Forum Discussion

Nutbolt's avatar
Nutbolt
Explorer
May 18, 2013

Mt Ranier NP

I need to pick the brains of some of the NW forum members. I will be heading to Mt Ranier from Northern California in August. I have never been there and dont know a thing about the area. I have a ton of questions and thought maybe some of ya'll could clue me in.

I will have a week or more to spend there - could do two full weeks if I find enough trouble to get into.

Whats the best campground in Mt Ranier for a truck camper?? I keep seeing/reading about the Paradise area. Any camping there??

Best places to see wildflowers?....keeping in mind I will be there probably sometime first week of August...maybe second.

Best dayhikes?? I love to hike and can manage about 10-12 miles or possibly a bit more in a day. I love the "in your face" type scenery of places like the Tetons, Glacier NP, and Yosemite. I assume the Pradise area is the jumping off point for that type of scenery?

How are the crowds that time of year?? I know Yellowstone and Yosemite can be wall to wall in August. Is Mt Ranier any less crowded??

Other good hikes/scenic drives outside the park in the area?? I love mountain scenery and good dayhikes and scenic drives. Gotta be some good ones around the area??

Finally....Good places to camp not in the park but around the area.

Thanks in advance to all who offer ideas/advice. Cant wait for launch day!!

todd
Truck Campers
  • Nutbolt's avatar
    Nutbolt
    Explorer
    May 20, 2013
    Thanks everybody for all the great info. Getting excited now the more I read/research. Looks like a great park. I've been remiss in not sdeeing it yet!

    todd
  • wnjj's avatar
    wnjj
    Explorer II
    May 19, 2013
    When we travelled through there in 2010, we stayed just outside the park in La Wis Wis Campground. It is a beautiful camground tucked tightly into large trees. As the page at link above says, "La Wis Wis is ideal for tents, car campers and truck campers with a slide-in".

    Paradise is gorgeous (hence the name).




    We stopped along the one-way loop road on the way down to take this picture:



    and this guy (a red fox) came sneaking down from the snowfields:




    These people didn't even notice when he went for the bridge crossing:

  • the_tc_life's avatar
    the_tc_life
    Explorer
    May 19, 2013
    One of my favorite parts of that park is sunrise. Lots of great trails to hike up there with great views.
  • HMS_Beagle's avatar
    HMS_Beagle
    Explorer
    May 19, 2013
    On your way there is Silver Falls state park in Oregon. We discovered this quite by accident, but it is a nice place to spend a day. You walk up the river and see something like 8 or 10 waterfalls in an 8 mile hike.
  • gorohoff's avatar
    gorohoff
    Explorer
    May 19, 2013
    Mount Rainier is one of my favorite National Parks. I've climbed the mountain, hiked around it, and skied it many times. August is definitely a very busy time there, and depending on how early in the month you arrive, it is possible that there will still be snow at Paradise and Sunrise (fun to watch kids sledding in snow wearing shorts and sandals when its 70 degrees out). Ohanapecosh, White River, and Cougar Rock are all great camp sites, however none have any good views of the mountain from the campsite. Ohanapecosh buts you right near some of the biggest trees you'll see outside of the great red woods. If you chose to stay at Sunrise or Paradise (where you get the great views) you'd be "camping" in the parking lot. If you're willing to drive a bit, Lake Mowich on the North end of the park will get you away from many of the bussed in tourists, but you'll need to drive quite a ways out of the park and then back in to get there, and it's all logging roads up to the lake.
  • RoyF's avatar
    RoyF
    Explorer
    May 18, 2013
    I've been going to Mt Rainier for 40 years, in tent, pop-up, and fifth-wheel. Most recent visit was last August. It's a LOT more crowded than it used to be, especially on weekends when you get day trippers. The Ashford area, Parsdise and Cougar Rock have become extremely congested. You may have luck in the campground at the southeast end of the Park, near the Ohanapecash visitor center - the Seattle crowd usually does not go that far east.

    Wildflowers are abundant on the trails around Paradise Lodge.
  • jimh406's avatar
    jimh406
    Explorer III
    May 18, 2013
    I don't have a favorite. There are places to camp almost 360 degrees. There are lots of books about day hiking in WA. The roads are around Mt Ranier. I prefer Sunrise for close up great views, and the road up to Chinook Pass. Also take a look at WA State Park sites.

    Don't count on having cell coverage. Keep in mind that fuel stations can be very far apart!
  • Jaxie's avatar
    Jaxie
    Explorer
    May 18, 2013
    If you want to go to Mt Rainier I'd suggest you go early in the morning to get a campsite. I've been there in the summer and it gets pretty jammed up especially around Paradise.

    I love the Sunrise area and the Grove of the Patriarchs because they are a bit further in and a wee bit less crowded.

    If you can't find a suitable parking spot in the park itself take a look just south in the Gifford Pinchot forest. There's quite a few campsites there and it doesn't get as crowded.
  • Francesca_Knowl's avatar
    Francesca_Knowl
    Explorer
    May 18, 2013
    August is probably the busiest month of the year for Mt. Rainier- best weather before school starts and all. September is much quieter, but still excellent weather.

    I've spent more time in the National Forest over there than in the Park itself...my favorite campspots are along the American River, to the east side of the mountain along hwy 410. There are a few dispersed camping opportunities along there, and several campgrounds. All accessible for a truckcamper.

    Wildflowers are likely to be pretty much over except at high elevations....I did the hike at this link once in late August and there were some beautiful small alpine flowers along the trail.
  • 352's avatar
    352
    Explorer
    May 18, 2013
    This is what I know about Mt. Rainier. I was sitting on my sons back porch on Puget Sound Washington drinking my morning coffee looking straight at Mt. Rainier and thought how blessed I am. What a beautiful site.

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