Mountains & Meadows & Myrtle Falls - Oh, My!

Mount Rainier National Park:

Our first four days in Mount Rainier National Park are filled with misty clouds draping their way down the sides of the mountains. The gauze-like clouds glide across the landscape...obscuring the view of the magnificent mountain scenery we came to see.

We drive the foggy park roads in search of more intimate photo opportunities instead of the grand landscape normally associated with Mount Rainier. 

A persistent rain plagues us most of our visit.  However, on our fifth day we are blessed with blue skies.  With every curve in the road, Mount Rainier looms above us dominating the landscape.  We stop at Reflection Lakes to take the traditional postcard view of Mount Rainier with its icy glaciers against a backdrop of aquamarine-blue sky.  The far end of the parking lot offers the best reflection although it appears the lake level might be down a little this time of the year. 

 Reflection Lakes - Mount Rainier

There are times when I realize how small we are in comparison to the world around us.  The Grove of the Patriarchs Trail is one of those humbling moments.  The 1.5 mile trail winds through an ancient forest of giant trees.  I bend my head back as far as I can to take in their height.  They are so tall and wide.  My outstretched arms can’t begin to encircle the width of some of the tree trunks. 

Grove of the Patriarchs



Along the Stevens Canyon Road is an opportunity to see a narrow (15’-30’ wide) and deep box canyon.  The easy half mile loop trail crosses a footbridge offering an excellent view of the river 115’ below us.  The canyon can be viewed from the bridge on road too but please be watchful of the traffic. 





Box Canyon Footbridge

Box Canyon (115' deep at this point)

At the Carbon River area, the road is closed as soon as you enter this area of the park (past flooding conditions have destroyed sections of the road).  There are several easy hikes to waterfalls that we won't be able to do because of our lack of time.  Our only hiking option is the half-mile, self-guided Rain Forest Loop Nature Trail located at the entrance.  Ironically, it is not raining today but we still enjoy the experience of walking through a rain forest with its fern-lined trail and moss-covered rocks and trees. 

Rain Forest Loop Nature Trail - Carbon River Area



No trip to Mount Rainier would be complete without a visit to Paradise.  After stopping at the new Visitor Center, we opt to do two relatively easy hikes (Myrtle Falls and Nisqually Vista Trail).  Our hike begins with a quote from John Muir: 

“ … the most luxuriant and most extravagantly beautiful of all the

alpine gardens I ever beheld  in all my mountain-top wanderings” 

John Muir (1889)  

 

John Muir Quote 



Nisqually Vista Trail

Nisqually Glacier is one of 25 glaciers in Mount Rainier National Park and it is easily seen along the 1.2 mile Nisqually Vista Trail.  We drive to Sunrise (elevation 6,495') which is the highest point in the park that is accessible by vehicle.  It is twilight time and a light snow is falling at this elevation.  From this location, we can see Emmons Glacier (the largest glacier by area in the Park), feel the cold air on our hands and faces, and hear a bugling male elk looking for a mate. 

There are over 150 waterfalls (many over 300 feet in height) in Mount Rainier National Park.  Some are easily accessible like Christine Falls.  It is probably the most photographed waterfall in the park.   The upper tier of the waterfalls can be seen from the road.  The lower tier requires a short walk to a small viewing area.   



Christine Falls - Lower Tier 

There is food and lodging within the park.  There is a limited amount of lodging outside the park boundaries as well.    I would recommend making lodging reservations prior to your arrival.   

 

There is so much more to see and do in Mount Rainier National Park.  Have a safe and enjoyable visit to this beautiful park.