Easy hikes at Mount Rainier

Can a beginner hike at Mount Rainier?

Yes, on the short trails. Several walks at Longmire and Paradise are around a mile long with little climbing.

The easiest trails start close to parking lots and visitor centers. Even so, conditions are mountain conditions: snow can stay on trails at Paradise into July, and the weather changes quickly. Wear proper shoes, bring a layer and water, and stay on the trail.

What beginners cannot do is walk to the summit: that is glacier mountaineering. See can you hike Mount Rainier for the difference.

What is the easiest trail at Mount Rainier?

The Trail of the Shadows at Longmire: a 0.7-mile loop with about 20 ft of gain, listed by the NPS as a kid-friendly hike.

The trail starts across the road from the Longmire Museum and makes a short loop near Longmire. With about 20 ft of gain it is nearly flat, which makes it a good first walk, and Longmire is on the road to Paradise, open all year from the Nisqually Entrance except in extreme weather.

Which easy trails start at Paradise?

Myrtle Falls (1 mile, 100 ft of gain), Nisqually Vista (1.2 miles, 200 ft) and, a little steeper, Alta Vista (1.75 miles, 600 ft), all round trip per the NPS.

• Myrtle Falls: a paved section of the Skyline Trail from the stone steps by the Jackson Visitor Center to a 60 ft waterfall below the mountain.
• Nisqually Vista: from the northwest end of the lower parking lot to a viewpoint over the Nisqually Glacier.
• Alta Vista: a short but steady climb to a meadow viewpoint, from the lower lot entrance or the upper-lot trailhead.

For the bigger hike from the same trailhead, see the Skyline Trail guide.

How do the easy hikes at Mount Rainier compare?

The shortest are at Longmire and Paradise; Naches Peak Loop is the longest easy classic. Check the 2026 column before you plan.

Round-trip figures from the NPS, or from the Washington Trails Association where noted:

Is the Naches Peak Loop easy?

It is one of the easiest longer hikes: 3.2 miles with about 600 ft of gain and a high point of 5,850 ft, according to the Washington Trails Association.

The loop starts at Tipsoo Lake, 0.5 miles west of Chinook Pass on SR 410, and loops around Naches Peak. The Washington Trails Association calls late July to early August "wildflower heaven" here. The loop crosses both national forest and national park land, and dogs are not allowed on the park sections.

Chinook Pass is one of the park's seasonal entrances. The park's road status page listed SR 410 as open in late September 2026, but the northeast routes usually close in mid-October with the first heavy snow.

The light-walking day tour is built for beginners: a guided rainforest walk at Longmire, waterfall stops and 1.5 hours at Paradise.

Mount Rainier Small-Group Day Tour · 10 hours · Max 14

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Can you still hike to Silver Falls in 2026?

Yes, as an out-and-back: about 2 miles round trip with 300 ft of gain from the Grove of the Patriarchs parking lot. The loop is not possible in 2026.

Silver Falls is a 60 ft waterfall near the Stevens Canyon Entrance in the southeast of the park. In 2026 the trail connection to Ohanapecosh Campground is closed, and the campground and the Ohanapecosh Visitor Center are closed for construction.

The Grove of the Patriarchs itself is closed to all public entry. A 2021 flood damaged its suspension bridge, and construction of the replacement is not scheduled to begin until 2028. The parking lot, restrooms and the Silver Falls trail have normal seasonal access.

What about Sunrise and Tolmie Peak in 2026?

Sunrise Road is closed to private vehicles for the rest of the 2026 season after the Grand Park 2 fire, and Tolmie Peak cannot be reached by road since April 2025.

Sunrise normally has two easy walks: Silver Forest (1.6 miles, 150 ft of gain) and Sourdough Ridge to Frozen Lake (3 miles, 500 ft). In 2026 the road stays open to walkers and cyclists but not to cars, and nearby trails including Mount Fremont are closed after the fire. Check conditions before you plan them.

Tolmie Peak Lookout (7.5 miles, 1,100 ft of gain, WTA figures) starts at Mowich Lake, and there is no public access to Mowich Lake or Carbon River from SR 165 since the Fairfax Bridge closed permanently in April 2025.

Which tours suit beginners?

The light-walking day tour describes itself as sightseeing with light walking, not intensive hiking. On the guided park tour, the listing says guests can relax on the bus or walk trails at the stops.

The light-walking day tour lists a 45-minute stop at the Longmire Museum with a guided rainforest walk, Christine Falls and Narada Falls, and 1.5 hours at Paradise for lunch or a short walk. On the guided park tour, the listing says you can stay on the bus or hike trails at stops, with park entry included. The customized tour lists two hours of free time at Paradise, enough for Myrtle Falls.

Check each listing's suitability notes: the light-walking day tour and the guided park tour list themselves as not suitable for travelers with mobility impairments. Pets are not allowed on park trails.

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