Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

Looking for the best photography in Mount Rainier National Park? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Mount Rainier National Park. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Photography Spots in and near Mount Rainier National Park

  • Ashford, Washington

    Snowshoeing the Nisqually Vista Loop at Mt. Rainier NP

    4.0
    1.4 mi
    Mt. Rainier rises over 14,410 feet and the views you get from the Paradise area on the South side of the mountain are unparalleled. Paradise is one of the few places in Mt. Rainier National Park that is open to visitors during the winter months for cross country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, and...
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  • Ashford, Washington

    Upper Palisades Lake

    7.05 mi / 1601 ft gain
    Park at the Sunrise Point parking lot and find the Palisades Trail at the northeast corner of the parking lot. If you bring along a pair of binoculars, you can stop at the first overlook on the left and scan the adjacent mountain slopes for the white dots of mountain goats. Continue down the trai...
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  • Packwood, Washington

    Castle Peak

    4.0
    6.68 mi / 2385 ft gain
    Start this route at the Narada Falls Parking lot. This route starts by following Stevens Canyon Road until you arrive at Reflection Lakes after 1.5 miles. About halfway along the lakeshore a path breaks off to the right into the forest. This is a popular route so there is often a snowshoe path be...
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  • Packwood, Washington

    Ski Tour to The Castle & Pinnacle Peak

    4 mi / 1200 ft gain
    Enter Mount Rainier National Park via the Nisqually Entrance outside of Ashford. Drive past Longmire and continue heading up towards Paradise. Parking for this trip can be found at Narada Falls. From the Narada Falls parking lot you will head up to the closed for the winter portion of Stevens Ca...
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  • Packwood, Washington

    Wonderland Trail

    4.8
    86.53 mi / 24062 ft gain
    NOTE: The northwest section of the Wonderland Trail is currently inaccessible due to the permanent closure of the Carbon River entrance and Fairfax Bridge. Hikers should plan alternate start and end points, such as Sunrise or Longmire, to avoid the closed area. Possibly one of the greatest loop ...
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  • Packwood, Washington

    Christine Falls

    3.7
    Driving along Paradise Road on the south side of Mount Rainier, provides a couple of opportunities to view gorgeous waterfalls with a short hike. From the West, the first stop is Christine Falls. There is parking on either side side of the bridge, but the east side is closest to the trail. Desce...
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  • Packwood, Washington

    Narada Falls

    0.3 mi / 75 ft gain
    Narada Falls is a stunning 188-foot cascading waterfall located in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington. Situated along Paradise Road, this picturesque waterfall offers visitors a breathtaking view of water plunging over a volcanic rock face, creating a misty spectacle that captures the raw be...
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  • Ashford, Washington

    Spray Park via Mowich Campground

    5.0
    7.52 mi / 1942 ft gain
    The trailhead to Spray Park begins at the Mowich Lake Campground (4,929 ft). You'll begin descending quickly for the first 0.1 miles until you reach the Wonderland Trail junction. Head left and make your way up a steady climb for the next 1.7 miles. The first stop you'll come across is Eagle Clif...
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  • Ashford, Washington

    Eunice Lake via Mowich Lake

    4.0
    5.13 mi / 778 ft gain
    Starting out from the beautiful Mowich Lake (4,929 ft), this hike takes you through some of Mt. Rainier Nation Park's best scenery. Thanks to the 13 miles of dirt roads it takes to even get to the trailhead, this hike is also rarely crowded. At 5.5 miles roundtrip to Eunice Lake, this is a grea...
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  • Ashford, Washington

    Mowich Lake

    5.0
    1.56 mi / 92 ft gain
    No need to for an entire day hike to enjoy wonderful reflections, crystal clear water, and beautiful scenery a few hundred feet from the parking lot!  Park at the Mowich Lake Campground parking lot and follow signs for the Wonderland trail. You will begin your hike on the south side of the lake ...
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  • Ashford, Washington

    Comet Falls

    5.0
    3.57 mi / 1312 ft gain
    Located on Paradise Road along the south side of Mount Rainier, the Comet Falls Trail follows Van Trump Creek up to the magnificent Comet Falls. The hike is 3.8 miles round trip with 1250' of elevation gain. The trail starts off at 3650' and soon crosses over a bridge above Christine Falls. It q...
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  • Packwood, Washington

    Lakes Trail Loop

    5.34 mi / 1381 ft gain
    The Lakes Trail Loop can be accessed two ways. You can either start in Paradise and find one of the multiple points along the Skyline Trail or you can begin at Reflection Lake. My recommendation for a nice day hike is to begin at Reflection Lake. If you arrive by 8am you should have an easy time...
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  • Packwood, Washington

    Explore Reflection Lakes

    4.3
    Reflection Lakes is located approximately 1 mile east of Inspiration Point just off Steven Canyons Road in the Paradise section of Mount Rainier National Park.  Simply park in one of the pullouts at the lakes and enjoy the scenery.  Reflection Lakes can also be accessed via the Wonderland Trail.T...
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  • Packwood, Washington

    Pinnacle Peak

    4.8
    2.84 mi / 1450.35 ft gain
    This trailhead is easily accessed at the parking lot at Reflection Lakes in Mount Rainier National Park. A short but sweet hike (1.3 miles one way) that leads to beautiful views of Rainier, Mount Adams, Mount St. Helens, and if clear enough, Mt. Hood (Oregon).  Pinnacle itself can be climbed to ...
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  • Ashford, Washington

    Tolmie Peak's Fire Lookout

    4.5
    5.73 mi / 1250 ft gain
    Mount Rainier is spectacular to look at, but sometimes the best views aren't from on its slopes, but just a little ways away. Tucked in the seldom-visited northwest corner of Mount Rainier National Park, the Tolmie Peak fire lookout frames the mountain's rugged slopes with a pristine alpine lake ...
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  • Packwood, Washington

    Snow Lake Trail

    3.8
    2.12 mi / 427 ft gain
    Snow Lake is a beautiful lake in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington. You can do the 2.6 mile roundtrip hike to the lake as either a day trip or as a backcountry camp. To camp at one of the two sites on the lake you must secure a permit from the permit office at Longmire. The hike to the s...
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