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

Winter Camping - Field Trip - Paradise Area (winter)

Snowshoeing Field trip: Winter Camping
An overnight field trip to learn and practice the new skills of winter camping
Difficulty: Easy, Easy/Moderate
Sat, Mar 23, 2024 - Sun, Mar 24, 2024
No Prerequisites
10 participants 2 instructors
Canceled
Tacoma Branch
Danny Casady

Winter Camping - Field Trip (Late Season) - Paradise Area

Snowshoeing Field trip: Winter Camping
An overnight field trip to learn and practice the new skills of winter camping
Difficulty: Easy, Easy/Moderate
Sat, Mar 23, 2024 - Sun, Mar 24, 2024
No Prerequisites
9 participants 0 instructors
Registration closed Jan 30
Tacoma Branch
Danny Casady

Tacoma Basic FT 6 - Glacier IV (Winter Overnight) - Paradise

Climbing Field trip: Basic Climbing Course
Winter Camping, Glacier Team Travel, Crampon Technique
Difficulty: Easy, Easy/Moderate
Sat, Mar 30, 2024 - Sun, Mar 31, 2024
Prerequisites, Leader's Permission Required
0 participants 4 instructors
Registration closes Mar 28
Tacoma Branch
Scott Schissel
Qualified Youth Leader

BC Field Trip #4: Snow Weekend - Dead Horse Creek

Climbing Field trip: Basic Alpine Climbing Course
Olympia Basic Climbing Course - Snow Weekend
Difficulty: Easy, Easy/Moderate
Sat, Apr 6, 2024 - Sun, Apr 7, 2024
No Prerequisites
2 participants 0 instructors
Registration closes Apr 4
Olympia Branch
Kerri Wheeler

BC Field Trip #4: Snow Weekend - Dead Horse Creek

Climbing Field trip: Basic Alpine Climbing Course
Olympia Basic Climbing Course - Snow Weekend alternate
Difficulty: Easy, Easy/Moderate
Sat, Apr 13, 2024 - Sun, Apr 14, 2024
No Prerequisites
2 participants 1 instructor
Registration closes Apr 11
Olympia Branch
Kerri Wheeler

Snow I Field Trip - Paradise

Scrambling Field trip: Alpine Scrambling Course
This Field Trip to cover basic Snow Travel Techniques, Ice ax arrests, and glissade techniques,
Difficulty: Easy, Easy/Moderate
Sat, Apr 20, 2024
No Prerequisites
12 participants 2 instructors
Registration closes Apr 18
Olympia Branch
Todd Mooney

Seattle Basic Alpine SIG Field Trip - Overnight Snow Scrambling - Paradise

Climbing Field trip: Basic Alpine Climbing Course
MC SIG Snow Field Trip - Overnight Snow (Snow Anchors & Belays, Crevasse Rescue, Snow
Difficulty: Easy, Easy/Moderate
Sat, Apr 20, 2024 - Sun, Apr 21, 2024
No Prerequisites, Leader's Permission Required
2 participants 0 instructors
Registration closes Apr 18
Seattle Branch
Charlie Quinn

Tacoma Explorers Activity - Paradise

Youth Youth activity: Tacoma Explorers
Outdoor activity for Tacoma Explorers program
Difficulty: Easy, Easy/Moderate
Sat, Apr 27, 2024
No Prerequisites
9 participants
Registration closes Apr 25
Tacoma Branch
RyAnn Peverley

Seattle MAC - Snow 1 Field Trip - Paradise

Youth Youth activity: Mountaineers Adventure Club
The first snow skills field trip for MAC. Covering glacier travel basics - ice-ax self
Difficulty: Easy, Easy/Moderate
Sat, Apr 27, 2024 - Sun, Apr 28, 2024
Prerequisites
1 participant on waitlist 1 instructor 2 chaperones
Registration closed Feb 29
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
Qualified Youth Leader

Snow II Field Trip - Paradise (Mount Rainier)

Scrambling Field trip: Alpine Scrambling Course
Second Snow Field Trip. Additional practice on ice axe arrest, plus snow travel. Our objective
Difficulty: Easy, Easy/Moderate
Sat, May 4, 2024
No Prerequisites
12 participants 3 instructors
Registration closes May 2
Olympia Branch
Todd Mooney

GTCR Field Trip - Mt. Rainier National Park - Paradise

Backcountry Skiing Field trip: Glacier Skiing/Snowboarding and Crevasse Rescue
Mt. Rainier National Park, Paradise Ranger Station
Sat, May 11, 2024 - Sun, May 12, 2024
No Prerequisites
16 participants
Registration closes May 9
Foothills Branch
Kit Eiber

WCR - Two-person Glacier Travel & Crevasse Rescue - Paradise

Climbing Field trip: Winter Mountaineering & Advanced Crevasse Rescue
These sessions are to develop the necessary skills to travel as a 2 person rope
Difficulty: Easy, Easy/Moderate
Sat, May 18, 2024 - Sun, May 19, 2024
No Prerequisites
1 participant 2 instructors
Registration closes May 16
Foothills Branch
Mark Hurst

Junior MAC Snow Activity - Paradise

Day Hiking Youth activity: Junior MAC - Olympia
Difficulty: Easy, Easy/Moderate
Mon, May 27, 2024
No Prerequisites
6 participants
Registration closes May 22
Olympia Branch
Claire Edwards
Qualified Youth Leader

BC Field Trip #7: Crevasse Rescue - Paradise (Mount Rainier)

Climbing Field trip: Basic Alpine Climbing Course
Olympia Basic Climbing Course - Crevasse Rescue
Difficulty: Easy, Easy/Moderate
Sat, Jun 1, 2024
No Prerequisites
2 participants 2 instructors on waitlist
Registration closes May 30
Olympia Branch
Julie Dasso
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