Mount Rainier National Park with Kids

Mount Rainier National Park with Kids

Mount Rainier National Park with Kids

Visit Mount Rainier National Park with kids for an awe-inspiring trip your family will always remember. Mount Rainier stands as a majestic icon in the State of Washington that can be seen from many miles away. This unique National Park allows visitors to get up close to an active volcano and glaciers, as well as breathtaking hikes that include beautiful wildlife, waterfalls and wildflowers all around. 

KID RATINGS

Fun: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
Difficulty: Very Easy    Easy    Moderate    Hard    Very Hard
(Activities range from very easy to hard depending on what you are doing)

KEY FEATURES

Terrain: Dirt trails, paved trails, rocks, bridges, glaciers, waterfalls, mountains, volcano
Time Needed: A few hours to a few days
When to Go: Spring, Summer, Fall

Hiking Distance: Varies depending on trail

Elevation Gain: Varies depending on trail. Some trails are steep and some are flat. 

COST

  • $30 entrance fee per vehicle (valid for seven days)

  • Free if you have a 4th grader with you through the Every Kid Outdoors program.

  • Additional fee for camping

AMENITIES

  • Lodging: Camping or Lodges

  • General store

  • Snack bars

  • Two restaurants

  • Water and bathrooms at visitor’s centers and campgrounds

THINGS TO BRING

  • Camping supplies if camping

  • Food/Snacks

  • Good hiking shoes

  • Hiking backpack

  • Water for hiking

  • Sunscreen

DETAILS

Exploring Mount Rainier National Park with kids is a must for families looking for a mountain adventure near Seattle, Washington. 

Mount Rainier National Park was our last stop on our two week road trip through Oregon and Washington. We spent just under 2 days in the park with a 10, 9, 6 and 2 year old. It was definitely not enough time to see it in entirety, but we did get a good taste. My 4th grader had one goal at this park — to touch a glacier — which we did.

Mount Rainier hasn’t erupted since the 1800s, but it is still considered an active volcano. We enjoyed learning more about volcanos in the parks visitor’s centers and googling info on our drive. The views of Mount Rainier are stunning as you drive through the park. 

Mount Rainier

THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS 

Hiking

There are over 260 miles of maintained trails within the park. Most trails can be shortened if desired.

Family Friendly Hikes in Mount Rainier National Park

(Hiking information found on the National Park Service website and All Trails)

Longmire Area

Trail of Shadows: (0.7 miles, 40 ft elevation gain) Hike through the forest and meadow to a spring and cabin replica.

Twin Firs Loop Trail: (0.4 miles, 100 ft elevation gain) Hike through the Evergreens of Mount Rainier

Ohanapecosh Area

Hot Springs Nature Trail: (0.5 miles, 50 ft elevation gain) Walk along a meadow and board wat to the Ohanapecosh Hot Springs. You can’t go in the hot springs. 

Grove of the Patriarchs Trail: (1.2 miles, 45 ft elevation gain) Hike amongst some of the oldest trees in the park and walk across a suspension bridge over the Ohanapecosh River on this lush green hike.

Box Canyon Loop Trail: (0.3 miles, 20 ft elevation gain) Walk on a bridge to see a narrow slot canyon below.

 Sunrise Area

Shadow Lakes Trail: (3 miles, 300 ft elevation gain) Views of Mount Rainier and White River Valley

Carbon River and Mowich Area

Carbon River Rainforest Nature Trail: (0.3 miles, 60 ft elevation gain) Explore the only inland rainforest in Washington.

Old Mine Trail: (3 miles, 300 ft elevation gain) Hike through a lush forest to the entrance of an old mine.

Paradise Area

Nisqually Vista Trail: (1.2 miles, 180 ft elevation gain) View Nisqually Glacier as you walk through the stunning meadows of Mount Rainier. This is a paved trail so bring a stroller if you need to. 

Bench and Snow Lakes Trail: (2.2 miles, 450 ft elevation gain) Hike through meadows and forest paths to explore two stunning lakes. 

Skyline Trail to Myrtle Falls:  (1 mile, 160 ft elevation gain) Walk to Myrtle Falls along a paved path.

