With so much to see and do, Mount Rainier National Park is the perfect family vacation spot! As you will see from the information below, there are a number of adventures just waiting to be explored. Horseback riding in Mount Rainier is a favorite pastime for this national park. The scenery is spectacular and the environment peaceful and serene. The meadows are filled with vibrantly colored wild flowers, crystal blue streams, wild berries, and an amazing fragrance of spruce, pine, and flowers.
The Cowboy Supper and Outlaw Overnight Trip are two favorites. For the supper ride, you actually ride back into the forest where you have a mouth-watering supper cooked in a Dutch oven. Since this ride is just three miles long, even the younger members of the family would love it. The overnight trip involves taking a late afternoon trip and staying in the park overnight. With this trip, you dine on food just like the old pioneers, consisting of beef stew and homemade rolls. Then, you spend the night under the stars in a bubble tent, waking to the clean, fresh air of the mountains and a hearty breakfast. For the overnight trip, riders must be a minimum of eight years old and each group must have at least four people.
As you can imagine, Mount Rainier is a magical wonderland during the winter months. You can enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and even sledding. With a number of un-groomed trails, this is the perfect place for winter sports. However, because you are in a place where avalanches are a risk, you always need to check current conditions before heading out. In addition, wear layered clothing and make sure you have chains for the car. What you will discover is an average of 15 to 20 feet of snow, perfect for play.
One note of caution, if you plan to sled or inner tube, only the runs at Paradise can be used. This area has been prepared so you can enjoy these activities without being serious injured. In addition, sleds with metal runners and wood toboggans are never allowed. In addition, for skiing, stay off plowed roads. First, this is extremely dangerous and for the park, illegal. In fact, the plowed roads are to be avoided whether skiing or walking.