Mt. Rainier Camping/Day Hiking Suggestions needed

Driving around The Wonderland Trail stopping along the various campsites and taking day hikes, is a possibility.

Not a Rainier expert by any stretch but we spent an August week there when my son was 5. We camped for the week at Cougar Rock, which we really liked.

I remember hiking the Skyline Trail to Panorama Point. About 5 miles, I think a loop. Some elevation, yes, but my son did fine (and was out in front the entire way...) Great views, LOTS of wildflowers, got to walk on a glacier and watched a mountaineering class practicing their ice skills. A nice variety of terrain to keep everybody interested. I'm thinking it took 3-4 hours. The Lodge at Paradise looked beautiful -- worth going in if only to check out the grand lobby.

Our theme for the week was waterfalls and I remember seeing a LOT of them. Son and I used to camp in New Hampshire's White Mountains and hike to waterfalls, so that was our thing. I remember really liking the Comet Falls hike at Rainier. Maybe 2-3 miles roundtrip and a nice dramatic approach to the falls (you turn the corner and there it is.) There was a fun log-bridge stream crossing along the way, too, that we have videos of.

We had amazing weather -- two weeks total, one in Rainier and one in Olympic and a few days in Seattle, and not a drop of rain. I don't remember mosquitoes being an issue at all. Pictures show us in sweatshirts in the mornings, shorts mid-day.

Well....this year the melt out seems to still be 2 weeks away at least. I was up on the Hwy 410 and 123 sides last weekend. It is still holding snow well. The prime show for alpine flowers at 5,000 to 6,000 feet is around 2nd week of July. HOWEVER....it is ALWAYS buggy as all get out if there is a good show. But...if you go early in the morning, before it heats up, you have a better chance of less of them. Or go on a cold day, when there are no mountain views. It knocks them right down.

Paradise is always clogged, 7 days a week, now. However...there is a reason why, those flowers. Go early (think by 9 am at the latest) and you have a better chance of less people and a parking spot).

I prefer the other side of the park, the 410 side. One of the best wildflower loops to do is the Naches Peak Loop. It rarely fails to deliver! As for campgrounds, White River is excellent, and has a lot less traffic than most. It is also way more quiet than Cougar Rock. White River has flush toilets, and lots of shade. It also sits just below the drive up to Sunrise. Sunrise is my favorite area of the park.

Fair warning: Mowich is a great area, but is unpaved and narrow - and is a walk in camp area that blows big time. You have to park in the parking area, then walk in, to a flat as a pancake area that has zero shade....or privacy. Everyone sees you. It isn't what I would call prime, even if it does have a stellar lake right in front of you - it has rank toilets and never ending hikers.

I should add.....Sunrise is slated I think to open 4th of July weekend. From pictures I saw last weekend from a friend who walked up the WT from White River to Sunrise, and then did Fremont Lookout/Burroughs 2 and down and out via Glacier Basin, there was still lots of snow up. In 2 weeks there will be less - he mentioned that Shadow Lake was still frozen.

any trouble towing a 18' foot trailer to White River Campground? I see that trailers up to that length are allowed, but any local intel of the actual ease of getting the trailer there would be awesome.

I would reserve a camp spot.

I volunteered last year the weekend after labor day, and the info people were wrong, White River was packed, even though I went straight there. Since I was camping only one night I was able to find a spot in the first loop which was very nice. I noticed that the reserve signs were for the next night, so people did not notice this or they wanted more than one night.

A guy at Ohanapecosh about 3 weeks ago asked me how they know which spot you are in as the machines don't mark it. I am not sure, but I think they only put up the reserved notice a few days ahead, so you might have to move in a few days if you find it has been reserved. I think they stop reserving spots a week or 2 before, so that is another thing that makes it work. Someone does come thru and note if you have paid so maybe they have something to do about it.


Ohanapecosh is nice if you can get a spot along the river.

There is camping at white pass, but that would be a long drive to Rainier, but might work for the first night if you want to stop short. Also down on the East side at W-something or other there is a camp, not sure about trailers at either. I think 410 has some smaller campgrounds as well.

========

Best Short HIkes in Washington's South & Olympics has quite a few hikes.

I would go to Paradise or Sunrise early (start hiking at sunrise).

Sliver Falls & Grove of the Patriarchs is good for a rainny day or any time, and one could start at the Ohanapecosh campground though it is shorter to drive each's trail head.

Don't know when it will be snow free, check the website.

White River doesn't do reservations. That is odd. Unless those signs were for say trail party crews. www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm