On a clear day in Seattle, when the huge Mountain looms in the distance, there’s little doubt that Mount Rainier is the tallest of all Cascade peaks. With Rainier’s last volcanic activity more than a century ago, Seattleites think more about the mountain’s beauty than its threat to their way of live. Located to the southeast, Mount Rainier National Park is just about an hour away from the Seattle area, proving to be one of the popular recreation venues in the area. Because 97 percent of the park is deemed wilderness, the remainder endures the majority of the park’s two million yearly visitors.
    This remarkable close-up view captures a sunset from the Sunrise section of the park. At elevation 6400 feet, Sunrise is the highest point in the park accessed by a paved road, yet it's still over 8000 feet short of Rainier’s summit. Here at Sunrise Center, views of the Mountain and Emmons Glacier must wait on clear weather. When is anyone's guess.
   Famous for its 26 major glaciers and 36 miles of perennial snowfields, Mount Rainier will always appear snow-capped. But, visitors are surprised to learn that geothermal heat from inside the stratovolcano keeps the two crater rims on Columbia Crest free of snow. On exceptionally clear days, residents in Portland, Oregon, and Victoria, British Columbia, (100 - 130 miles away) can see this King of the Cascades.

     Park Map
     Area Map