Most people picture Washington's Mount Rainier as a photo op from a Seattle overlook. But the volcano only 60 miles from the city is the tallest peak in the Cascade Range at 14,410 feet, wrapped in 28 glaciers and some of the most rewarding trail networks in the US national park system.

The numbers explain the appeal. The park covers 228,400 acres, with 97% of it designated wilderness, stitched together by more than 275 miles of maintained trails. Around 1.5 million people visit each year, and a determined few thousands try the summit — only about half make it. The good news for everyone else: you don't need mountaineering ambitions to have a memorable trip.

For hikers with a few days to spare, combining the Carbon Glacier and Moraine Park Trails makes a 21-mile out-and-back that gets you close to the lowest-elevation glacier in the lower 48 states. If you can commit three or four days, the 40-mile Northern Loop Trail climbs 8,500 feet past rivers, alpine meadows, lakes and glaciers. Either way, stop at a ranger station first — you'll need a backcountry permit, and rangers can flag current conditions and help with logistics.

Shorter options abound. The 4.5-mile Rampart Ridge Trail winds through old-growth forest to a ridge with multiple viewpoints, while the 3.5-mile Naches Peak Loop crosses sub-alpine meadows with Rainier looming overhead.

Timing matters. Summer draws crowds, so aim for shoulder seasons or midweek visits if solitude is the goal. Winter is a different kind of draw: the park averages more than 600 inches of snow a year, making it one of the snowiest places in the country. Skiers and snowshoers get a proper winter wonderland, and thanks to those glaciers, you can even stand on snow in summer.

On lodging: the National Park Inn and Paradise Inn sit inside park boundaries, alongside three car-camping campgrounds (note that Ohanapecosh Campground will be closed for 2026). Gateway towns cover the rest. Ashford sits minutes from the Nisqually Entrance for the popular Paradise area, Crystal Mountain — a ski area in its own right — is the launch point for the Sunrise section, and Packwood is about an hour from both, with a brewery for the post-hike wind-down.

This one's for adventurers, snow-lovers, and anyone whose idea of a good holiday doesn't include a queue. With wilderness this vast and trails this varied, the crowds are easy to leave behind.