A two-day loop on Mount Rainier's south side: the Skyline Trail through Paradise Meadows, Comet Falls, roadside waterfalls and a night at the National Park Inn. Built around the Longmire-to-Paradise corridor, so drives stay short.
Skyline Trail loop through Paradise Meadows (5.5 mi, 1,700 ft)
Comet Falls, about 320 feet tall
Narada and Christine Falls right beside the road
Night in the year-round National Park Inn at Longmire
Paved Nisqually Vista Trail over the Nisqually Glacier
Why visit Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier does not do subtle. The 14,410-foot volcano, the most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S., dominates western Washington, and the fastest way to feel its scale is the park's southwest corner, where a single road climbs from forest at Longmire to the wildflower meadows and glacier views of Paradise.
This two-day plan stays on that Longmire-to-Paradise corridor on purpose. It is the part of the park that stays reachable in more seasons than any other, it packs in waterfalls, meadow walking and glacier views without long drives between them, and it lets you sleep in the park at a historic inn instead of commuting from outside.
Day one is about the mountain's south face. You start at the Longmire Museum, pause at Narada Falls, then spend most of the day on the Skyline Trail, the 5.5-mile loop through Paradise Meadows the premier loop there. Dinner and a bed wait back at the National Park Inn.
Day two trades the big loop for a steep, waterfall-focused morning on the Comet Falls Trail, a quick look at Christine Falls, and an easy paved stroll to the Nisqually Glacier overlooks. You finish with lunch at the inn and an easy exit through the Nisqually Entrance.
The trade-off is honest: this is the popular side of the park, so the trailheads and parking lots fill on summer weekends. Arriving before 10 AM or after 2:30 PM is suggested at busy times, and this itinerary leans into early starts. Snow can linger on high trails into July, so late summer and early fall are the most reliable windows. Sunrise and the park's northern side are left out, since they are seasonal and vulnerable to closures.
Mount Rainier 2-day itinerary, day by day
1
Day 1 · 5 stops
Longmire to Paradise: falls and the Skyline loop
Enter at Nisqually, learn the park's history at Longmire, admire Narada Falls, then spend the afternoon on the Skyline loop with Rainier overhead. Return to Longmire for dinner and a bed.
Visitor center9:00 AM · 45 min
Longmire Museum and the historic district
Longmire is where the park's story starts. The 1916 headquarters building is now a small museum of natural history and park history, staffed by a ranger or volunteer, and it is a good spot to pick up a map and ask about trail conditions before heading uphill. Step outside to see the meadow fed by mineral springs that lured James Longmire in the 1800s, then stretch your legs with a look at the 1924 Nisqually suspension bridge nearby.
Photo: NPS Photo
Time
About 45 minutes; museum closes midday, 12-1 PM
Fee
Free
Longmire Museum
Longmire Museum, Mount Rainier National Park, Longmire, WA 98304
Hours: Open 9:00 AM-4:30 PM daily, closed midday 12-1; hours can change with weather and staffing.
Season: Typically open year-round; check current hours.
The largest waterfall you can reach by car in the park is only about 150 feet from the road. Park at the rest area, look down the top of the falls from the stone bridge, then take the short steep path to the lower viewpoint (0.4 mile round trip with a 200-foot descent and climb, wet and slippery) for the full plunge. The park photo shows a rainbow arching over the base of the falls.
Photo: NPS/EBrouwer
Time
20-30 minutes including the lower viewpoint
Fee
Free
Narada Falls
Narada Falls parking area, Paradise Road, Ashford, WA 98304
Hours: Open 24 hours; parking and rest area open year-round.
Season: Typically year-round at the upper pullout; the trail to the lower viewpoint is snow covered and hazardous in winter.
This is the signature Paradise walk: a 5.5-mile loop that climbs through subalpine meadow to Panorama Point (clockwise, 2 miles up), swings past the Stevens-Van Trump Memorial, then drops through Paradise Valley to Myrtle Falls with Rainier filling the sky behind it. The High Skyline Trail past Panorama Point avoids an icy slope that never melts. Bring lunch and layers; Panorama Point has a toilet, and shorter options include the 1-mile round trip to Myrtle Falls (about 100 ft of gain) or the Golden Gate Trail as a shorter alternative to the full loop. Figures are for the full loop, round trip.
Photo: NPS Photo
Distance
5.5 mi
Elevation gain
1,700 ft
Route
Loop
Difficulty
Moderate
Dogs allowed
No
Trailhead
Muir Steps, Paradise; distance and gain are for the full loop
Paradise Meadows & Skyline Trailhead (Muir Steps)
Paradise, Mount Rainier National Park, Ashford, WA 98304
Hours: Open 24 hours.
Season: Typically year-round, but Paradise trails are under deep snow roughly November to June and snow can linger into July; the Paradise road closes nightly at Longmire in winter.
