MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK
Mount Rainier is an icon of the Washington state landscape. Standing at 14,410 feet above sea level, this active volcano presides over a diverse ecosystem. It’s the source of five major rivers and the most glaciated peak in the lower 48 states. The snow-and ice-covered peaks give way to ancient forests and subalpine wildflower meadows as you descend its slopes.
Mount Rainier National Park encompasses 369 square miles and contains about 240 miles of hiking trails. The park isn’t far from Seattle—about a two-hour drive—and it’s fantastic to go from the big city to this vast wilderness environment in such a short trip. Once at the park, which is very accessible for folks of all ages, you can photograph an incredible variety of beautiful scenery in relative proximity. And if you’re looking to get away from the crowds, often you can find yourself all alone on a trail after the first half mile or so.
The park consists of five areas: Sunrise, Paradise, Longmire, Ohanapecosh and Carbon River-Mowich Lake. Of these areas, the two I most recommend visiting for photography are Sunrise and Paradise. To make the