There are several trail options ranging from short to long from the Paradise area. The shorter hikes are paved and are great for strollers. There is also a short easy 1 mile round trip hike to the Myrtle Falls that the Skyline trail hooks into.

Myrtle Falls
Myrtle Falls View from Above

Skyline Trail

The skyline trail is a steep 6 mile loop trail that takes you to the base of Mount Rainier’s Glacier’s. It provides gorgeous views of the volcano, surrounding cascade mountains, glaciers, waterfalls, streams and meadows filled with wildflowers. This is one of the most scenic hikes I have been on. The pictures just don’t do it justice.

Mount Rainier

This is a hard hike for kids, but I was so proud of my little hikers for sticking it through. They were super motivated to be able to see a volcano up close and to touch a glacier.

Bridge over Sulphur Creek at Capitol Reef National Park

Camping

There are three main campgrounds in Mount Rainier National Park: Cougar (SW area of park), Ohanapecosh (SE area of park) and White River (NE section of park). Cougar and Ohanapecosh can be reserved six months in advance and White River is first come first served. Get more information on the campgrounds here.  

We stayed two nights at Cougar Rock Campground and enjoyed the Junior Ranger park programs at the amphitheater nearby. We had plenty of space on out site and enjoyed being surrounded by tall pines.  I booked our site about 3 months ahead of time. There were still several sites available at that point. For most national parks I recommend booking campsites 6 months in advance, especially post covid. 

Cougar Rock Campground

Scenic Drive

There are many scenic viewpoints along the drive through the park. We entered the southwest entrance and exited on the southeast side. You could honestly spend a day just driving the park and stopping at different viewpoints.

scenic drive mount rainier national park

Visitor’s Centers

There are four visitors centers in Mount Rainier National Park: Longmire, Ohanapecosh, Paradise and Sunrise. We were able to visit Ohanapecosh and Paradise. The Ohanapecosh Visitor Center is small and quant. Whereas, the Paradise Visitor Center is large with many interactive displays. We enjoyed learning all about how volcanos are formed.

Junior Ranger Program at Bryce Canyon National Park

Junior Ranger Program

Mount Rainier National Park with kids isn’t complete without getting your junior ranger badge! Grab a Junior Ranger Book at a visitor center at the beginning of your visit and let your kids work on them throughout your trip. Before you leave Mount Rainier turn in your finished Junior Ranger book for a Junior Ranger Badge. The Junior Ranger program keeps the kids busy while we drive and helps them learn about each park and how to preserve it.

becoming junior rangers

Kid Activities Outside the Park

Northwest Trek Wildlife Park:  View native northwest animals on nature trails or in your own car. Let your kids play on the imagination kindling playgrounds and go on the zipline/ropes course. 

Rusty Plow: Pick fresh blueberries with your kids on a 3 acre blueberry farm. This is a little bit of a drive from Mount Rainier, 1 to 2 hours depending on which area of the park you are coming from. 

Mount Rainier Gondola: Ride the Gondola up more than 2000 ft to the summit of Crystal Mountain. 

PROS & CONS

PROS

    • Beautiful scenery

    • Diverse hiking opportunities: short, long, flat, steep.

    • Glaciers

    • Volcano

    • Opportunities for learning at Junior Ranger programs

CONS

    • Longer, harder hikes to get up close to the glaciers.

DIRECTIONS

Mount Rainier National Park is located among the Cascade Mountain Range and is two hours south and slightly east of Seattle. It is two and a half hours northeast of Portland. Below is a map to the Visitor Center in the Paradise area of Mount Rainier National Park. 

MAPS

 

MORE INFO

Mount Rainier National Park official site.

 

OTHER NEARBY ADVENTURES

Northwest Trek Wildlife Park (1 hour)

Mount Rainier Gondola

Seattle (2 hours)

Mount St. Helens (2 hours)

Portland (2.5 hours)

Olympic National Park (3 hours)

ABOUT

Hi, I’m Corrine! I’m an outdoor enthusiast and mother of four.

