Hikes in Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument

Is there a better hike in Mount Rainier National Park than Skyline Trail? The hike begins from Paradise, a perfectly named destination on the southern slope of Mount Rainier. Loop up to Panorama Point, a stunning viewpoint that is about as close to the summit of Rainier as you can get without an ice ax. The trail passes snowfields, streams, waterfalls, and fields of alpine flowers. ...Read more.

Mount Rainier National Park has three main campgrounds with over 450 campsites. The campgrounds are located in the southwest, southeast, and northeast corners of the park near the most popular hiking areas. Backcountry camping is also an option, by permit only. Visit the official Mount Rainier National Park camping page for more information.   Campgrounds in Mount Rainier National Park Courgar Rock Campground | 173 sites (plus 5 group) | open late May to late September | reservations accepted | $20 per night | potable water, picnic tables, fire grates, dump station, and flush toilets | elevation 3,180 feet Mowich Lake Campground | 10 primitive walk-in tent sites | open early July to early October | first-come first-serve | free | no potable water, no fires, vault toilets | elevation 4,929 feet Ohanapecosh Campground | 188 sites (plus 2 group) | open late May to late September | reservations accepted | $20 per night | potable water, picnic tables, fire grates, dump station, and flush toilets | elevation 1,900 feet White River Campground | 112 sites | open late June to late September | reservations accepted | $20 per night | potable water, picnic tables, fire grates, and flush toilets | elevation 4,400 feet Mount Rainier from White River Campground What do I do if the national park campgrounds are full? ...Read more.

Mount Fremont houses the nearest fire lookout tower to Mount Rainier. On a clear day, the lookout promises some of the park's best views of Mount Rainier and the surrounding Cascade Mountains. The 6-mile round trip hike from the Sunrise Lodge and Visitor Center to Mount Fremont Lookout is exceptionally scenic and fulfilling, with 800 feet of elevation gain. ...Read more.

The bloom of wildflowers on Naches Peak Loop is the #1 draw to this trail. An extraordinary carpet of purple lupines and other colorful flowers appearing along this trail each summer. The fact that Naches Peak Loop stands out among other trails in Mount Rainier National Park, which has lots of great places to see wildflowers, tells you that this trail is something special. ...Read more.

If you are itching to hike through a forest that is a postcard of the northwest, Silver Falls Loop Trail is for you. To make things even better, the 3-mile circuit (with 300 feet of elevation gain) also visits a thundering 70-foot waterfall on Ohanapecosh River. This is a premier woodland hike in the southeast corner of Mount Rainier National Park. ...Read more.