The 12 Best Mt Rainier Hikes For Beginners

Mount Rainier National Park is one of the most beautiful parks in Washington state and is home to the iconic 14,410-foot volcano, Mount Rainier. One of the best ways to explore the national park is to hike! Mount Rainier National Park has over 260 miles of maintained trails, many of which are great hikes for beginners!

We loved hiking every trail we could fit into our itinerary when we visited Mount Rainier National Park. And I was shocked by how many stunning, easy trails the park had! It was nice to enjoy an easy hike with breathtaking views of Mount Rainier and the surrounding mountains.

If you want to visit Mount Rainier and hike its easy trails, you are in the right place! This guide has everything you need to know about the best Mt Rainier hikes for beginners!

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Tips for Hiking in Mt Rainier

Mount Rainier National Park has five sections: Longmire, Paradise, Ohanapecosh, Sunrise, and Carbon River/Mowich Lake. Each of these sections offers something different and beautiful. If you are hoping to hike in all five parts of Mount Rainier National Park, I recommend spending at least a few days in the park to have plenty of time to explore each section.
Get your timed entry reservation in advance. Mount Rainier National Park now has a timed entry reservation system for entering the park between 7 AM to 3 PM during May through September for Paradise and July through September for Sunrise. You should get these as far in advance as possible since Mount Rainier National Park is a busy park. If you do not have a permit, you can still enter the park before 7 AM and after 3 PM.
Winter conditions can last through July. Some roads and trails in Mount Rainier National Park can have snow and ice through the summer, so it is crucial to read recent trail reviews, pack the appropriate hiking gear, and talk to park rangers if you have questions. The NPS has a great resource with the road conditions and trail conditions throughout the year.
Arrive at the trailheads early. Mount Rainier National Park has over 2 million visitors per year, so the popular trailheads become crowded early. I recommend arriving before 8:00 AM or after 4:00 PM to avoid most crowds.
Always remember to leave no trace. It’s crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash. Some trailheads have trash bins, so you can easily throw your trash away when you finish the hike. If they don’t have trash bins, you can throw your trash away at a nearby gas station or convenience store.

What to Pack for Hiking in Mt Rainier

Even though these are beginner hikes in Mt Rainier, it’s still crucial to have appropriate hiking gear!

Hiking Boots: If you want comfort and support on your trip, hiking boots are the go to.
Hiking Socks: Having moisture-wicking and comfortable hiking socks are just as important for exploring.
Hiking Backpack: You need something to carry all your food, clothes, and anything else you need while adventuring, so having a supportive hiking backpack is crucial.
Hydration Reservoir/Water Bottles: While hiking or just exploring, it is important to have enough water! I always pack a hydration reservoir.
Jackets: The weather is unpredictable, so I always pack a rain jacket and insulated jacket.
Ten Essentials: The Ten Essentials are crucial for hiking!
Microspikes: If you plan on winter hiking, you will need to bring microspikes.
Snowshoes: Also if you hike in the winter, you may need snowshoes.

The 12 Best Mt Rainier Hikes for Beginners

Twin Firs Loop

Location: Longmire

Difficulty: Easy

Length: 0.3 miles

Elevation Gain: 80 feet

Twin Firs Loop is a short hike for beginners in Mt Rainier. The trail travels through a beautiful old-growth forest with huge trees and gives you a chance to see wildlife.

The loop is one of the easiest hikes in Mt Rainier because it is relatively flat and short. It is the perfect hike for the entire family! We absolutely loved hiking along this trail.

Box Canyon

Location: Paradise

Difficulty: Easy

Length: 0.3 miles

Elevation Gain: 20 feet

Box Canyon Trail is a gorgeous hike, providing views of the 13-foot wide and 180-foot deep canyon. The trail is paved and loops around Box Canyon and is the perfect short hike for beginners in Mt Rainier. On a clear day, you can also see Mt. Rainier and the surrounding nearby mountains!

Grove of Patriarchs

Location: Ohanapecosh

Difficulty: Easy

Length: 1.5 miles

Elevation Gain: 50 feet

NOTE: Currently closed due to trail damage. Read more here.

Grove of Patriarchs is a stunning Mt Rainier hike for beginners and is fun for the entire family! The Grove of Patriarchs trailhead is in the first parking lot on Stevens Canyon Road, which is small and fills up quickly.

The trail follows along the Ohanapecosh River, crosses a suspension bridge, and travels under some of the tallest trees you will ever see! There are thousand-year-old hemlocks, cedars, and Douglas-firs that can be over 300 feet tall and 50 feet wide!

I loved being beneath the trees and feeling small in the best way. It was also my first time seeing trees this large, and trust me, it was a beautiful thing to see!

Nisqually Vista

Location: Paradise

Difficulty: Easy

Length: 1.1 miles

Elevation Gain: 200 feet

Nisqually Vista is one of my favorite beginner hikes in Mt Rainier! The paved trail begins in the lower Paradise parking lot and gently climbs to the loop junction.

You can hike the loop either way, but I recommend going counterclockwise to save the best views for the end! Nisqually Vista is the final viewpoint on the trail and offers stunning views of Mount Rainier.