My goal is to inspire you to get outside and create your own amazing memories as a family. Life is precious and there are too many adventures to be had to spend life on the couch or in front of a screen.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

 

Grand Teton National Park with Kids

Grand Teton National Park with Kids

Create memories that will last a lifetime in Grand Teton National Park with kids. This incredible national park in Wyoming features majestic views, hiking for all ages and abilities, wildlife viewing and water...

Mount Rainier National Park with Kids

Mount Rainier National Park with Kids

Visit Mount Rainier National Park with kids for an awe-inspiring trip your family will always remember. Mount Rainier stands as a majestic icon in the State of Washington that can be seen from many miles away. This...

Olympic National Park with Kids

Olympic National Park with Kids

Discover tranquil beaches, sea-life, majestic rain forests, lakes, serene waterfalls and hot springs at Olympic National Park with kids. Olympic National Park is a gorgeous and diverse area, covering the majority of...

Bryce Canyon National Park with Kids

Bryce Canyon National Park with Kids

Adventure to Bryce Canyon National Park with kids! This awe inspiring park with its red and white hoodoos and green pines will create memories that last a lifetime. From hiking to exploring the western themed shops...

Willis Creek Slot Canyon with Kids

Willis Creek Slot Canyon with Kids

Willis Creek Slot Canyon in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument is a family-friendly hike for any skill level. With a meandering stream and towering walls, your family will be enthralled by this unique Utah...

Olympic National Park with Kids

Olympic National Park with Kids

Olympic National Park with Kids

Discover tranquil beaches, sea-life, majestic rain forests, lakes, serene waterfalls and hot springs at Olympic National Park with kids. Olympic National Park is a gorgeous and diverse area, covering the majority of Washington State’s peninsula with a variety of fantastic outdoor adventures. 

KID RATINGS

Fun: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
Difficulty: Very Easy    Easy    Moderate    Hard    Very Hard
(Activities range from very easy to hard depending on what you are doing)

KEY FEATURES

Terrain: Beaches, ocean, mountains, bridges, lakes, rivers waterfalls, trails, temperate rain forest
Time Needed: 1 day to several days, I recommend several
When to Go: Anytime of year, but summer/early fall is best

Hiking Distance: short to long depending on what you are doing

COST

  • $30 entrance fee to some areas of the park (valid for seven days)

  • Free if you have a 4th grader with Every Kid Outdoors program

  • Beaches are all free

  • Sol Duc Hot Springs is an added cost. Cost depends on age and time of day visiting.

  • Fees for camping

AMENITIES

  • Camping  (book 6 months in advance)

  • Lodges and Cabins  (book 6 months in advance)

  • Hotels in gateway cities such as Aberdeen and Port Angeles
  • Bathrooms available at visitors centers and some trailheads

  • Hot Springs

  • Water available at campsites, resorts, visitor’s centers and some trailheads

Where to Stay at Olympic National Park

It takes over three hours to drive the coastal perimeter of Olympic national park without stopping. I recommend staying in the park to minimize drive time. Book your stay six months in advance if you would like to stay within Olympic National Park either at a campground, cabin or lodge. See below for additional information on campgrounds within Olympic National Park.

There are no hotels located within Olympic National Park. Check out hotels in the surrounding cities of Port Angeles to the North and  Pacific Beach, Ocean City and Aberdeen to the south.

THINGS TO BRING

  • Camping gear if camping

  • Good hiking shoes

  • Food/Snacks

  • Good rain jacket

  • Water

DETAILS

Olympic National Park is one of the most diverse national parks we have visited. It has ocean beaches, mountains, hiking, camping, lakes and hot springs. Our family loves the mountains and the beach so it was the best of both worlds for us. We spent hours on the beaches exploring, discovering tide-pools and playing on drift wood and hiked through the lush temperature rain forests to waterfalls.

We spent about 5 days in the park and we didn’t even get to explore everything the park has to offer. Olympic National Park is nearly one million acres and contains 70 miles of coastline. It is no wonder we couldn’t fit everything in. 

Olympic National Park with your kids will be an adventure your family always remembers. We visited with our 2, 6, 9, and 10 year old and had an absolute blast.   

