This National Park Has the Tallest Mountain in the Pacific Northwest-Plus, Glaciers, Wildflowers, and Hidden Waterfalls

"There's a common saying in western Washington: "The mountain is out." The mountain in question is Mount Rainier. Also known as Mount Tacoma, this hulking stratovolcano-the tallest mountain in the state-is such a beloved fixture of the Seattle-Tacoma skyline that whenever it makes an appearance on the far horizon, everybody notices. Even from 70-odd miles away, it's still a wonder to behold. But then, you see it up close."

"Looming over 14,400 feet high, the mountain's great, mounded dome boggles the mind with its reams of rock and rivers of ice-with 28 major glaciers, it's the most glaciated peak in the contiguous United States. But what lies around the mountain is just as splendid: sunny subalpine meadows, murmuring waterfalls, and old-growth forests. All this Cascadian grandeur is Mount Rainier National Park-voted by Travel + Leisure readers as one of the best national parks in the U.S. in the 2025 World's Best Awards."

Mount Rainier rises over 14,400 feet with a mounded dome, 28 major glaciers, and is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous United States. Surrounding landscapes include sunny subalpine meadows, waterfalls, and old-growth forests across more than 236,000 acres. The park is renowned for epic scenery, hiking, and mountain climbing and ranks among top national parks in Travel + Leisure's 2025 World's Best Awards. As the fifth-oldest national park, the area preserves early national park-era architecture and offers opportunities to explore historic "Parkitecture" and the cultural relationship between local residents and the mountain.

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