Soaring over 3 miles above sea level, Mount Rainier is one of the most iconic landmarks in Washington State. It has 25 major glaciers that cover around 35 square miles on what is still an active volcano (though it hasn’t erupted since 1894). The mountain sits right in the centre of the National Park and is a must-see if you find yourself in the Pacific Northwest.

Within the 369 square miles of the Park, there are 260 miles of maintained trails. From short day hikes to things like The Wonderland Trail, which encircles Mount Rainier for 93 miles, there is something for everyone. During spring, wildflowers cover the meadows and everywhere in between, large waterfalls roar during the summer months, and visitors continue to flock in during winter for skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing.

We arrived shortly after the summer season had ended and though this meant missing some of the highlights from spring and summer, we found there to be a lot more peace and solitude at what are usually crowded spots. Also, the temperature hadn’t dropped low enough for the lakes to freeze over, so we spent 3 days watching stunning reflections from sunrise to sunset.

Here are two of the best reflection locations that we found during our short three days of exploring:

TIPSOO LAKE

Be sure to arrive early and scout for your favourite view. Closer to the lake will give you a bigger reflection of Mount Rainier, while heading up to a higher vantage point, like the Tipsoo Lake overlook, will give you better views of the mountain, without the tree line getting in your way. There are so many beautiful angles and compositions that you can discover just by looking around for a few minutes.

We visited just in time for sunset, staying out until dusk for what turned out to be a beautiful light show. The sun goes down behind the mountain, which creates some amazing colours behind the peak when the conditions are right.

However, the mountain will, of course, be backlit and in shadow, meaning you’ll need to come back for sunrise if you’re hoping for some of those colours on the mountain itself.

That’s exactly what we did! We arrived early the next morning and caught the first light creeping down the mountain, making it glow among the dark trees. Looking back, it’s difficult to say which time was my favourite. Which photo do you like the most?

REFLECTION LAKES

This is possibly the most photographed place in the Park and rightly so. From sunrise to sunset and in every season, this is an amazing place to view Mount Rainier in all it’s glory, as well as capturing some stunning reflections when the waters are still.

We arrived late in the evening when the full moon was acting like a spotlight on the mountain. The brightest stars still managed to twinkle above the peak but the camera almost thought it was still daytime! There was an amazing glow as the bright white snow glistened in the moonlight.

As the moon disappeared below the horizon a few hours later, it revealed a sky full of stars. There was also just enough light left to expose for the details of the mountain. It made for a totally different photo, even though taken in the same place, on the same night!

We headed back out early the next morning to catch another sunrise. The wind had picked up a little, rippling the surface in the middle of the lake, but it was still low enough to leave most of the reflection.

Throughout the night and during the sunrise I had the whole place to myself. It was totally quiet. The reflection appeared and disappeared as the wind came and went and though it was bitterly cold, with everything around the waters edge frozen, it was a beautiful way to end and start the day!

P.S. When you arrive at the Reflection Lakes, drive a little further down the road to the last carpark, which seems to stay empty for the early hours (most stop at the first two carparks).

THANK YOU FOR READING!

I hope this helps you plan your trip to Mount Rainier! Follow us to see the rest of our journey as we spend 3 months exploring America’s most beautiful National Parks.

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