Photo by: Jacob Lips
The park may be named after its most imposing natural structure, the stratovolcano Mount Rainier, but it also has so many other wonderful natural resources: forest, glaciers, valleys, subalpine meadows, and waterfalls. The park covers 236,381 acres of land in Washington State.
History
A hunting tool found along Bench Lake Trail indicated that human settlement in the area started over 6,000 years ago. Then a rock shelter was also found in the park, which archaeologists believed was used by the Columbia Plateau Tribes, some 3,000 years ago. Findings were limited, though, on the theory that the area was a permanent residential area among Native Americans.
Not only was the area rich in natural resources, but it is also rich in historical and cultural significance. The park was established on March 2, 1899, making it the fifth national park in the U.S. In 1988, the area was declared as National Wilderness and Preservation System. Nine years later, it became a National Historic Landmark.
Places to go
Photo by: Jacob Lips
The entire park is considered a National Historic Landmark, which means that everything in the Mount Rainier National Park is historically significant. There are also 42 spots entered into the National Register of Historic Places.
Here is a list of those places so visitors can check out some of them—if not all of them: Camp Muir, Chinook Pass Entrance Arch, Christine Falls Bridge, Edith Creek Chlorination House, Gobbler’s Knob Fire Lookout, Huckleberry Creek Patrol Cabin, Indian Bar Trail Shelter, Indian Henry’s Patrol Cabin, Ipsut Creek Patrol Cabin, Lake George Patrol Cabin, Longmire Buildings, Longmire Campground Comfort Station No. L-302, Longmire Campground Comfort Station No. L-303, Longmire Campground Comfort Station No. L-304, Longmire Historic District, Mount Rainier National Park (with its 165 structures and buildings), Mt. Fremont Fire Lookout, Mowich Lake Patrol Cabin, Narada Falls Bridge, Narada Falls Comfort Station, and Nisqually Entrance Historic District.
Also in the list are North Mowich Trail Shelter, Paradise Historic District, Paradise Inn, Shriner Peak Fire Lookout, South Puyallup River Bridge, St. Andres Creek Bridge, St. Andrews Patrol Cabin, Summerland Trail Shelter, Sunrise Comfort Station, Sunrise Historic District, Sunset Park Patrol Cabin, Sunset Park Trail Shelter, Tahoma Vista Comfort Station, Three Lakes Patrol Cabin, Tipsoo Lake Comfort Station, Tolmie Peak Fire Lookout, White River Bridge, White River Entrance, White River Mess Hall and Dormitory, White River Patrol Cabin and Yakima Park Stockade Group.
Things to do
Hiking
Mount Rainier is truly an imposing and marvelous natural structure, standing at 14,410 feet. It is also wonderful to see the surroundings of various landscapes and colors. Hiking with Mount Rainier as a backdrop is a remarkable experience. When visitors hike between July and August, they will also be treated to the beautiful and fragrant wildflowers. Mountaineers also consider Mount Rainier a great place for their adventure.
The Sunrise Nature Trail and Sunrise Rim Trail offer picturesque views of Mount Rainier and the other volcanoes in the Cascade Range. The latter trail has some viewpoints for Emmons Glacier, the largest glacier in the contiguous U.S.
Grove of the Patriarchs Trail leads hikers to the Ohanapecosh River, as well as through an old-growth forest with Douglas fir that is over a thousand years old, as well as extremely tall red cedar trees. Other trails give trekkers stunning views of Silver Falls, Nisqually Glacier, and many other breathtaking natural views.
Sightseeing
Those who don’t want strenuous activities can drive up to different viewpoints of the park. Paradise is usually the first stop among tourists because this is also where the Paradise Jackson Visitor Center is located, where they can get information about the park. Sunrise, on the other hand, provides 360-degree imagery of the valleys surrounding Mount Rainier. Panorama Point also gives visitors spectacular panoramic views of the park.
Ride the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad
Visitors can ride a train that will give them an 18-mile scenic experience. The Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad can be boarded in the Elbe. The train is a vintage logging locomotive, which complements the historical education that comes with the scenic ride. The train also crosses the Nisqually River.
Flora and fauna
The park is not just rich in water and landforms, but also rich in plant life. A landscape peppered with colorful wildflowers, Paradise in Mount Rainier comes alive during the summer with blooming pink penstemons, bright white avalanche lilies, purple lupines, red paintbrushes, and yellow cinquefoils. The park’s old-growth forest has fir and red cedar trees. There are also multiple types of alpine tundra and alpine meadow vegetation.
Among the mammals that call the park home are beavers, black bears, bobcats, cougars, coyotes, deer, elk, marmots, martens, mountain goats, pikas, porcupines, red foxes, snowshoe hares, shrews, skunks, and weasels. There are also dozens of species of birds flying around some of the areas of the park.
Photo by: Jacob Lips