Spring in the gorgeous Pacific Northwest is not complete without a visit to the iconic Mount Rainier National Park and the wonderful attractions which surround it. Go Wild at Northwest Trek and experience breathtaking waterfalls, hike or snowshoe through groves of old-growth forests and see the world’s most unique iron sculpture park. All within just a few short hours drive of Seattle and Tacoma, Washington. What are you waiting for? Let’s go!
Mount Rainier – Spring Weekend Self-Drive Tour
DAY – 1
Dedicated to education and conservation, through native Northwest wildlife, Northwest Trek offers guided Wild Drives (self-drive tours) through a free-roaming area.
Have lunch at the quaint Cottage Bakery, noted for amazing sandwiches and baked goods, bring your appetite for a down-home lunch guaranteed to fill you up before your next adventure.
This is where your journey to Little Mashel Falls begins. Three waterfalls, multiple viewing points, and well-marked trails are easy to follow and well worth the time to get there by foot. The highest waterfall is approximately 90 feet!
Rainier Tip: Chop Stix and the Cruiser Café have much smaller seating capacity and can fill up quickly, but are definitely worth the wait. If in a hurry or just super hungry, you’ll have better luck being seated quickly at either Puerto Vallarta or Bruno’s as they have larger dining rooms.
DAY – 2
This is a great place to rent snowshoes or cross-country skis for the morning. Ask a park ranger to recommend a trail based on current conditions and your physical abilities.
Christine Falls drops a total of 69 feet and the lower portion is lovely to photograph that is spanned by the Christine Falls Bridge. Rainier Tip: Parking is extremely limited here, use caution when exiting the small lot.
Suggested Time at Christine Falls: 30 minutes
Suggested Time at Christine Falls: 30 minutes
This location is the starting point for a fantastic 4–hour loop trail to Reflection Lakes. This trail is well-defined and usually damp, so dress appropriately for a longer excursion into the park. Rainier Tip: Bring water, snacks, and warm clothing to be out in the unpredictable mountain weather.
As you return to Longmire, have a scrumptious take-out lunch at the National Park Inn. Just across the street is the Trail of the Shadows, a flat 3/4-mile loop that highlights marshes, forests, a historic masonry wall with bubbling mineral springs, and the Longmire Cabin, the oldest standing structure in the park. Typically snow-free mid-March through October, it’s a lovely way to envision what life might have been like in another time.
A true treasure in Ashford, founding artist Dan Klennert’s creations come to life here. The new resident artist, Jay Bechtold has been hard at work and has completed several pieces now on display.
No doubt you’ve worked up an appetite today and are ready for a delicious dinner. This location started as a roadside gas station and café...