Sulphur Creek Second Waterfall

THINGS TO DO AT OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK WITH KIDS

Explore Beaches and Tide Pooling

Olympic National Park includes miles of serene beaches where no two beaches are exactly alike. From sand to rocks to drift wood to tide pools, each beach has its own characteristics.

The water is cold, definitely different than the beaches we were use when we lived in Florida. However, the beauty of these beaches is almost unreal and we especially enjoyed finding the diverse sea-life. 

Tide pooling was our favorite part of Olympic National Park with kids.  We spent hours exploring the tide-pools filled with ocean life. Make sure to visit the beaches at low-tide for optimal tide-pool viewing. Check out the NOAA tide predictions before going.

 

Tide pool at Olympic National Park

First Beach

Quileute Oceanside Resort sites right on First Beach. We camped here and loved having such quick access to this beach. There are firerings to enjoy a sunset fire and smores. My kids loved playing on the driftwood on the beach here. Walk about a half mile to the North on this beach for sea-life viewing along the side of the causeway.

First Beach, Olympic National Park
First Beach

Second Beach

This is a secluded beach with majestic sea stacks and many tide pools to explore at low tide. My kids actually swam in the water at this beach, I preferred to just wade. Remember you are in Washington not Florida…The water is cold. It is about a mile walk to get to second beach, but it is well worth it. This makes it more secluded with less people.

Second Beach at Olympic National Park

Second Beach

Rialto Beach

Rialto beach is just north of the La Push, Washington and is 3 miles from the Mora Campground. It has many tide pools at low-tide. 1.5 miles from the beach entrance is the hole in the rock structure.

Rialto Beach
Rialto Beach

Kalaloch Campground Beach

This isn’t an official beach name because this beach doesn’t have one. This is the beach just off of the Kalaloch Campground. We walked along this beautiful misty beach for about a mile north.

If you walk just south of the Kalaloch Lodge you can find the “Tree of Life”. This large tree is right next to the beach and most of its root system is hanging in air without any soil to feed it. 

Kalaloch Campground Beach

Kalaloch Beach 4

This was our favorite beach because of the many star fish we found on the rock structures just north of the beach entrance. We also saw sea-lions swimming nearby. There were also tons of smooth beautiful rocks. We love collecting rocks so this was super fun for us. It is north of the Kalaloch Campground but south of Ruby Beach.

Starfish at Kalaloch Beach 4

Ruby Beach

Possibly the most known beach along Washington’s coast with its famous Abbey Island. Great place for a beach stroll and tide pool exploring.

Ruby Beach

Hiking

There are countless hikes within Olympic National Park ranging from very easy to very hard. Here are the hikes we did on our trip. Full reviews on each hike to come.

Sol-Duc Falls: a 1.6 mile easy and flat hike to a beautiful waterfall.

Sol-Duc Falls

Hoh River Trail: This trail follows the Hoh River through the beautiful rainforest. You can make this is along or short as you want. We hiked a total of 5.5 miles to the Mineral Creek Falls.

Old Bryce Town

Second Beach: an out-and-back 2 mile trail round trip that walks you through Oregon’s beautiful coastal lush forest to a secluded beach. It is downhill on the way to the beach, uphill on the way back.

Second Beach at Sunset

Rialto Beach/Hole in the Wall: A 3 mile flat beautiful beach walk with views of sea-life in tide pools to a rock formation with a large hole. Make sure to do this hike at low tide so you can walk out to the Hole in the Wall.

Hole in the Wall at Rialto Beach

Hot Springs

The Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort has one fresh-water pool and 3 mineral pools that vary in temperature from 99 degrees to 104 degrees. We spent an afternoon here and had a lot of fun. It was nice to relax and do something a little different for a day. My kids love swimming no matter where we are at and will usually choose swimming over any other activity. There are cabins located right next to the resort.

Camping

Each major area of the park has camping opportunities near it. All campgrounds fill quickly and open for reservations on a 6 month rolling basis. I recommend reserving a site at the 6 month mark before traveling if you want a site in the summer months. The campgrounds that can be reserved in Olympic National Park are Kalaloch, Hoh Rainforest Campground, Mora and Sol Duc Hot Springs. You can reserve here

We really enjoyed the campgrounds we stayed at. Here is a little information on each. 

