RV Routes: Explore the summer highs of beautiful Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier is waking up for another summer season and it’s the perfect time to plan a trip to Washington's most popular national park.
Welcome to the latest edition of RV Routes, our series offering ideas for regional destinations suited for your rig. Mount Rainier National Park is an iconic place to visit, and staying in the park is a special experience under the ever-present gaze of a 14,410-foot volcano.
With a nod to naturalist John Muir (who climbed the peak in 1888), we say, “Mount Rainier is calling, and you must go!”
Days 1-2: Cougar Rock Campground
For the first days of your visit, we recommend staying on the busy south side of Mount Rainier National Park. Entering through the town of Ashford, it’s a short drive to Cougar Rock Campground, situated just past Longmire, the main visitor center for the national park.
Staying at Cougar Rock has many advantages. It’s only about 10 miles to Paradise, the highest point you can get to on the south side at 5,400 feet. The mountain seems huge when you’re this close.
Many people simply hang out in the massive parking lot or take a short stroll to a picnic spot to take it all in. If you feel like a hike, Paradise has lots of options.
We recommend the Skyline Trail, winding 5.4 miles along the shoulder of the mighty mountain. In the summer, wildflowers are everywhere and there’s that beautiful mountain offering constant views.
Cougar Rock also sits across the road from the Wonderland Trail, the 93-mile long route around the mountain. You can walk a scenic section along the Nisqually River right out of camp.
Days 3-4: White River Campground
Hop in the rig and head to the northeast side of the mountain at White River Campground on the banks of a wild and tumbling glacial stream. We stayed there once during a heat wave and the runoff was spectacular, the sound of huge rolling boulders echoing through the valley.
This year, White River Campground is scheduled to open on June 23. Besides being a beautiful place to camp, it offers access to some excellent day hikes. The Glacier Basin Trail is one of our favorites.
Camping at White River also means you have easy access to Sunrise, the highest point you can drive to in the park at 6,400 feet, an experience not to be missed. The road is open from early July after crews clear the massive winter snowfall.
Many stunning trails leave from the parking lot -- we love the Burroughs Mountain Trail, best done after all that white stuff has melted.
Optional Day 5: Crystal Mountain
After staying in some fairly spartan national park campgrounds, you might want to get some power. Staying in the B Lot at Crystal Mountain Ski Resort, across the valley to the north of Mount Rainier, offers 30 amp hookups for $45, and 50 amp hookups for $55. No water or dump station is available, however.
The reason to stay at Crystal Mountain is to ride the resort’s gondola to get another stunning view of Mount Rainier -- for a price of course. Adult tickets are $44, children and seniors go for $30. The top of the resort also offers a legit restaurant, Summit House, at 6,872 feet.
The gondola runs Fridays-Sundays in June and begins daily operations on July 1.
Today’s Going Mobile question: What’s your favorite campground in the Mount Rainier area? We’d love to hear your stories and suggestions on our brand new Facebook page (facebook.com/goingmobiletravel). Check us out!
