Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
2.
Elbe
The drive turns north onto Rte. 7 at Morton and leads to the small town of Elbe, which
boasts a historic little white church, and serves as home base for the Mt. Rainier Scenic
Railroad. Steam-powered, with open cars and restored coaches, the train chugs through
forestsona14-mileround-triptoMineralLake.VisiblealongpartoftherouteisMt.Rain-
ier's icy summit, some 25 miles to the northeast.
3.
Nisqually Entrance
Viewed from a few miles away, Mt. Rainier appears to hover in the sky like a massive
mirage. The 14,411-foot-high dormant volcano, the loftiest in the Cascades, is the majestic
centerpiece of Mt. Rainier National Park. From the Nisqually Entrance on Rte. 706—the
park's main access point—the road winds through towering Douglas firs and beautiful
stands of red cedars to Longmire, where a museum and the well-marked Trail of the Shad-
ows introduces visitors to the history and natural wonders of the lowland forest.
4.
Cougar Rock
From Longmire the road climbs through lush mountain growth to Cougar Rock, one of the
park's major campgrounds. About a mile and a half farther on, pause to look at graceful
Christine Falls. To see the 60-foot cascade from the most pleasing angle, walk down the
short path leading to a viewpoint below the stone bridge.
5.
Narada Falls
Here the Paradise River hurtles off an old eroded lava flow, plunging 168 feet to the valley
floor. On sunny days visitors who take the short hike from the parking area to the base of
thefalls,wheretheairissuffusedwithspray,arelikelytocatchsightofagloriousrainbow.
6.
Paradise
As the road climbs ever higher, the forest thins out, yielding to subalpine meadows and
clear views of Mt. Rainier's upper slopes. Inspired by these mountain vistas and by the
stunning array of wildflowers (Indian paintbrush, pearly everlasting, lupines, phlox, and
more) that carpet the meadows in summer, an 1885 visitor dubbed the area Paradise.
BeautyandaccessibilityhavesincemadeParadisethemostpopulardestinationinthepark.
The legions of travelers who hike its trails and enjoy its views are welcomed at the rustic
Search WWH ::
Custom Search