Ever wondered what it's actually like to visit Mount Rainier National Park? In this episode, Susan shares her firsthand experience visiting in August 2024 — and she and Monica break down everything you need to know before you go, from the park's layout to the logistics that can make or break your trip.
Mount Rainier is one of America's most iconic national parks — and one of the most misunderstood. It's not just a pretty mountain. It's an active stratovolcano, the highest peak in the Cascade Range at 14,410 feet, home to 25 glaciers (including Emmons Glacier — the largest in the contiguous U.S.), and 91,000 acres of old-growth forest. Plus it has some of the most spectacular wildflowers you'll ever see.
But here's what nobody tells you: this park takes serious planning. There's no road that circles the volcano. No gas stations inside the park. Very little cell service. Parking fills up by 9 a.m. on summer weekends. And the four main areas — Longmire, Paradise, Sunrise/White River, and Ohanapecosh — are each an hour or more apart with no straight roads connecting them.
Susan stayed in Packwood, Washington to reach multiple sides of the park, and walks you through how she tackled the Nisqually Entrance (Longmire Museum, Wilderness Info Center, Henry Jackson Visitor Center), why the Sunrise Entrance is worth every effort, and what the deal is with the Ohanapecosh area construction closure in 2026.
Monica and Susan also get into critical safety tips — including why elevation changes at Rainier can turn deadly fast if you're not layered up — plus why talking to the park rangers before hitting the trail is non-negotiable.
They wrap with Susan holding up the four official trail guides the park provides (yes, physical ones — with maps on the back!) and remind you: download your AllTrails maps while you still have WiFi at the visitor center.
🥾 Whether you're planning your first Pacific Northwest road trip or adding Rainier to a circuit with Crater Lake, Olympic, and North Cascades — this episode is your starting point.
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📌 Resources mentioned:
Mount Rainier National Park official site: nps.gov/mora
Trail info & maps: alltrails.com
America the Beautiful Senior Pass (62+): store.usgs.gov/senior-pass
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Hike your own hike — we'll see y'all next time! 🥾🥾
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