Mount Rainier in September
#GetDiscountsWithoutLuck
Mt. Rainier is an active volcano located in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington. The surrounding area offers stunning scenery, numerous attractions, and hiking trails. It's not far from Seattle, making it a great day trip or an overnight stay.
When I looked at the information, I could only see the front area called Paradise, located on the south side. I couldn't figure out the rest on the map.
❤️ Luckily, a friend from Washington took me there, so we got to see a lot of places.❤️
We booked a house on AirBnB near Alder Lake, not far from the park entrance. We arrived in the afternoon, unpacked, and then my friend took us to Paradise. There's a visitor center, a hotel, and a restaurant.
The entrance fee for a private vehicle, including passengers, is $30, with unlimited entry and exit for seven days. Walking, bicycling, and motorcycling are subject to separate fees.
From the parking lot, there's a concrete path leading to the mountain. On the day we visited, the mountain was hidden behind the clouds. The path was lined with trees and flowers, and there were wild blueberries to pick and eat. There were also wildlife, like pikas, which look like small squirrels, running around, not afraid of people. They were so cute! We even saw a bear. But it's high up in the mountains, and there were deer, and we could hear marmots calling in the distance, but we didn't see any.
On the way back, we passed Reflection Lake, and the sky cleared up just in time. The view of the mountains and their reflections in the still waters of the lake was perfect.
The next morning, my sister took me to Mowich Lake, located to the northeast. This is the campground and the starting point of the hiking trail. There's parking, restrooms, but no vendors. We came here to paddleboard (my sister brought her own) and have lunch (which she also brought).
From the parking lot, there's a path down to the lake. When I saw the lake, I exclaimed, "Wow!" a million times. ❤️❤️ The lake water was so bright and crystal clear, surrounded by pine trees and a cool breeze. I loved it! I was so enamoured, I wanted to give my sister, who took me there, a huge hug.
After lunch, my sister took me to watch the sunset at the Mt. Fremont Fire Outlook to the northwest. We had to park at the Sunrise Visitor Center and then hike up the mountain. It's a steep climb, but it's quite a distance. The path is gravel. There were scattered pine trees, and the view was beautiful and very peaceful. Along the way, we encountered a chubby, white mountain goat, so cute, but I didn't have time to take a photo. 😅
We walked slowly, and it was already dark halfway, so we stopped. However, we were able to watch the sunset to our heart's content. It was so beautiful and worth it. On the way back, it was pitch black, so we had to use our phone's flash to light the way. It was very cold, so we should bring a flashlight and dress in layers, as it can be hot during the day, and very cold after the sun goes down.
Bathroom Tip: Avoid the restrooms in the forest. Use the visitor center or restaurant instead.