There is an interpretive sign that has fun facts about Nisqually Glacier on Mount Rainier, too! We love learning about the places we visit, so it is nice to see a sign with more information.

Alta Vista Trail

Location: Paradise

Difficulty: Easy

Length: 1.8 miles

Elevation Gain: 600 feet

The Alta Vista Trail is a beautiful hike in Mt Rainier. Although it has more elevation than the other trails on this list, the Alta Vista Trail is paved and easy to follow. It offers stunning views of Mount Rainier and wildflower meadows.

If you time it right and visit during wildflower season, you will be in awe of the thousands of beautiful wildflowers! We were shocked by how many wildflowers were along this trail when we hiked it. It was one of the most beautiful sight to see.

The Alta Vista Trail is in an area with many other trails, so it’s crucial to follow signs to stay on the correct one. You can also easily extend your hike if you want to hike other trails.

Trail of the Shadows

Location: Longmire

Difficulty: Easy

Length: 0.7 miles

Elevation Gain: 40 feet

Trail of the Shadows is a perfect easy hike in Mt Rainier, especially for those who love history. The trail runs through a beautiful forest and meadow, where you can explore a replica of an old homestead and mineral springs. It is also a great place to see wildlife in the early mornings!

The Trail of the Shadows links to the more strenuous Rampart Ridge Loop, so you are likely to see many hikers continue off the loop. As long as you follow the signage to stay on the Trail of the Shadows, you will enjoy this short and flat hike!

Sourdough Ridge

Location: Sunrise

Difficulty: Easy

Length: 2.5 miles

Elevation Gain: 400 feet

Sourdough Ride is a stunning hike that offers incredible views of Mount Rainier and the surrounding valley. This trail is longer than most on this list but is still a great trail for beginners.

The Sourdough Ridge Trail begins in the Sunrise Visitor Center parking lot and offers views along the entire ridge. If you want to extend your hike, you can hike to Dege Peak for an extra 1.5 miles, offering beautiful 360-degree views.

You can also add many longer trails in the Sunrise section of Mount Rainier National Park, including Burroughs Mountain and Fremont Lookout. We only hiked along the beginning portion of this trail and loved the views of Mount Rainier!

Silver Falls

Location: Ohanapecosh

Difficulty: Easy

Length: 0.6 miles

Elevation Gain: 130 feet

Silver Falls is a stunning 40-foot waterfall that plunges into a bright blue pool. Although the most popular way to get to the waterfall is by a 4-mile round trip hike, you can enjoy a much easier hike on the Laughingwater Trail to the Silver Falls. The trail travels through a beautiful forest before reaching a stunning overlook across the falls. Silver Falls is perfect for beginners and will not disappoint with the views!

Myrtle Falls

Location: Paradise

Difficulty: Easy

Length: 0.8 miles

Elevation Gain: 150 feet

Myrtle Falls is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Mount Rainier National Park because it offers stunning views of Mount Rainier. The easy trail begins in the upper Paradise lot and follows along a paved path to the waterfall overlook, where you can view the falls and Mount Rainier.

It is a stunning viewpoint, and you will see many photographers with their tripods and cameras capturing an iconic photo. We, unfortunately, did not get the photo when we hiked to the falls because Mount Rainier was in the clouds. But we had the trail all to ourselves!

Narada Falls

Location: Paradise

Difficulty: Easy

Length: 0.3 miles

Elevation Gain: 70 feet

Narada Falls is among the most popular waterfalls in Mt Rainier because of its easily accessible viewpoint at a rest area. But many people do not know there is a trail to a lower viewpoint! The trail leading to the lower viewpoint is short and steep but worth the extra effort for the stunning views of the 180-foot tall Narada Falls.

Tipsoo Lake Loop

Location: Paradise

Difficulty: Easy

Length: 0.8 miles

Elevation Gain: minimal

Tipsoo Lake Loop is a perfect hike in Mt Rainier for beginners! The easy and flat loop travels around Tipsoo Lake through wildflower meadows, providing views of the surrounding mountains and Mt Rainier. Many hikers add this short trail onto Naches Peak Loop since the trailheads are near each other. If you don’t want to hike the longer Naches Peak Loop, Tipsoo Lake Loop is a great alternative, especially if you want to see the beautiful wildflowers!

Naches Peak Loop

Location: Paradise

Difficulty: Easy/Moderate

Length: 3.3 miles

Elevation Gain: 640 feet

Naches Peak Loop is a beautiful trail that leads you through beautiful wildflower fields and offers stunning views of Mount Rainier. The hike begins in the Tipsoo Lake parking lot and can be hiked in either direction since it is a loop.

I recommend going clockwise to get the best views of Mount Rainier at the end. Naches Peak Loop follows along the Pacific Crest Trail, so look out for thru-hikers! It rounds the base of Naches Peak through thousands of wildflowers and breaks off from the PCT.

Once you are on the other side of Naches Peak, you will have incredible views of Mount Rainier. You will not regret the extra effort to hike this beautiful trail!

If you are looking for the best Mt Rainier hikes for beginners, this guide is for you! It has everything you need to know about beautiful beginner hikes in Mt Rainier!