Kalaloch Campground is between the main highway and the ocean. If available, pick a site closer to the ocean than the highway. The beach is a short walk and was easy to access. You can also stay at the Kalaloch Lodge if you are not camping. It is the only place to stay that is non-camping within about 1 hour in each direction.

Sol Duc Campground is nestled in the beautiful Washington rain forest near the north end of Olympic National Park. It is near the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort and the Sol Duc Waterfall hike. It is also closer to crescent lake if you are exploring that area.

Sol Duc Campground

Quileute Oceanside Resort is privately owned and not operated by Olympic National Park, however it is surrounded by the park and is close to the beautiful First, Second and Third Beaches. The camping here was more KOA style and there are only a few sites. I loved falling asleep to the sound of the ocean. There are several cabins available right along the ocean-side that looked really nice. This resort books on a 1 year rolling basis and books quickly.

First Beach, Olympic National Park

Explore the Lakes

Crescent Lake is nestled among Washington coastal mountains and is absolutely beautiful. I wish we had more time to explore this area. There is hiking, camping and a lodge nearby. Marymere Falls is a popular hike in the area. Kayak and canoeing rentals are available.

Crescent Lake

Crescent Lake: Photo Credit Michelle Mower Mulholland

Lake Quinault: This area is surrounded by the temperate rain forest and offers boating, hiking, camping, fishing, food and lodging. It is the gateway to the southwest base of the park.

Lake Quinault

Quinault Lake: Photo Credit Michelle Mulholland

Scenic Drive on Hurricane Ridge

This is a 17-mile road takes you through the majestic snow-capped Olympic Mountains. There are several hiking options off this road. It is a curvy road and a couple of my kids started to feel a bit car sick. Just be prepared.

Hurricane Ridge

Hurricane Ridge: Photo Credit Michelle Mower Mulholland

JUNIOR RANGER PROGRAM

We love getting Junior Ranger books from National Park visitor centers. The Junior Ranger program keeps the kids busy while we drive and helps them learn about each park and how to preserve it. 

PROS & CONS

PROS

    • Unique and beautiful scenery

    • Diverse outdoor adventures

    • Stunning scenery

    • Not crowded, park is big and people are spread out

    • Sea-life viewing

    • Mountain-life viewing

    • Gorgeous beaches

    • Waterfalls

CONS

    • Can rain a lot

    • Requires a bit of driving to get from one location of the park to another

DIRECTIONS

Olympic National Park is located on the north west portion of Washington State. If you put in Olympic National Park into your GPS device or phone you will be led to the middle of the mountain range of the park. Make sure to put the specific location within the park that you want to visit.

MAPS

 

Map to southwest corner of park

Map to northeast corner of park 

MORE INFO

Olympic National Park official site

Olympic National Park NOAA tide chart

 

OTHER NEARBY ADVENTURES

Forks (20 minutes from Second Beach)

Seattle (3 hours from the park’s northeast entrance)

Portland (3 hours from park’s southwest entrance)

Oregon’s Coast (3 hours to beaches such as Seaside and Cannon beach from park’s south west entrance)

Mount Rainier National Park (3 hours)

ABOUT

Hi, I’m Corrine! I’m an outdoor enthusiast and mother of four.

My goal is to inspire you to get outside and create your own amazing memories as a family. Life is precious and there are too many adventures to be had to spend life on the couch or in front of a screen.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

 

Mount Rainier National Park with Kids

Mount Rainier National Park with Kids

Visit Mount Rainier National Park with kids for an awe-inspiring trip your family will always remember. Mount Rainier stands as a majestic icon in the State of Washington that can be seen from many miles away. This...

Olympic National Park with Kids

Olympic National Park with Kids

Discover tranquil beaches, sea-life, majestic rain forests, lakes, serene waterfalls and hot springs at Olympic National Park with kids. Olympic National Park is a gorgeous and diverse area, covering the majority of...

Multnomah Falls with Kids

Multnomah Falls with Kids

Visit the majestic 620 ft. Multnomah Falls with kids in the Columbia River Gorge! It is a must see when visiting Portland, Oregon and attracts millions of visitors each year. Grand views of the waterfall can be seen...