The following a press release:
While every season is Rainier season, summer is bursting with color! One of the most spectacular aspects of Mount Rainier National Park is its world-renowned wildflower meadows. No matter what the length of your stay, a stroll among these seemingly endless fields of wildflowers is a must-do. Each summer avalanche lilies, paintbrush, asters, daisies, cinquefoil, fireweed, purple shooting stars and so many others, blanket the mountain in every color of the rainbow.
Wildflower Viewing Tips
Best Time: Late-July to Early-August
Best Places: Paradise, Sunrise and Chinook Pass/Tipsoo Lake
For Hikers: Top 10 Wildflower Trails
Etiquette: Please do not pick the flowers and stay on the trails
Status Report: Get the Park’s Latest Wildflower Update
Top 4 Wildflower Viewing Locations
Paradise: Someone once stated, “a trip to Paradise is going to heaven before you die.” Wildflowers in every shade sway in the breeze, filling meadow upon meadow with brilliant colors. A network of sixteen trails skirt around these meadows. A great choice is the paved Skyline Trail, departing from the visitor center, providing fabulous flower views and it’s suitable for the whole family. Other area hikes with fantastic flower displays are Spray Park, Van Trump Park, and Indian Henrys.
Sunrise: On the other side of the mountain, visitors to Sunrise will witness a true alpine ecosystem. Sitting at 1,000 feet higher than Paradise, this ecosystem is especially fragile. In summer, mountain meadows abound with wildflowers; the Sourdough Ridge Trail is a popular, easy 2 ½ mile hike. At their height in summer, visitors can see acre upon acre of vivid wildflowers, with swaths of lupine, paintbrush, and red mountain heather.
Chinook Pass/Tipsoo Lake: Many photographers say that the wildflowers at Tipsoo Lake rival anything found at Paradise. Located at the summit of Chinook Pass, this subalpine lake, and surrounding area is simply a wildflower seeker’s dream. Stroll through fields of vibrant color – the yellows, oranges, pinks, and purples of lupine, Indian paintbrush, partridge foot and many others set a dramatic scene. Easy area nature trails meander near the lake offering dazzling views of these world-class wildflower meadows. For a longer day hike, take the Naches Peak trail.
Crystal Mountain Resort: Crystal Mountain is not part of Mount Rainier National Park, but it is part of a national forest and right now they have wildflowers. Visitors can see the wildflowers by a scenic gondola ride, hike, or guided trail ride. Plus the trails and the gondola are dog-friendly in the summer! Dogs are not allowed on the trails in Mount Rainier National Park but they are allowed on the trails at Crystal Mountain Resort.
