Paradise

Explore Mount Rainier National Park's most popular area. In summer experience fantastic views of the mountain, brilliant wildflowers and the occasional marmot lounging on the rocks. In winter, this area is a backcountry skiing and snowshoer's paradise. Travel to Alta Vista, Glacier Vista, Mazama Ridge, and the variety of winter trails between the Paradise parking lot and Panorama Point. Learn lots about the park and Mount Rainier at the Jackson Visitor Center.

getting there

From SR-7 in Elbe, turn east onto SR-706, both known as the National Park Highway. Continue through the Nisqually Entrance of Mount Rainier National Park. Be prepared to pay the fee just after entering the park. Drive 19 miles to Paradise.

In winter, ALL drivers in the park are required to carry snow chains or equivalent traction devices—this includes those with a 4-wheel or  all-wheel drive vehicle. Those without a 4-wheel or all-wheel drive vehicle may be required to install them at Longmire or beyond.

hiking Trails to explore

  • Nisqually Vista Loop: 1.4 miles with 400 feet elevation gain
  • Alta Vista Loop: 1.5 miles with 540 feet elevation gain.
  • Golden Gate: 3.2 miles with 1000 feet of elevation gain
  • Mazama Ridge: 7 miles with 600 feet of elevation gain

SKIING routes

A variety of backcountry skiing terrain is available around Paradise allowing safe and enjoyable ski touring in most weather and snow conditions.

SNOWSHOEING routes

Lots of open terrain to make your own path. If you bear to the right (east) from the parking lot towards the moderate more tree-filled terrain you'll encounter fewer skiers and potentially a few small creek crossings filled with beautiful frozen water formations.

Information for LEADERS

Internal Climbing and Scrambling Lottery

  • In an effort to help manage our impact on this popular area, Paradise has been added to the list of routes/places that are part of our Internal Climbing and Scrambling Lottery.
  • The 2024 Mountaineers Internal Lottery results are now final. Please select the Paradise tab to view the results for this location. If you are scheduling a course trip here for 2024, please check this spreadsheet before listing your trip to be sure your course has priority for the field trip date(s) you are scheduling and that there is no other course that already has priority.
  • The 2023 Mountaineers Internal Lottery results are now final. Please select the Paradise tab to view the results for this location. If you are scheduling a course trip here for 2023, please check this spreadsheet before listing your trip to be sure your course has priority for the field trip date(s) you are scheduling and that there is no other course that already has priority.

permits & scheduling

  • Before scheduling your trip to Paradise, please review the facilitated access permitting guidelines outlined hereAll activities with a total group size of 25 or more people  must obtain a Special Use Permit (SUP) from Mt. Rainier National Park. Branch activity committees are responsible for obtaining these SUPs.
  • If you are scheduling this as a non-course related activity, please limit your group size to the default party size. The maximum party size is for use by course field trips only, and includes both students and instructors. Group size maximums do not reflect how course field trips are run (in smaller groups of students and instructors), but allow for course leaders to register the course in our system.
  • This route allows multiple bookings. Please check scheduled trips listed below in the "Activities" tab to see if there is another group already booked on the same day. If so, please coordinate with them to ensure you are carpooling and teaching at different areas.
  • In winter, this area is used by our branches to host snow field trips and is a generally popular winter exploration area. Please check other routes/places to ensure we don't have multiple Mountaineers groups going to the same area, and be sure to use one of these if that's your planned destination.
  • Difficulty: Easy, Easy/Moderate
  • Elevation Gain: 500 ft
  • 5,900 ft
  • Land Manager: Mount Rainier National Park
  • Parking Permit Required: National Park Entrance Fee
  • Recommended Party Size: 12
  • Maximum Party Size: 60
  • Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 60
Map
  • USGS Mt Rainier East
  • Green Trails Mt Rainier East No. 270
  • Green Trails Paradise No. 270S
  • Green Trails Mount Rainier Wonderland No. 269SX
Activities

