Mount Rainier National Park is home to gorgeous flora and fauna, incredible hiking opportunities, and its namesake 14,400+ ft. mountain, Mount Rainier! Whether you’re a Washington resident or just passing through the PNW, Mount Rainier National Park is one of those bucket list destinations you simply have to visit at least once. While it is possible to do a day trip to Mount Rainier National Park from Seattle, I recommend spending 2-3 days in the park to fully immerse yourself in everything there is to do and see. That’s why I’ve created this Mount Rainier National Park 2 day itinerary tailored to both locals and visitors alike who are traveling to the park for the first time!

Below, you’ll find my expertly curated 2 day itinerary packed full of hiking trail recommendations, top landmarks to see, and where to stop for the best views of Mount Rainier! I’ve visited Mount Rainier National Park nearly a dozen times since moving to Seattle in 2021, and it’s one of my favorite places to explore in all of Washington!

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🤩 Don’t forget to book your cabin or hotel for your 2 day trip to Mount Rainier! Reservations fill up quickly, especially during peak times of the year!🤩

Start in Ashford, WA near the Nisqually Entrance

I suggest staying one night in Ashford, WA before you attempt to tackle this 2 day Mount Rainier National Park itinerary. It’ll make it much easier to get an early start toward the park if you stay overnight near the Nisqually Entrance to Mount Rainier National Park rather than trying to drive from Seattle the first morning.

However, if you do choose to drive from Seattle or Tacoma early on the first day, I suggest a very early start. Regardless, you’ll definitely want to spend at least one night in Ashford or at a lodge/campsite inside the park as a home base while you explore!

If there aren’t any accommodations available in Ashford for your dates, I also recommend looking at nearby towns such as Packwood or Eatonville. Another option could be Enumclaw, though this is a bit father away from the Nisqually entrance to the park.

If you’re looking for places to stay in Ashford, here are a few options to consider; I also included a map below of accommodations in Ashford for easy browsing:

• Alexander’s Lodge is a historic hotel located roughly 1-mile away from the Nisqually entrance to Mount Rainier National Park! This is one of the closest hotel-style options available near the National Park.
• Nisqually Lodge is a great option for an overnight stay in Ashford because it’s roughly 5-miles from the Nisqually entrance to Mount Rainier National Park!
• This adorable A-Frame style cottage is located within a 10-minute drive of Mount Rainier National Park, and only a short walk to the Nisqually River!

Enumclaw is another city with good accommodations near the northwest corner of Mount Rainier National Park, roughly 60 miles away from the Nisqually entrance to the park!

Get a Glimpse of Mount Rainier From Kautz Creek Nature Trail

Kautz Creek will be your first stop on your journey up to Paradise Inn/Visitor Center from the Nisqually entrance to Mount Rainier National Park. It’s a fun stop that features an interpretive nature trail and a great view of Mount Rainier from Kautz Creek. There is plenty of parking available and facilities to use, as well.

The interpretive trail at Kautz Creek explains how the landscape around Kautz Creek has changed over time due to the geological forces and mudflows of Mount Rainier. It’s fascinating to see how this landscape has changed so drastically, and it really puts things into perspective as you begin your journey exploring the park.

This is also a great stop for awesome views of Mount Rainier, though the mountain may not be visible on a cloudy or foggy day. Regardless, I still recommend stopping to read the plaques along the interpretive trail and see Kautz Creek!

If you’re visiting in the winter, I recommend packing microspikes to explore throughout the park!

Snap Some Photos of Christine Falls and Narada Falls

If you’re driving from the Nisqually entrance up to Paradise Inn/Visitor Center, you’ll pass by Christine Falls first and then Narada Falls second after passing Kautz Creek.

Christine Falls is a 69-foot plunging waterfall framed by a perfectly-situated arched stone bridge. It’s incredibly picturesque and worth stopping at even just for a few moments to soak in its beauty! There isn’t really a “hike” per se to access the viewpoint. Simply park and walk over to the viewpoint from the car! Easy does it.

Narada Falls is another stunning waterfall located right off of the main road up to Paradise Inn/Visitor Center. Once you park your car it’s only about a 5-10 minute walk to reach the viewpoint. Because it’s so easy to access, Narada Falls is a pretty popular spot to visit and hike, especially amongst groups with small kids and elderly family members. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t visit, too!

The waterfall itself is about 168-feet, and the surrounding trees and mist make it feel very magical. According to WTA, “In Hindu traditions, Narada was a Vedic sage, a revered traveling musician and storyteller. ‘Narada’ is a Hindu word meaning ‘uncontaminated’ or ‘pure’. Many sources indicate that Narada Falls was named after the sage, or the meaning of the word”².

Narada Falls

• Total hiking time: 10 minutes
• Distance (round trip): .2 miles
• Elevation gain: 59 feet

Hike the Skyline Loop Trail

The Skyline Trail is probably my favorite hike in the Paradise region of Mount Rainier National Park! It’s also extremely popular among year-round visitors, so expect crowds. Even if there are loads of people on the trail, it’s worth doing for the incredible views you’ll get of Mount Rainier. You might even see marmots and other critters running about!

