Mt. Rainier Gondola — Attraction in Enumclaw

Mt. Rainier is among the finest white-tipped mountains found in the U.S., and as it’s still an active volcano, you get a sense that it’s only a matter of time until it blows. While that sentiment can be scary and fill one with fear, it also makes some visitors like myself feel a sense of excitement, like you’re living life on the edge. I know I felt that way in Yellowstone National Park when I drove up and over the edge of the caldera. So to see Mt. Rainier best, I reached out to Crystal Mountain Resort who specializes in ski vacations. In the summer months, they still run their gondola which takes you up a mountain so you can really take in Mt. Rainier and the surrounding Cascade mountains.

When I arrived, there was a great bit of construction under way, and it was obvious that the resort has grand plans for their iconic spot in the mountains. I walked around the construction zone and into the guest services door, grabbed my ticket, and within minutes I was loaded on the chair lift car and I was on my way upward. Being held up by a few pieces of metal attached to a wound cable did strike me with a momentary sensation of fear, but I quickly compartmentalized the fear and decided to focus elsewhere, on the journey and the views which were everywhere. Once I made it up to the destination, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Baker and other peaks along the Cascade mountains revealed themselves to me, and my jaw dropped to the floor of my gondola car.

I walked around awhile, enjoying the solitude, and the epic views, which reached north to Canada and south all the way to the infamous Mt. St. Helens. The photos were easy as any place, as every view was stunning, and filled with a natural majesty and mystique. Crystal Mountain has dining services at their resort at the start of the gondola and they have a mountain top area where they serve drinks and food, and you can just lounge while staring at a volcano. Not a bad life, really. Service up and down the gondola takes 5-10 minutes, and lines in late June weren’t bad at all. This trip was well worth the time and effort, for the experience was first class, and the photo ops were...

One of THE BEST adventures we’ve been on since we moved to WA state 10 years ago. The ride up in the Gondola was beautiful, the views breathtaking and the restaurant food was delicious!! Put in a reservation when you first get there, or at least see how long the wait is. We hiked around THEN did a reservation and we ended up waiting 1.5-2 more hours. It was nice to just SIT and do nothing but be outdoors but if you have kids might not be so fun. We didn’t hike down which you can do, because the day before we did 7 hours up and back on Mt. Rainier and the day before that we did a 5-hour round trip to a waterfall - too exhausted to hike anymore so this was a perfect way to end our trip. I will say we had tickets for 9:00 and we should’ve gone up then, instead we followed the advice of one of the staff who said we should wait an hour or two and it’ll be warmer. We waited and then we missed seeing Rainier because it was covered with clouds about 95% + the whole 3-4 hours we were there. If we’d gone up early like we’d planned we would’ve seen Rainier in its entirety bc there were no clouds covering it that morning. The staff on top said ‘This morning it was so clear’… Not anyones fault kinda hit or miss as to what clouds will do. There’s a camera in the store you can always check to...

Purchasing tickets was a breeze, and the staff was friendly and helpful. It’s worth noting that during peak seasons, the parking lot tends to fill up quickly.

The gondola cabins were spacious and offered clear visibility, ensuring that every passenger could enjoy uninterrupted vistas. Reaching the summit was a highlight, offering a vantage point that felt like being on top of the world. The vast expanses of snow-capped peaks and the crisp mountain air created a sense of tranquility and escape from the everyday hustle.

At the top, the presence of a great restaurant called Summit House was the cherry on top of an already fantastic journey. The dining options offered a delightful selection, and enjoying a meal with the backdrop of the Cascade Mountains was an unforgettable experience.

Whether you're a nature enthusiast, adventure seeker, or simply looking for a peaceful getaway, the Crystal Mountain gondola ride is a must-do. It's a remarkable way to connect with the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and create...