r/Mount_Rainier

Headed to WA state for my first trip in less than 2 weeks. Visiting mt rainier for a few days then spend some time in North Cascades only doing day hikes. It sounds like it's a pita to leave and re-enter the park so should I bring a cooler and some kind of grocieries with me? Staying at Paradise inn. Also wondering what kind of clothes to bring. Plan to start my hikes around sunrise in the morning.

My partner and I are going to Rainier 7/15-7/19. This was a pretty last minute plan and so lodging has not been easy to find. I've been hounding lodging websites for openings and somehow got lucky enough to get a room at Paradise Inn for 7/17-7/19. I imagine getting that is pretty rare and I think we should definitely keep? Sounds like not dealing with the drive into the park to hike Skyline is worth it in itself but open to suggestions if this is not the case! For our first 2 nights, we were planning to stay in Packwood to get into Sunrise, but again, lodging has not been easy. We were able to get (what looks like) a sweet cabin at Alta Lodge near Crystal Mtn, so not in Packwood but in an area we wanted to check out anyway and definitely wanted to take the gondola up. But I also just got notification that a Mountain View Lodge room in Packwood opened up, as well as a room at Packwood Lodge and Cabins. Now I'm very torn if it's best to stay at this cool Alta cabin with a hot tub in what seems like the middle of nowhere, or stay in Packwood, a town that seems pretty cute but little further from Sunrise. Also curious if staying at Paradise Inn is a definite must-do? Any and all advice very much appreciated!

Hi, We are planning to be at Mt. Rainier for sunrise on July 4th. Could anyone please confirm whether the Sunrise/ White river entrance will be open by 4am / 5am Sunrise time?
Thanks 🙏

This is our current plan. We come the day before so we can get in early. We are a family of 5 (kids are 11, 13, and 15). Want to introduce our girls to hiking, and mostly here for the beautiful views, not strenuous hiking. Any tips on our agenda?

Would also love any tips for getting to each thing, or directions to go, or places to avoid.

Also, we'll be there all day. Any tips for places to eat, or do we need to stop somewhere the day before to stock up on snacks/food?

Also, my girls are a little nervous about wildlife, especially bears (they saw things online about bears that often approach the trails, which makes sense)... how frequently does this happen?

https://preview.redd.it/kise7b5al0bh1.png?width=670&format=png&auto=webp&s=a6cc3cda02b4c24164a54b796ffaf23a125b3310

At the end of the month i'm going to be spend a couple days hiking on the Sunrise side. I would love to also see the Paradise side and hike Skyline, but the only opportunity I'll have to do that would get me there around 2 in the afternoon. I know that's the crowded side and the parking lot fills up, but are there enough people leaving in the afternoon that it's not unreasonable to think I'll find parking?

Paradise or Sunrise at Mt Ranier for First Time Tourist?

Next week I'm going to be roadtripping around washington state and am planning to spend a day trip from near Enumclaw to either Paradise or Sunrise in the early morning, but am pretty bent between the two. We aren't the most avid hikers but can handle easy to moderate trails of medium distance (maximum distance is probably 6 ish miles roundtrip) and appreaciate beautiful drives and landscapes (which I'm guessing both paradise and sunrise have).

My current plan is just to go to the side with clear weather, and to decide between the two if both have good weather (or bad). Also include any other places/detours to stop at depending on each route you go.