Paradise, a picturesque alpine park on the south slope of Rainier, is both beautiful and over crowded. At 5,500’ and serviced year-round with a major road, Paradise is the most accessible of Rainier’s alpine parks – you’ll find durable trail surfaces in the lower half of the park.

During the summer weeks when the alpine wildflowers are in bloom expect to find travel occupancy close to theme park levels. Fortunately steep terrain keeps most of the tourists near the visitor’s center, and if you’re willing to climb at least 1,000’ you’ll be rewarded with good views, a gravel trail and less people.

In addition to hosting throngs of tourists and day hikers, Paradise serves as base-camp for climbers summiting Rainier via the popular (and much safer) Camp Muir route. It’s quite likely you’ll find a group of climbers lead by one of the local mountaineering tour companies ascending towards Muir during your hike.

Camping is prohibited at Paradise, except snow camping in winter.

Mid summer (usually the 2nd or 3rd week of July) the wildflowers bloom; often filling the alpine meadows with a glorious display of color and fragrance. Check with the park to see whether the flowers are blooming before venturing out. The meadows are also spectacular even without the wildflowers in summer and early fall

Winter transforms Paradise into a winter wonderland. As one of the snowest places in North America, Paradise often gets snowpacks between 20’ and 30’. On weekends, the Rangers conduct interrupted snowshoe hikes (with a modest $3 snowshoe rental if you need to borrow a snowshoe). The brave at heart (or those with a warm sleeping bag) can winter camp on the lower slopes.

There are a number of great trails crisscrossing the Paradise meadows, and a good topographic map is highly recommended. If you can, definitely venture up the steep slopes, you’ll be rewarded with great views and a good workout.

My favorite route is roughly 6 miles (1,800’ cumulative gain and loss) from the Visitor’s Center up to Panorama Point and Pebble Creek, around to Golden Gate and back. This ends up being a great day hike for a photographer (6+ hours including lots of time for shooting), or a short day hike for a group in good shape (3 hours).

Start at the Visitor’s Center:

1. Take Deadhorse Creek Trail up the mountain to the Skyline trail. You’ll spend most of the trail switchbacking a valley filled with wildflowers and marmots in the summer.
2. In 1.1 miles (800’ gain) the trail intersects the Skyline Trail, continue straight onto the Skyline. In this area, you’ll notice the vegetation change from lush meadows to meadows with more rocks.
3. Hike 0.6 miles (400’ gain) to the Pebble Creek junction
4. Continue straight 0.3 miles (200’ gain) to Panorama Point. Large brightly painted cairns mark the point. Panorama Point has little vegetation, but commands an excellent view. There is a toilet just north of the point if you need it.
5. From Panorama Point, take the High Skyline 0.3 miles (200’ gain) to the Pebble Creek Junction and follow the junction to creek
6. Pebble Creek at 7,200’ is one of the highest and most accessible points on Rainer, and is an excellent place to stop for lunch. After photographing the creek hike back to the High Skyline Trail.
   
   WARNING: The trail fords the creek and continues onto the Muir Snowfield to Camp Muir. Despite its benign appearance, travel on the snowfield can be extremely dangerous if you are not properly equipped. Hikers on the snowfield should be prepared for glacier travel and have compass bearings to and from Muir. Climbers routinely experience white-out conditions on the snowfield, which combined with glaciers on both sides of the snowfield, several sheer cliffs, inexperience and improper equipment can lead to death or serious injury.
7. Take the High Skyline Trail 0.4 miles (400’ loss) EAST from the Pebble Creek Junction (left if coming from Pebble Creek) traversing the hillside.
8. At the Skyline Trail junction, veer LEFT and continue 0.6 miles (400’ loss) onto the Skyline Trail to Golden Gate.
9. Take the Golden Gate Trail 1.0 miles (800’ loss) descending steep and tight switchbacks along the eastern wall of the valley and crossing the valley to Myrtle Falls
10. Just before you cross the bridge the trail surface changes back to asphalt (and the tourists suddenly appear)
11. Myrtle Falls is an excellent opportunity to snap some pictures, Beware the tourists who flock near the bridge and waterfall.
12. From Myrtle Falls, follow the Waterfall Trail back 0.7 miles (200’ loss) to the Visitor’s Center.

The best route to Paradise from Seattle is via the Nisqually Entrance in the South West corner of the park. From the Nisqually Entrance, follow the road up to Paradise. The National Park website has excellent directions to the park.