 of plants, 130 of birds, and 17 of reptiles and amphibians. Most of the 235,612 acres of the park are designated Wilderness. Within the park but outside the Wilderness visitors are free to pitch a tent at one of about 600 regulated campsites. As many as 10,000 climbers attempt the summit every year. Due to rapid weather changes and altitude gain, only about half of those who attempt to reach the top actually make it. The 93-mile Wonderland Trail, which completes a loop around the base of Mount Rainier. It ascends to alpine meadows aflame with summer wildflowers, past clear lakes, then down into canyons cut deeply by streams into the old lava that once flowed from the mountain's crater. Mount Rainier was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1997 as a showcase for the "NPS Rustic" style architecture of the 1920s and 1930s. Whether hiking on its flanks, climbing its summit, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing on its slopes, camping along its glacier-fed rivers, photographing wildflower displays in subalpine meadows, or just admiring the view, nearly two million people come to enjoy the grandeur and beauty of Mount Rainier each year. |
| |  | | | Facilities: Mount Rainier Wilderness provides campsites. Reservations: Reservations are not accepted for Mount Rainier Wilderness. Best Time To Visit: Mount Rainier Wilderness is open year-round. Please use good judgement during the winter. Fees: No fees are charged. Accessibility: Handicap accessibility is not provided. Rules: Do not litter. Directions: To reach Mount Rainier Wilderness from Tacoma start out going south on S Fawcett Ave toward S 11th St. for 0.1 miles. Turn left onto S 13th St. for 0.2 miles. Turn slight right to stay on S 13th St. for 0.1 miles. Turn slight right onto ramp for 0.1 miles. Merge onto I-705 S. for 0.9 miles. Merge onto I-5 S via the exit on the left toward Portland for 6.1 miles. Merge onto WA-512 E via exit 127 toward South Tacoma for 2.3 miles. Take the WA-7 / Pacific Ave. exit toward Parkland for 0.3 miles. Turn tight onto WA-7 S. Continue to follow WA-7 S. for 35.6 miles. Stay straight to go onto WA-706 for 13.6 miles. WA-706 becomes Paradise Rd. for 1.0 mile. Turn right to stay on Paradise Rd (Portions may be closed seasonally) for 16.5 miles. Paradise Rd becomes Paradise Valley Rd. (Portions may be closed seasonally) for 0.4 miles. (There are 4.56 miles between your ending location and the end of your driving directions. Use maps to get from your ending location to the end of your route.) End at Mount Rainier. | | |
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| | | | Address | | Mount Rainier Wilderness | | Tahoma Woods, Star Route | | Ashford, Washington 98304 |
| | | Phone | | General: (360) 569-2211 | | Fax: (360) 569-2170 | | (360) 569-2177 |
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