Ultimate Mount Rainier National Park Self-Guided Driving Tour

Continue driving as you listen. We’re now in the verdant shadows of Rainer’s lush forest. All of this greenery is thanks to the water flowing down from Rainer. In fact, you can probably catch a glimpse of the Nisqually River to your right as we drive.

We’re approaching the Longmire Historic District, named for explorer and entrepreneur James Longmire. This is a great place for a pit stop, and you’ll find food, bathrooms, and even a little museum here! It also serves as the starting point for a couple different trails, which I’ll talk about in a moment. There’s also a gift shop if you need the perfect souvenir from your visit!

You might’ve heard the adage “don’t go chasing waterfalls.” But when it comes to Comet Falls, my advice is to chase away! The challenging, 4-mile hike up ahead leads to a 301-foot waterfall that’s one of the tallest cascades in the park. People claim the flash of white resembles the tail of a comet!

Once you’ve parked, hop out of the car and follow the brief walking trail down to Narada Falls. Sure, we can see them from up here, but the view is much better from the trail! This 168-foot waterfall gets its name from someone with an even loftier title: Arthur F. Knight of Tacoma. Though he may sound like royalty, Knight was actually a leader of the Narada Branch of the Theosophical Society of Western Washington. You’re probably wondering: Okay, what the heck is that?

So who were the first inhabitants of this land? Among the tribes which lived here were the Puyallup people. In their language, this name actually translates to “people from the bend at the bottom of the river.”

Paradise is just ahead. And yes, I mean that literally! Here you can find snacks, water, and even a sit-down dining room. There’s also additional parking for the Nisqually Vista Trail. Keep an eye out just ahead for the parking lot. From Paradise, you can also access the trail to Myrtle Falls.

Coming up: Reflection Lake! At this reflective body of water, you’ll be seeing double. This glacial lake is pristine and acts like a sort of natural mirror most of the time. As you gaze across Reflection Lake, you’ll be looking directly at the summit of Mount Rainier. The views are best when there’s no wind, so the water is perfectly still. When that happens, you can see not one Mount Rainier, but two!

That mountain peak dead ahead is Stevens Peak, standing at 6,560 feet! It gets its name from Hazard Stevens, the first European man who summited Mount Rainier alongside P.B. Van Trump. And hey, I’ll be honest: If my first name was “Hazard,” I’d probably become a mountain climber too!

Also coming up in a moment is Louise Lake. This placid glacial lake doesn’t feature the same jaw-dropping views of Mount Rainier seen at Reflection Lake, but that also means it’s a whole lot less crowded. If you’re looking to escape the crowds for a bit, Louise Lake is the place to do it!

Keep an eye out for Bench and Snow Lake Trail. The moderately challenging hike stretches 2.2 miles out and back and takes a little over an hour. It’s a bit steep but at the end, you’re rewarded with two pristine wilderness lakes!

Up ahead you’ll see the next stop perfectly framed by vegetation—Picture Frame Falls! The title, however, is more of a placeholder. This no-name cascade isn’t technically a real waterfall. How can that be?

We’re approaching The Box Canyon Trail, a half-mile, paved loop. Though it’s a short walk, the path offers a spectacular view of a great rift formed by shifting glaciers. If you’re up for a challenge, the Box Canyon Loop also connects to the famed Wonderland Trail. Spanning 93 miles, this trail wraps around the entire park.

Wonderland has far exceeded its original purpose. Labor began on the circuit in 1907 as a solution to one yawning oversight in the park’s infrastructure: a total lack of fire roads. With seasons growing dryer and large swaths of forest left unprotected, rangers needed a trail that could take them to the most deserted areas of the park.

We’re approaching Backbone Ridge, a strenuous trail offering amazing views for the experienced hiker. This 6.6-mile round trip overlooks Tatoosh Wilderness, but be prepared for a 3-hour journey with plenty of rough terrain along the way.

The Grove of the Patriarchs is just ahead. This 1-mile trail through a wonderland of huge old-growth trees is an easy jaunt that takes under an hour. Unfortunately, it is currently closed for maintenance. The Grove of Patriarchs was once the playground of Scottish botanist David Douglas. Douglas worked as a botanical collector for the Royal Horticultural Society of London—yes, it was as hoity-toity as it sounds. After plans to gather Asian foliage for London’s gardens fell through, Douglas found himself in the Pacific Northwest instead.

Welcome to Ohanapecosh, named by the Taidnapam tribe. Ohanapecosh translates to “standing at the edge”—likely because it brushes against the river. This is also the area where James Longmire discovered hot springs.

Up ahead is Shriner Peak Trail. Dubbed one of the loneliest trails in Mt. Rainier, the steep upward climb is a no-go in the summer months. But in the autumn, the difficult 8.5-mile hike is worth the six hours of sweating. The view from the top offers incredible panoramas. That also makes it perfect for a fire lookout! The peak is home to the oldest fire lookout in the park.

Tipsoo Lake is just ahead. The loop around this lake is a great spot to pause and smell the flowers. If you stand at the lake’s shoreline and peer into its glassy surface, you might spot some trout. These trout didn’t always have a home in Tipsoo. In fact, none of Mt. Rainier’s lakes originally hosted trout.

The river we’re driving alongside is called White River. It’s been said that you never step into the same river twice, and that’s especially true of the White River, whose flow has been changed by the elements and humans for centuries.

We’re approaching Sunrise Point. At 6,120 feet, it’s perhaps the best spot in the park to watch the sunrise. The Civilian Conservation Corps built this overlook. The brainchild of President Roosevelt, the CCC was born of the New Deal, which attempted to get Americans back on their feet during the Great Depression. These young men were hired by national parks to counteract tragic unemployment rates.