VIEWPOINT: Mount Rainier National Park

LONG STORY SHORT
Clouds and unpredictable weather can't ruin this amazing park.

On a clear day, Mount Rainer looms over the Seattle metro area like a god. It is a massive mountain, covered in glaciers and exceptionally prominent over its neighboring Cascade peaks. But most days around Puget Sound are not clear, and even when Seattle is cloud-free, Mount Rainier may still be shrouded.

We spent nearly 50 days in Washington this year and took two separate visits to Mount Rainier National Park, only to see the namesake peak a grand total of three times—one of which was in our rearview mirrors as we drove away to Idaho. But that seemingly awful luck wasn't enough to dampen our opinion of this park, which is amazing enough on the ground without seeing what's (allegedly) hidden in the sky.

NATURE: INCROYABLE!
Subalpine Meadows Make for a Unique Landscape

Mount Rainier may have more glaciers than any mountain in the lower 48 states, but its subalpine meadows are what truly set it apart. Covered by snow for much of the year, these meadows come to life briefly in the summer and fall. The melting snow exposes fields of red and yellow that seemingly belong on another planet, or at least in the tundra of Alaska.

Climb a bit higher, above the tree line, and you'll find a rocky landscape that's home to squeaking pikas and whistling marmots, as well as some of the thickest clouds we've ever hiked in. On a clear day, we can only assume that those clouds are replaced by unmatched views of Mount Rainier.

Even if Rainier itself is blocked by clouds, the surrounding mountains may be visible. The view from Panorama Point can potentially extend all the way to Mount Hood in Oregon, but seeing the closer neighbors in the Tatoosh Range is worth the hike.

EXPERIENCE: MIGHTY FINE
A Must-See Hiking Destination

Mount Rainier National Park is home to some of the most beautiful landscapes we've ever hiked in, and that's despite a system of clouds obscuring the peak itself. There are areas worth exploring all around the mountain, from the aforementioned subalpine meadows to forests and waterfalls at lower altitudes. The neighboring mountains also have trails that (allegedly) provide incredible views of Mount Rainier on clear days.

VISITING: EASY
Well-Developed and Close to Seattle

The trip to Mount Rainer National Park is relatively short—just a two-hour drive from Seattle—and the roads in the park provide access to every notable area. The Wonderland Trail, which loops around the entirety of Mount Rainier, has the makings of an epic backpacking trip but can be accessed at many points via park roads. This provides plenty of options for day hikers, who can pick an area and hike it without much trouble. That's a rarity in the National Park System.

STUPIDITY INDEX
The Stupid Will Be Tired But Fine

Much of the hiking in Mount Rainier is steep but not perilous. The network of roads means hikers are never far from a visitor center or ranger station. And when snow blankets the park in the winter, potentially remote areas are blocked off, thus saving The Stupid from themselves.

CATSBY'S TAKE
It Was Fine

It was cold and my humans were resistant to run the heater at night. They are stupid.