Upcoming Activities

Basic Snowshoe - Paradise

Snowshoeing Trip
Get your snow legs on! First of the season trip to assure winter driving, gear
Difficulty: Moderate
Thu, Dec 7, 2023
Prerequisites, Leader's Permission Required
1 participant
Registration closed Dec 3
Foothills Branch

TAC PAT - Activity - Paradise

Youth Youth activity: Pathfinders
Monthly field trips that enable Pathfinders to practice newly learned skills.
Difficulty: Easy, Easy/Moderate
Sat, Dec 9, 2023
No Prerequisites
6 participants
Registration closes Dec 7
Tacoma Branch
RyAnn Peverley
Qualified Youth Leader

TAC MAC Snow Skills Trip - Paradise

Youth Field trip: Mountaineers Adventure Club - Tacoma
MAC will head to the mountains to practice snow skills
Sun, Dec 10, 2023
No Prerequisites
9 participants 2 instructors
Registration closes Dec 8
Tacoma Branch
Sarah Holt
Qualified Youth Leader

Beginner Snowshoe - Nisqually Vista Loop

Snowshoeing Trip
An easy/moderate snowshoe to get started on the season.
Difficulty: Easy, Easy/Moderate
Thu, Dec 14, 2023
No Prerequisites
4 participants 0 leaders
Registration closes Dec 12
Tacoma Branch
Frank McCracken
Qualified Youth Leader

Adventure Activity - Paradise Area (winter)

Youth Youth activity: Mini Mountaineers
Let's get adventurous! Mini Mountaineers will go play in the snow!
Difficulty: Easy
Sun, Dec 17, 2023
No Prerequisites
4 participants on waitlist
Registration closes Dec 15
Tacoma Branch
Megan Hartness
Qualified Youth Leader

Seattle Pathfinders & Nomads Snowshoe - Paradise

Youth Youth activity
Difficulty: Easy, Easy/Moderate
Sat, Jan 13, 2024
Prerequisites
19 participants
Registration closes Jan 11
Seattle Branch
Trenton Bick
Qualified Youth Leader

Basic Snowshoe Field Trip - Paradise

Snowshoeing Field trip: Basic Snowshoeing
Basic Snowshoe Field Trip
Difficulty: Easy, Easy/Moderate
Sat, Jan 13, 2024
No Prerequisites
0 participants 0 instructors
Registration closed Nov 12
Tacoma Branch
Megan Hartness
Qualified Youth Leader

Seattle Explorer & Jr. MAC Snowshoe - Paradise

Youth Youth activity
Difficulty: Easy, Easy/Moderate
Sat, Jan 20, 2024
Prerequisites
3 participants
Registration closes Jan 18
Seattle Branch
Trenton Bick
Qualified Youth Leader

James Sales snowshoe - Paradise

Snowshoeing Youth activity: Mountain Workshop - James Sales
Snowshoe activity for James Sales Adventure Club
Difficulty: Easy, Easy/Moderate
Sat, Jan 20, 2024
No Prerequisites
11 participants
Registration closes Jan 18
Tacoma Branch
RyAnn Peverley
Qualified Youth Leader

Franklin Pierce HS - Snowshoeing - Paradise

Youth Youth activity: Mountain Workshop - Franklin Pierce HS
Snowshoeing outing for Franklin Pierce HS students
Difficulty: Easy, Easy/Moderate
Sat, Feb 3, 2024
No Prerequisites
11 participants
Registration closes Feb 1
Tacoma Branch
RyAnn Peverley
Qualified Youth Leader

Basic Snowshoe Field Trip - Paradise

Snowshoeing Field trip: Basic Snowshoeing
Basic Snowshoe Field Trip
Difficulty: Easy, Easy/Moderate
Sat, Feb 3, 2024
No Prerequisites
1 participant 0 instructors
Registration closed Nov 12
Tacoma Branch
Megan Hartness
Qualified Youth Leader

