MydogDallas114 t1_jcqwkr6 wrote on March 18, 2023 at 9:34 PM

Someone else already mentioned the wait time to get into Mt. Rainier. Typically I recommend people get into the park before 7am or the traffic will back up for a mile or more. If this happens, turn around, go to Skate Creek Rd. which you just passed and hike to High Rock Lookout (assuming you have a sunny day). Then enter the park in the evening after the traffic has dissipated. Hopefully you're staying inside the park for the days you're there.

Another thought, a lot of the parking lots for the popular hikes are very small. From personal experience, this is very true for the Marymere Falls trail/Mt Storm King trail since they both leave from the same parking lot. If you do get a parking spot there, I'd recommend doing both hikes the same day. Marymere is pretty but not that spectacular.

Comet Falls in Mt Rainier NP has the same issue with only 15 or so parking spots. You can either rely on luck to get a spot or arrive there really early (like before 7am). If you do Comet Falls, hiking on from there up to Van Trump Park is epic. You'll feel like you're standing on the mountain itself in an alpine meadow surrounded by wildflowers.

eurbradnegan OP t1_jcr4g58 wrote on March 18, 2023 at 10:34 PM

Man those small parking lots are killer. Alright so super early got it, we went to Banff NP last year and didn’t get parking when we arrived to one of the hikes at 4 am. Thanks for the tips and back up plan!

lovesmtns t1_jdiwzry wrote on March 24, 2023 at 6:41 PM

I'll second that!! If you make it to Comet Falls, it's only another 700 feet up to Van Trump Park, which is legendary. Just pretty in all directions. And you'll want to explore a bit :).

Another Mt Rainier tip. When you are parked at the Reflections Lake parking, right across the road is a delightful trail up to the summit of Plummer Peak. It is an easy 1,500' climb, with a great summit, which looks across Reflection Lake to Mt Rainier itself, rising a good two miles above you :). In fact, if I had a choice between the Reflections Lake loop trail and Plummer Peak, I'd do the peak in a heartbeat. You can always walk down to Reflection Lake and get a feel for it by walking along the shore for a few feet. And then head for Plummer Peak :).