After a full day on the mountain, the inn's full-service dining room in Longmire is the easiest place to eat: it also serves day visitors, so no room booking is needed to sit down. Dinner is served in the early evening, closing at 7 PM Sunday to Thursday and 8 PM on Friday and Saturday, so plan on arriving around 5 PM. Check the Rainier Guest Services site for the current menu and any reservation policy.
Photo: NPS Photo
Meal
Dinner
Cuisine
Full-service dining room
National Park Inn
Longmire Historic District, Mount Rainier National Park, Longmire, WA 98304
Hours: Dining room breakfast 7-11 AM, lunch 12-3:30 PM daily, dinner 4:30-7 PM Sun-Thu and until 8 PM Fri-Sat; front desk 7 AM-10 PM (hours change seasonally).
Season: Typically open year-round; the only in-park lodging that does.
The historic 25-room inn sits in the Longmire Historic District at 2,700 feet, and it is the only accommodation in the park that operates year-round. It puts you within about a half hour of Paradise and Comet Falls the next morning. Book directly through Rainier Guest Services, the park's lodging concessioner; prices were not confirmable from the operator page during research, so check current rates when reserving.
Comet Falls, Christine Falls and a glacier overlook
An early, steep hike to one of the park's tallest waterfalls, then a roadside stop, an easy paved trail at Paradise and lunch before you head out.
Must do
Hike8:00 AM · 3 h 10 min
Comet Falls Trail
Start early: the small trailhead lot four miles east of Longmire often fills. The trail climbs steadily through forest for 1.8 miles, passing tiered Van Trump Falls, to the base of Comet Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in the park at about 320 feet. It is a hard, steady uphill on the way in and a quick descent on the way back. Figures are for the round trip: 3.8 miles and roughly 1,200 feet of gain. The park's trail page lists 900 feet, while the Comet Falls place record and Washington Trails Association give 1,200-1,250 feet. Snow and ice can linger on the trail into early summer.
Photo: NPS Photo
Distance
3.8 mi
Elevation gain
1,200 ft
Route
Out and back
Difficulty
Moderate
Dogs allowed
No
Trailhead
Comet Falls trailhead; round-trip distance and gain. Sources disagree: park trail page 900 ft; place record 1,200 ft; WTA 1,250 ft.
Comet Falls & Van Trump Park Trailhead
Paradise Road, about 4 miles east of Longmire, Ashford, WA 98304
Hours: Open 24 hours; parking is limited and often full.
Season: Typically summer to October; the trail is hazardous with snow and ice in winter and spring.
A short drive up the road from the Comet Falls trailhead, this 60-foot plunge is framed by a historic stone arch bridge over Van Trump Creek. Park in one of the small pullouts and walk the short path to the lower overlook for the postcard view. The bridge is narrow and busy, so watch for traffic if you photograph from it.
Photo: NPS Photo
Time
15-20 minutes
Fee
Free
Christine Falls
Paradise Road, 4.5 miles east of Longmire, Ashford, WA 98304
Hours: Open 24 hours.
Season: Typically viewable from the road year-round; the path to the lower viewpoint is icy and hazardous in winter.
A gentle way to finish your time at Paradise. This paved 1.2-mile lollipop loop starts from stairs at the west end of the lower parking lot and reaches four viewpoints over the Nisqually Glacier and the head of the Nisqually River, with Rainier above and the Tatoosh Range to the south. The blueberry bushes turn red, yellow and orange in early fall. Distance and gain are for the full loop.
Photo: NPS Photo
Distance
1.2 mi
Elevation gain
200 ft
Route
Loop
Difficulty
Easy
Dogs allowed
No
Trailhead
West end of the lower Paradise parking lot; round-trip loop figures
Nisqually Vista Trailhead
West end of the lower Paradise parking lot, Ashford, WA 98304
Hours: Open 24 hours.
Season: Typically year-round; snow covered in winter (a marked snowshoe route).
Head back down to Longmire for a sit-down lunch before you leave the park. The dining room serves lunch from noon to 3:30 PM daily, and the Nisqually Entrance is about 6.5 miles west of Longmire, so you can eat and be on the road home without rushing. Check the Rainier Guest Services site for the current menu.
Photo: NPS Photo
Meal
Lunch
National Park Inn
Longmire Historic District, Mount Rainier National Park, Longmire, WA 98304
Hours: Dining room breakfast 7-11 AM, lunch 12-3:30 PM daily, dinner 4:30-7 PM Sun-Thu and until 8 PM Fri-Sat; front desk 7 AM-10 PM (hours change seasonally).
Season: Typically open year-round; the only in-park lodging that does.
The historic inn at 5,420 feet has 121 rooms without in-room phone, TV or internet, a dining room and a gift shop, and it sits right at the Skyline Trail. It is a summer inn, open generally from May through September or early October, so this is an alternative base only during those months.
Stay
Paradise Inn
The historic inn at 5,420 feet has 121 rooms without in-room phone, TV or internet, a dining room and a gift shop, and it sits right at the Skyline Trail. It is a summer inn, open generally from May through September or early October, so this is an alternative base only during those months.
