I wish that I had a computer back in the days when we were traveling. Being from the
east coast,we had a limited idea of what we would try to see while on the west coast.
Unfortunately, Mt. Rainier did not make our list of places to visit and Mt. Hood did.
We regret not visiting Mt. Rainier, but thats life! We did the best that we could in the
seven months that we travel each summer.
Mount Rainier is a massive stratovolcano located 54 miles (87 km) southeast of Seattle, United States. It is the most prominent mountain in the contiguous United States and the Cascade Volcanic Arc, with a summit elevation of 14,411 feet (4,392 m).[1][2] Mt. Rainier is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world, and it is on the Decade Volcano list.[7] Because of its large amount of glacial ice, Mt. Rainier could potentially produce massive lahars that would threaten the wholePuyallup River valley.
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The summit cone formed incrementally as lava and ash gushed from a vent in the Earth thousands of times, filling the surrounding canyons and increasing the footprint of the mountain. The top of the still-active volcano named Mount Rainier once topped 16,000 feet, but the effects of the harsh weather at high elevations in west-central Washington lowered the mountain’s skyward reach, only for eruptions over the last two millennia to build the summit back up to its current height of 14,411 feet above sea level. Mount Rainier’s last eruption occurred about 100 years ago.
So impressive is Mount Rainier’s hulking presence that it dominates the skyline for 100 miles, dwarfing other Cascade Range peaks and luring tourists to its high-elevation bounties. Located 95 miles from Seattle and 70 miles from Tacoma, Mount Rainier National Park so successfully draws lovers of the outdoors to its 235,625 acres, that astute visitors avoid much of the traffic on the roads and the crowds on the trails by exploring the park during midweek.
Of course, these roads and trails are busy for a good reason: This national park delivers extraordinary year-round recreation, from mountaineers improving their ice-climbing skills to photographers determined to capture the park’s essence in shots of wildflowers, woods and waterfalls. Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing abound in the winter, and July and August bring the most colorful blooms of wildflowers.
Visitors who explore the park sometime between early July and early October should begin in the southwest Nisqually entrance, then drive to Paradise and Sunrise, stopping to appreciate the wildflowers, when in bloom.If time permits, travelers who like to hike may want to park at the entrance at Carbon River, in the northwest corner, hike to the self-guided Carbon River Rain Forest Trail, then launch into the much more difficult 18 mile round-trip hike through Douglas firs and Sitka spruce along the Carbon Glacier Trail.
No matter where visitors direct their boots in the day-time, they can spend their nights in any of the three campgrounds, all with 14 day limits. No hook-ups exist, but with Mount Rainier as a backdrop, a stay here can hardly be called roughing it.
Park on Alder Lake and Mayfield Lake reservoirs. The campgrounds feature full hookups
and swimming, boating, and excellent campsite facilities.
Mayfield Lake ParkYear-round day use area and boat launch
Campsites open between April 15 and October 15
55 individual campsites (Water/electric hookups)
12-unit group camp area - Memorial Day - Oct. 15
Fire rings and picnic tables in all campsites
Coin-operated showers
Wheelchair-accessible restroom
Reservable kitchen shelter
Alder Lake Park Download BrochureYear-round camping at 173 campsites
37 with water, electric and sewer hookups
74 with water and electric hookups
62 tent sites
20-site group camp area - full hookups
Two boat launches open year round
Fire rings and picnic tables in all campsites
Coin-operated showers
Wheelchair accessible restrooms
Water faucets throughout campground
Taidnapam ParkYear-round camping and day-use area
67 individual campsites
17 with water, electric and sewer hookups
34 with water and electric hookups
16 walk-in tent sites
22-site group camp area
18 with water, electric and sewer hookups
4 with water and electric hookups
Boat launch open mid-May through mid-September
Fire rings and picnic tables in all campsites
Coin-operated showers
Wheelchair accessible restrooms
Mossy Rock ParkYear-round camping, day use area and boat launch
152 individual campsites (76 with full hookups)
Two group camp areas
60-site group camp (35 with electric hookups)
10-site primitive group camp (no hookups)
Fire rings and picnic tables in all campsites
Coin-operated showers
Laundry facilities
Store and fast-food concession stand (seasonal)
Wheelchair accessible restrooms
Water faucets throughout campground
Reservable kitchen shelter
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