Combining the best of nature, forest, mountains, and streams, Mount Rainer has it all. Within one day, you can hike a mountain, watch a gushing waterfall, and feel the aliveness of the forest. Additionally, the area feels much more secluded than other national parks like Rocky Mountain. You have all the beauty of nature without fighting the crowd (granted, this was in June).
The long version
My wife and I were born and raised in Nebraska and currently reside there. We’ve traveled to Colorado frequently and love visiting Estes Park. I recently celebrated a 20th anniversary in Washington state for my Army reunion. This was in December with horrid weather; dark, gloomy, damp, and depressing. I wanted to revisit the Pacific Northwest so my wife could experience the beauty without being hindered by dreadful weather. And it was well worth it!
We traveled from Omaha to Seattle, then a long drive down to Packwood, where we stayed in a small, hospitable cabin. The cost was inexpensive, including airfare (Alaska Airlines). We talked to the Park Rangers over the phone and reviewed websites with hiking suggestions. We had a series of lists of hikes between the helpful park rangers and the website.
Our day started by arriving at the gate at 6:59 AM. Usually, you need a time ticket to enter at 7 AM or beyond, but we were able to forgo this requirement. Note to travelers: Make sure to use the app or screenshot the pass that we had. There’s zero cell phone reception, and you’ll likely get stuck.
After leaving Steven’s entrance, we traveled to the Box Canyon parking area (Wonderland trail). This hike was a more “hardcore” experience, with a narrow trail leading deep into the woods. We saw wild Elk, waterfalls, and massive trees and experienced the serene stillness of the forest. Even in June, we saw only one person on the way back, and it felt like we had the entire park to ourselves. Being an introvert, I loved it! Don’t get me wrong, people are great, but hiking on a narrow path with constant interruptions can be annoying and break the immersion.
The strength of this hike was the constant flowing streams, piercing sunlight as you walked the path, and the sound of stillness that only the forest can produce.
Without a known loop, we returned and visited another spot with a lovely waterfall. Since it wasn’t late in the afternoon, we took a break by returning to Packwood, which was only 20 minutes away (another plus to staying there).
After smashing a cheeseburger at a local small-town bar, we decided to venture out to Silver Falls outside the gated entrance. If you can do anything in Mount Rainer, visit the Silver Falls!
We started the hike by grabbing some merch at the Ranger outpost (no, I’m not sponsored). Then we got some information from the Rangers, who suggested going counterclockwise. This was a great way to approach the Silver Falls Loop because it was adjacent to the water the entire way up. Therefore, you have this constant sound of water flowing as you approach the pinnacle of the waterfall.
The closer you get to the top of the falls, the louder the sounds of the water and the greater the anticipation. You then reach the waterfall, loud, powerful water flowering over a manufactured dam and shooting water in all directions like a mister at an amusement park.
You continue further and can even approach the falls for a closer view and observe the mighty sounds and flow of the water. We were lucky to see a rainbow and talk with some friendly people. Silver Falls is a loop, so you continue down the trail back to the camping area.
The second part of the journey was forest to the extreme. The trees were unlike anything I’ve ever seen, reaching what appeared to be 100+ feet. Even cranking your neck to the sky, you could barely see the tree tops, and the sense of awe and wonder percolated through the forest.
We concluded for the day when I decided to write this post. This was all in one day, a breathtaking and wonderful experience for any nature lover.
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