A forested campground on the road between Longmire and Paradise. It is a summer campground (late May to early October) with 133 reservable sites; reservations go through Recreation.gov.
Stay
Cougar Rock Campground
A forested campground on the road between Longmire and Paradise. It is a summer campground (late May to early October) with 133 reservable sites; reservations go through Recreation.gov.
On calm mornings the lakes mirror Rainier, and it is a popular spot for reflections, wildflowers and hiking (the Lakes Trail is roughly a 3-mile loop). It sits along Stevens Canyon Road, which is seasonal, so add it on the way up to or down from Paradise only when the road is open.
Viewpoint
Reflection Lakes
On calm mornings the lakes mirror Rainier, and it is a popular spot for reflections, wildflowers and hiking (the Lakes Trail is roughly a 3-mile loop). It sits along Stevens Canyon Road, which is seasonal, so add it on the way up to or down from Paradise only when the road is open.
Photo: NPS Photo
Time
20-60 minutes
Best time
Calm early morning
Fee
Free
Reflection Lakes
Stevens Canyon Road near Paradise, Mount Rainier National Park, Ashford, WA 98304
Hours: Open 24 hours when the road is open.
Season: Typically summer only (roughly June-September); check road status.
Current conditions (as of 2026-09-30; these change, so re-check before you go)
Paradise Inn closed for the season on September 28 at noon; the Paradise Camp Deli is scheduled to run until October 12 with shorter hours (deli 11 AM-3:45 PM), and the Jackson Visitor Center is listed 9:30 AM-4 PM daily through October 12. The Paradise picnic area is scheduled to close October 13 and Paradise Wilderness Information Center is closed for the season. Bring your own lunch for Day 1. Source: https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/hours.htm
Longmire Museum is listed as open 9 AM-4:30 PM daily, closed midday 12-1. National Park Inn dining room is listed as breakfast 7-11 AM, lunch 12-3:30 PM, dinner 4:30-7 PM Sun-Thu (until 8 PM Fri-Sat); front desk 7 AM-10 PM.
Sunrise and White River: wildfires have closed Sunrise Road to private vehicles for the rest of the 2026 season; this itinerary avoids that area. Grove of the Patriarchs is closed to all entry (bridge replacement preparation starts October 1, 2026, with construction planned for 2027-2028 per park-construction.htm; conditions.htm says 2028), and the Ohanapecosh campground area is closed for 2026 construction. Sources: https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/conditions.htm and https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/park-construction.htm
Roads: Nisqually Entrance to Longmire and Longmire to Paradise were listed open on 2026-09-28; the road can close at any time for weather. Stevens Canyon Road is expected to close to visitor traffic on October 26, 2026. Source: https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/road-status.htm
Fees: The private vehicle pass is $30 (valid seven days); the park does not accept cash. Source: https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/fees.htm
Cougar Rock Campground is scheduled to close for the season October 12, 2026.
Getting there and crowds: Use the Nisqually Entrance (SR 706 via Ashford); GPS can route you to the wrong entrance, and weekend lines at the southwest entrance can be long. Entering before 10 AM or after 2:30 PM is advised on very busy days, and mid-week is generally less crowded. Parking at Paradise and the Comet Falls trailhead is limited.
Seasons and gear: Snow can linger at Paradise into June or July, with peak wildflowers in late July or early August and fall color from September. Vehicle access in winter is only via the Nisqually Entrance, and the Paradise road closes nightly at Longmire in winter, so this trip works best about July through September. Carry layers, water and the Ten Essentials; weather changes fast. Pets are not allowed on Paradise trails, including Skyline and Nisqually Vista.
Reservations: No timed-entry reservation was listed on the park pages consulted for this draft; confirm on the park website. Book the National Park Inn ahead through Rainier Guest Services, 360-569-2275. Other lodging outside the park is listed at https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/lodging.htm.
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How many days does this Mount Rainier itinerary take?
2 days to cover Mount Rainier National Park. Day 1: Longmire to Paradise: falls and the Skyline loop; Day 2: Comet Falls, Christine Falls and a glacier overlook.
When is the best time for Mount Rainier?
The best months are July to September.
What are the highlights of this Mount Rainier itinerary?
Skyline Trail loop through Paradise Meadows (5.5 mi, 1,700 ft); Comet Falls, about 320 feet tall; Narada and Christine Falls right beside the road; Night in the year-round National Park Inn at Longmire; Paved Nisqually Vista Trail over the Nisqually Glacier.
Where should you stay for Mount Rainier?
This itinerary suggests Paradise Inn and Cougar Rock Campground. Check current rates and availability before you book.
Where should you eat on this Mount Rainier trip?
Places this itinerary uses or suggests include National Park Inn. Opening hours change, so confirm before you go.
Sources
Good to know: distances and drive times are typical figures without live traffic, and where routes are shown the route data comes from OpenStreetMap contributors. Toll amounts are estimates and change often, so check them in the DriftKin planner or with the toll authority before you plan around them. Opening hours, fees, prices, permits and closures also change, so confirm with the park or business before you go.
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