Mount Rainier National Park


After more country roads aligned with gorgeous, fall-colored trees pass by, we make it to the park entrance. My America the Beautiful pass gets us easy admission, and the nice ranger gives us the map and newsletter as well. The fog has lifted.


Shortly after getting into the park, there is a parking lot with a sign that says “viewpoint”. We park, head across the road, and get our first grand view of Mount Rainier. After taking photos, we get back in the car.

Mount Rainier towers over autumn foliage and large boulders under clear blue skies.
Two hikers take a selfie with fall colors and evergreen trees in the background.

In the Valley


We stop again to get a view of narrow rivers of water. There is a pathway that cuts out among the rocks in the valley. We wander along, and find ourselves on the riverside, the chill air surrounds us as we admire the view, Mount Rainier looming above us. We watch a family run along the rocks, the kids excited to be having fun with so much space to explore.

Glacial stream winds through rocky terrain beneath Mount Rainier's snow-covered peak.

Christine Falls


We head back to the vehicle and drive on. I am staring out my window and see a deep gap in the earth and request for us to stop. Jeremy is already pulling to a stop in the next parking area because he had seen a waterfall. Turns out the gap in the earth is where the water is flowing from the base of the waterfall. A stone bridge frames the fall, and it is beautiful. This waterfall is known as Christine Falls. We hike a bit down the hillside and the trees open up to reveal a scenic shot of the water cutting down the side of the mountain. We get our pictures, and then head back to the car.

Historic stone arch bridge spans over cascading waterfall in dense forest setting.
Someone views a rushing waterfall from a rocky forest trail overlook.

The Half Trees


At the next viewpoint, Jeremy notices how many of the evergreens only grow branches on one side of the tree. We also get a great view of the mountains opposite of Mount Rainier. These mountains are a lot more jagged and dark.

Tall evergreen trees stand against a blue sky with mountain peaks in the background.

Narada Falls


Our next stop is at a popular viewpoint of a giant waterfall: Narada Falls. We journey down a path that is only .1 miles long to get an excellent view away from the big crowd of people. A rainbow circles its way around the mist coming off of the waterfall. 


A little bird lands on the wooden fence close to us, and flies away as more people approach our viewing spot. The bird is a Gray Jay.

Majestic waterfall cascades down a rocky cliff surrounded by evergreen forest.
Person poses on wooden bench in front of a scenic waterfall.

Paradise


We drive to the highest lot we can in the entire park, a place called Paradise, literally, and get another great view of the park’s namesake. We get a photo of me kissing his cheek in front of the mountain, marvel at the view, and decide it is time to head back down. We had seen a car turn right on our way up to this lot, going a different way than we had come in, and decide to make that same turn now that we are going back down.

Two people share a moment with snow-capped mountain peaks in the background.

Reflections Lake


We end up at Reflections Lake. The wind is active, so the lake is not as reflective as the name may imply. Jeremy actually takes some pictures, and I am, perhaps, slightly proud. I end up laughing later, because it turns out he just wanted pictures of these miniature evergreens. 


As I went go down to the shore to take photos, Jeremy stands proudly on two rocks, one foot on each, and declares, “I am Yao, King of the Rock!” This is a Mulan reference from the Disney animated version.

Mount Rainier reflects in a calm lake surrounded by evergreen forest.
Person stands triumphantly on large rocks with evergreen forest backdrop.
Lake view with stone barrier and evergreen trees along shoreline path.

Box Canyon


We drive through a more natural looking tunnel in the side of the mountain, and then over a stone bridge. We end up parking right on the other side of the stone bridge and get to view Jeremy’s favorite part of the whole trip: Box Canyon. There is a little wooden bridge that is 151 feet above the surface of the water in the canyon below. It is splendid, and the rock walls look so smooth where the water has worn away the cliff walls. There are also opportunities to get some macro shots of moss, and walk along a trail.

Deep blue waterfall flowing through narrow moss-covered canyon with evergreen trees.
Close-up macro shot of delicate green moss and lichen textures growing on forest floor.
Wooden footbridge through evergreen forest in moody evening light.
Dramatic aerial view of a narrow mountain gorge with rushing water and lush green forest surroundings.
A winding forest trail through tall evergreen trees captured in black and white.
Scenic rock tunnel carved through a mountain with warm light glowing at the exit.

Leaving the Park


We then leave the park. Mount Rainier is gorgeous, and in 2024 still stands as one of our favorite National Parks that we have been to. Maybe that's because it was our first that we went to together, but I truly believe it is because of the beauty of the nature in the Park itself.