Depending on weather, the temperatures and visibility along this trail can vary greatly. Pack layers and be prepared for ice cold rain, even on the sunniest of days. I’d also recommend bringing some polarized sunglasses and a hat, especially if the forecast shows sun since the glaciers can be blinding when reflecting direct sunlight.

Skyline Trail 

• Distance (round trip): 5.5 miles
• Elevation gain: 1,700 feet
• Total hiking time: 4-5 hours

I do want to warn you (mostly because nobody warned me) that the first 0.5-miles of this hike is pretty steep if going clockwise. Please don’t let that scare you away, though! It does level out and the views become even better the further you hike along the loop. 

I took most of the photos seen in this blog post with my Sony a6000 mirrorless camera! I love this camera for photographing iconic viewpoints throughout Mount Rainier National Park.

Hike Reflection Lakes Loop Trail

You’ll want to start your day by driving up to the Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center near Paradise Inn. The Reflection Lakes Loop trailhead can be accessed near Paradise Inn.

I highly recommend starting this trail earlier rather than later, which is why it’s the first hike I suggest doing on your second day in the park. The heat during the later part of the day in the summer makes for an unbearable ending to the hike if you’re not prepared for muggy conditions.

For a detailed description of how to access the trail, how to navigate the trail, and other tips, check out this WTA page for the Lakes Loop Trail!

Lakes Loop Trail

• Distance (roundtrip): 5.25 miles
• Elevation gain: 1,550 feet
• Total hiking time: 4-5 hours

Do not attempt to hike the Lakes Trail or the Skyline Trail without proper hiking footwear! I usually hike in my Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof Boots!

Stop By Paradise Inn for Lunch (Seasonal)

After hiking Lakes Loop Trail, you’ll likely be ready for lunch. If you’re visiting in season, I highly recommend grabbing a sandwich from Tatoosh Café inside Paradise Inn and enjoying it next to the grand fireplace or around the Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center!

Inside the Visitor Center you’ll also find Paradise Camp Deli. Here you can grab quick-service options like pizza, tacos, and sandwiches. However, both dining spots are seasonal so you’ll want to check for seasonal closures before planning to eat here.

If neither dining option is available during your planned dates, I suggest packing hearty protein-filled lunches and midday meals with plenty of snacks!

Enjoy a Leisurely Hike Along Nisqually Vista Trail

After completing both the Skyline Loop Trail and Reflection Lakes Loop Trail in the span of 24-hours, I’m guessing you’ll be pretty exhausted (at least I was)! You’ll end your second day of this 2 day itinerary by doing a more leisurely, relaxed hike out to an incredible viewpoint.

Nisqually Vista Trail is a very easy, paved trail that gives you a great lookout over Nisqually Glacier! Since it’s relatively easy to complete, you’ll likely experience high foot traffic along this trail year-round. The views are really great, making this an awesome trail to end your Mount Rainier National Park adventure!

Nisqually Vista Trail

• Distance (round trip): 1.2 miles
• Elevation gain: 180 feet
• Total hiking time: 30-45 minutes

Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Mount Rainier

Can You Do Mount Rainier National Park In 2 Days?

As demonstrated by this 2 day Mount Rainier National Park itinerary, you can absolutely visit some of the most popular sites in the park in just two days. It makes a wonderful weekend trip from Seattle, Portland, or Tacoma!

If you need help determining whether to visit Paradise or Sunrise in Mount Rainier National Park, check out this blog post I wrote detailing the nuances of both sections of the park!

What Are The Entrance Fees For Mount Rainier National Park?

To enter Mount Rainer National Park, you will need to purchase a National Park Pass. The pass options options as of this blog post are: standard entry pass (valid for 7 consecutive days), a Mount Rainier National Park annual pass, or an Interagency annual pass/America the Beautiful Pass. These types of passes can all be purchased at entrance stands or Visitor Centers throughout the Park.

Here are the most up to date fees I could find for the above-mentioned passes:

• Standard Entrance Pass
  • Private Vehicle: $30
  • Motorcycle: $25
  • Per Person (Hikers, Pedestrians, Bicyclists): $15
• Mount Rainier National Park Annual Pass
  • $55 per year
• Interagency Pass 
  • $80 per year 

The National Park Service also has fee-free days throughout the year. Here are the dates for 2024 fee-free days:

• January 15, 2024 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• April 20, 2024 – First Day of National Park Week
• June 19, 2024 – Juneteenth National Independence Day
• August 4, 2024 – Anniv. of Great American Outdoors Act
• September 28, 2024 – National Public Lands Day
• November 11, 2024 – Veterans Day

On any one of the days listed above, anyone can enter the National Park completely free of charge! Obviously, this means that it can get pretty crowded. Plan accordingly and share the trails!

Don’t forget, you’ll need to make timed entry reservations for the Paradise and Sunrise corridors of Mount Rainier National Park between 7am-3pm during the window of May 24th through September 2nd, 2024. You can read more about timed entry reservations at recreation.gov.

Final Thoughts: Mount Rainier National Park 2 Day Itinerary