Intermediate Snowshoe - Field Trip 2 (Snow Travel) - Paradise

Snowshoeing Field trip: Intermediate Snowshoeing
Intermediate Snowshoe Field Trip 2 (Snow Travel)
Difficulty: Easy, Easy/Moderate
Sat, Feb 10, 2024
Prerequisites
19 participants 1 instructor
Registration closed Dec 1
Tacoma Branch
Danny Casady

TAC PAT - Activity - Paradise

Youth Youth activity: Pathfinders
Monthly field trips that enable Pathfinders to practice newly learned skills.
Difficulty: Easy, Easy/Moderate
Sat, Feb 10, 2024
No Prerequisites
6 participants
Registration closes Feb 8
Tacoma Branch
RyAnn Peverley
Qualified Youth Leader

Seattle MAC - Backcountry Ski Trip - Paradise

Youth Youth activity: Mountaineers Adventure Club
Advanced backcountry skiing in the wilderness that involves using climbing skins to go uphill and
Difficulty: Moderate
Sat, Feb 24, 2024
Prerequisites
5 participants 0 instructors 0 chaperones
Registration closes Feb 22
Seattle Branch
Richard Lambe
Qualified Youth Leader

TAC MAC Snow Camp - Mazama Ridge

Youth Field trip: Mountaineers Adventure Club - Tacoma
A winter camping experience in the snow!
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Sat, Feb 24, 2024 - Sun, Feb 25, 2024
No Prerequisites
16 participants 2 instructors
Registration closes Jan 25
Tacoma Branch
Sarah Holt
Qualified Youth Leader

Winter Camping - Field Trip - Paradise

Snowshoeing Field trip: Winter Camping
An overnight field trip to learn and practice the new skills of winter camping
Difficulty: Easy, Easy/Moderate
Sat, Feb 24, 2024 - Sun, Feb 25, 2024
No Prerequisites
8 participants 3 instructors
Registration closed Nov 1
Tacoma Branch
Danny Casady

Tacoma Basic FT 4 - Glacier II: In the Field - Paradise

Climbing Field trip: Basic Climbing Course
Ice Axe Usage, Glacier Travel, Anchor Construction, Crevasse Rescue
Difficulty: Easy, Easy/Moderate
Sat, Feb 24, 2024
Prerequisites
20 participants 1 instructor on waitlist
Registration opens Dec 15; Instructor registration open now
Tacoma Branch
Kimber Cross

Tacoma Basic FT 4 - Glacier II: In the Field - Paradise

Climbing Field trip: Basic Climbing Course
Ice Axe Usage, Glacier Travel, Anchor Construction, Crevasse Rescue
Difficulty: Easy, Easy/Moderate
Sun, Feb 25, 2024
Prerequisites
20 participants 2 instructors
Registration opens Dec 15; Instructor registration open now
Tacoma Branch
Kimber Cross

Seattle MAC - Overnight Snow Camping Trip - Paradise

Youth Youth activity: Mountaineers Adventure Club
An overnight snow camp to practice our snow camping and winter layering skills!
Difficulty: Easy, Easy/Moderate
Sat, Mar 2, 2024 - Sun, Mar 3, 2024
Prerequisites
22 participants 2 instructors
Registration closes Feb 29
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
Qualified Youth Leader

Basic Snowshoe Field Trip - Paradise Area (winter)

Snowshoeing Field trip: Basic Snowshoeing
Basic Snowshoe Field Trip
Difficulty: Easy, Easy/Moderate
Sat, Mar 2, 2024
No Prerequisites
32 participants 8 instructors
Canceled
Tacoma Branch
Megan Hartness
Qualified Youth Leader
Trip Reports
Titles

This is a list of titles that represent the variations of trips you can take at this route/place. This includes side trips, extensions and peak combinations. Not seeing a title that fits your trip? Log in and send us updates, images, or resources.

  • Paradise (Mount Rainier)
  • Paradise Area
  • Paradise Area (winter)
  • Paradise Trails
  • Paradise Area Trails
  • Nisqually Vista Loop
  • Alta Vista Loop
  • Golden Gate
  • Mazama Ridge
  • Dead Horse Creek
  • Skyline Loop
  • Panorama Point to Skyline Trail