Explore all that Mount Rainier National Park has to offer year round. No trip to the Pacific Northwest without experiencing this majestic wonder in all seasons. To make the most of your visit, Stone Creek Lodge is open year round and is conveniently located at the National Park’s only year round entrance. Have you explored the seasons at Mt. Rainier National Park?
Mount Rainier National Park in the Spring:
Avalanche Lilies and Snowshoes
If spring is your thing, Mount Rainier is answering the call with warm, fresh air, renewed green moss, and lichen in the evergreen forest. Avalanche lilies line your new favorite trails. Take a trip to the Ohanapecosh region in the Southeast region of the National Park where you will feel the ground vibrate at Silver Falls as the waterfall roars with life as the winter snows melt. In contrast, if you’re not quite ready to say goodbye to winter, the Parks’ higher elevation trails provide snowshoe adventures as you welcome the longer days for your spring adventure.
The spring season is also a time of renewal for wildlife. Participate in the annual Fishing Derby at nearby Mineral Lake. Or, visit the adorable baby animals of the Pacific Northwest in the wild and at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park.
After a day of hiking and touring Mount Rainier, return to Stone Creek Lodge and freshen up for dinner at a nearby restaurant. Welcome Spring with Stone Creek Lodge.
Mt. Rainier National Park in the Summer:
Wildflowers, Waterfalls and Epic Trails
We’re not overselling it when we say the wildflower meadows at Paradise are a sight to behold. You will marvel over the pink penstemon, purple lupine, yellow cinquefoils, red paintbrush, and bright white avalanche lilies.
As the winter snowpack melts, the waterways cascade down Mt. Rainier’s rocky slopes. With the highest drop falling over 300 feet, Comet Falls is one of the most spectacular. The photogenic Christine Falls is an impressive 60-foot plunging waterfall framed by a historic arched stone bridge. Which Rainier waterfall is on your bucket list this summer?
It may take a hike, but on a clear day, the views from each of the four remaining fire lookouts at Mt. Rainer National Park goes for miles! Perched on an open 7,181-foot rocky knoll, Mount Fremont is the highest structure in the National Park.
Mt. Rainier is extraordinary in the summer: Whether you hike, e-bike, or view it on horseback, there’s no wrong way to experience Mt. Rainier National Park this summer. Every adventure begins with Stone Creek Lodge.
Mt. Rainier National Park in the Fall:
Color & Calm Awaits
Summer may be over, but many great hikes await you at Mt. Rainier National Park and the surrounding Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Have your hiking boots and trekking poles ready for a surprisingly hikeable Fall season. The crowds may have departed, but the temperature is perfect for an epic hike, and the reward is a spectacular display of color.
The evergreen trees provide a fantastic backdrop to the vibrant display of fall color, not only from the Alder and Maple Trees but also in trail-level bushes and ground vegetation, providing a unique and unexpected surprise.
Consider a foraging hike in the nearby Gifford Pinchot National Forest for the regional favorite chanterelle mushrooms.
If you love colorful hikes and the crisp morning air, fall is one season you should not miss. Reserve your fall visit today!
Mt. Rainier National Park in the Winter:
A Snowy Escape Beckons
Are you looking for a winter escape? Whether you want to sit indoors in our Mountain Cabin and watch the gentle snowfall from your window, or if you prefer winter recreation, we are your Winter destination! The Ranger-led snowshoe tours at Paradise in the National Park provide a unique educational winter experience. Consider an advanced self-guided snowshoe hike from Narada Falls to the snow-covered Reflection Lake for a unique, winter-wonderland view of Mt. Rainier. The Longmire and Paradise areas also provide beginner-level snowshoe trails at the National Park. The young at heart can partake in snow play at Paradise based on snow and staffing levels.
Likewise, the Mount Tahoma Trails Association in Ashford provides professionally groomed cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails with breathtaking views of Mount Rainier. You can rest and enjoy hot cocoa in their snow huts along your journey.
After your long day of fun in the snow, our gas log fireplace and outdoor hot tub will warm your heart and soul, regardless of your preference for winter activity. Check the availability of your winter escape.