Visiting Mount Rainier

Celebrating National Parks Week is April 16th – 24th

Bench Lake to Snow Lake

Celebrating National Parks Week is coming up soon and you’ll be able to access Mount Rainier National Park for Free from April 16th thru the 24th.   The News Tribune has a great article about activities at Washington State’s National Parks.    Here are their suggestions for how to enjoy Mt. Rainier National Park during April:

MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK

At Mount Rainier, there might be nearly 190 inches of snow on the ground – barring any new storms. But the Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center also will be open daily during the week, said Lee Taylor, the park’s chief of interpretation and education.

“People can still come up to ski, snowshoe, and otherwise play in the snow, which shows no signs of disappearing,” Taylor said.

Lowland trails between the Nisqually entrance and Longmire offer several options for those wanting to stretch their legs and explore.

Families with young children can do the Twin Firs Loop, a half-mile trek through old-growth forest about a half mile beyond the Kautz Creek parking area. This will take about 30 minutes, depending on how often you stop to study flowers, creeks and nurse trees.

The Kautz Creek Trail is a two-mile round-trip trek along the flat, lower portion of the trail. The trailhead is three miles east of the park entrance. Interpretive signs explain the effects of floods, such as the 2006 flood that pushed the creek east of its old location, and how they shape the land.

A drive up the Westside Road can be combined with a hike or snowshoe trek along the former roadway beyond where the road was washed out.

At Longmire, the 0.7-mile Trail of Shadows offers a look at the park’s early days and the development of the Longmire Springs Resort. Hikers also can take the portion of the Wonderland Trail from Longmire to Cougar Rock. At 3.4 miles round trip, this hike parallels the Nisqually River, offering views of the Tatoosh Range and cuts through ancient trees.

If the snow has begun melting in earnest, a stop at Christine Falls pullout is worthwhile. A short trail from the road offers a good view of the 75-foot waterfall.

Photo by lawdawg1 on flickr.

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Downloadable Mt. Rainier National Park Maps

Mt Rainier National Park PDF Map

Here is a downloadable full-quality PDF of the official Mount Rainier National Park Map that is handed out when you enter the National Park.  You can click on the map above to download it, or right-click and select “Save Link As” to download the PDF file to your computer.  You’ll need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the file.

Right-click here to download PDF: Mount Rainier National Park Map (1.6MB)

Other Handy Mt Rainier National Park Maps:

Downloadable Mt. Rainier National Park Map

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Visiting Mount Rainier: Paradise Inn

Paradise Inn at Mount Rainier National Park

The Paradise Inn at Mount Rainier

Nestled in the heart of Paradise, the Paradise Inn at Mount Rainier is a destination sure to be well worth the visit. At an elevation of 5,420 feet, its unique location takes advantage of the breathtaking views of the Tatoosh mountain range, Mount Rainier, and the blossoming meadows of the Valley. It is also conveniently near the Jackson Visitor Center and numerous hiking trails.

Built in 1917, the Paradise Inn is one of the oldest living structures around Mount Rainier. It is known as one of the oldest elevated mountain resorts in the nation and in 1987 was declared a National Historic Landmark. Over its ninety-some year history, the Paradise Inn has housed a number of famous guests, from Shirley Temple to President Harry S. Truman to the crown prince of Norway, proving that the lovely Paradise Valley landscape is truly fit for a king.

Historic Paradise Inn at Mount Rainier

Historic Paradise Inn at Mount Rainier

Alaskan Cedar Timbers used in Paradise Inn

Alaskan Cedar Timbers used in Paradise Inn

Much of the beauty of the Paradise Inn’s architecture comes from the unique materials used to build it. The exposed framework is comprised of naturally-weathered Alaskan cedar from the slopes of the mountain itself, which has acquired an unusual silvery sheen from years of exposure to the elements, while the foundation is made from the stone of nearby quarries. It was designed after the popular “National Park Service Rustic” style of architecture, in which the structure is made to blend in with and enhance the natural beauty of the surrounding area. One of the most striking features of the Inn is the steeply gabled roof stretching from end to end: making up most of the two and a half stories, it was painted a naturally-hued green, and the shingles used were meant to be reminiscent of the Tatoosh mountain range.

Over the course of the years, however, many changes had been made to Paradise Inn to change it from its original design. The original rooms within the Inn had been sectioned off into smaller rooms, an entire annex had been added on to the original building, and years of harsh snow conditions had taken their toll as well.  Prior to the renovation, the building was tilting several inches and needed to be stabilized.  Reinforced concrete and foundation repairs were added throughout the building in addition to earthquake precautions.

Part of the renovation involved the preservation of the historic fireplaces in the building.  Each rock from the fireplace was numbered and labeled before being taken apart and reconstructed in the exact same arrangement.  Extensive amounts of pictures were taken to ensure the Inn was restored to its original design.  Historical photos from the Inn’s past were also used to determine how the Inn looked 90 years ago.

Interior of the Paradise Inn

Interior of the Paradise Inn

The Paradise Inn features a post office, a gift shop, a restaurant, and 117 guest rooms within its walls. Since the renovation in 2006, the Inn holds much of the charm of its early construction. The woodwork and much of the handmade furniture, including a fourteen-foot-tall grandfather clock and a rustic grand piano once played by President Harry S. Truman, were crafted by German carpenter Hans Fraehnke. A trip to the Paradise Inn will give any visitor the chance to experience first hand a beloved piece of Mount Rainier history.

Photo Credits:
Paradise Inn w/ Mount Rainier in the Background
Historic Mount Rainier
Paradise Inn Interior
Alaskan Cedar on Paradise Inn

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