Best things to do in Mount Rainier National Park

Considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world, Mount Rainier luckily hasn't erupted in the past 100 years. With around 8,000 people a year completing the three-day climb to the top peak, the volcano is popular with experienced climbers. The park is also known for its easier trails, which come with scenic views across the range. Mountain bike trails are available, and you can enjoy snow sports, such as skiing, in the colder months. If you're looking for the perfect picture, check out the reflection lakes where you can capture a stunning image of the volcano and its reflection.

Discover Nature specializes in fully guided, small group tours designed to maximize your enjoyment of the Mt. Rainier area. You'll be treated like a friend from out of town and guided to some of the best spots within Mt. Rainier National Park, a place of stunning vistas and diverse wildlife. With your personal guide, you'll hike the old growth forest, spot all kinds of animals (like foxes, deer, and marmots), learn about glaciers and native trees and plants, and hear anecdotes about the pioneers who contributed to the creation of the park. Bring your camera--sights of the magnificent mountain will surely inspire you to snap a few memorable photos.

Featured in David Lynch's iconic TV series "Twin Peaks," Snoqualmie Falls remains one of the favorite scenic attractions in Washington State and a Native American burial site. A roaring misty waterfall tumbles down 82 m (268 ft); for the Native American tribe of Snoqualmie, this represents the meeting place of Heaven and Earth, where the first human couple were created. Follow the short hiking trail to a fenced observation deck with benches and picnic tables. The nearby attractions include a historic lodge, which also appeared in "Twin Peaks."

Comet Falls is a tall waterfall located on Van Trump Creek in Pierce County, Washington. The falls are thought to be the best in the Mount Rainier region.

Scout for moose, elk, caribou, mountain goats, bison and more from trams in the free-roaming area. Stroll forested pathways to see grizzly bears, wolves, lynx, cougars, eagles and more in beautiful natural exhibits. Get up close to a porcupine, skunk, beaver, owl and other animals at daily Trailside Encounters with a keeper. Take a ride on the zip line adventure course through the forested canopy. Learn more at www.nwtrek.org.

Spray Falls is a waterfall in the Mount Rainier National Park in Pierce County, Washington. The falls are fed by Spray Creek, which is a tributary of the Puyallup River. The falls drop about 354 feet (108 m) into a talus slope in a vailed horsetail form about 100 feet (30 m) wide.

Mowich Lake is a lake located in the northwestern corner of Mount Rainier National Park in Washington state at an elevation of 4,929 feet (1,502 m). The name "Mowich" derives from the Chinook jargon word for deer.
Access to the lake is provided by a 17 miles (27 km) long unpaved road which opens to vehicles in mid June to early July. Mowich Lake is also a busy campground during the summer with 30 walk-in tent camping spots. Bathrooms, tables, and trash bins are provided.

From the Mowich campground, hikers can reach the Wonderland Trail, Eunice Lake, Tolmie Peak, Spray Park, and Spray Falls. Old-growth trees, waterfalls, creeks, cliffs, and wildflower meadows are also located in and around the area.

Fishing is generally poor at Mowich Lake because the area is not stocked with fish and no habitat is provided for natural spawning.
This body of water was named Crater Lake in 1883 by the geologist Bailey Willis under the belief that it was formed in a volcanic crater, however I. C. Russell later wrote that the land was shaped instead by ice erosion. Willis concurred. Correspondents to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) proposed Mowich to avoid ambiguity with the well-known Crater Lake to the south in Oregon. Mowich Lake was designated the official name by the BGN in 1919. The name of its outflow Crater Creek remained unchanged.