Mount Rainier
Listed under Volcanoes in Seattle, United States.
Move over San Francisco the danger city, Mount Rainier is only 54 miles out of Seattle proper – and it's a big volcano! Considered one of the world's most deadly because it's covered in glaciers, with 26 glaciers worth of glacial ice - so if it went it wouldn't just be the lava, flying molten rocks and killer smoke everyone would have to worry about, it would also be the mud flows that it would cause which could mud flood the whole of the Puyallup River, causing problems all the way along its route.
As well as being a deadly volcano, Mount Rainier is also a very striking piece of scenery. It's the highest point around by far, 4,027 m, and you can see it from Seattle and beyond on a clear day. On a really, really clear day you can see it from as far away as Portland. From its base to its peak it's actually taller than K2 (K2 just has a head start because it's part of a range that's so far above sea level.).
In 1899, the area around Mount Rainier became the Mount Rainier National Park: America's fifth national park.
Written by 
Dan Alba.
Other expert and press reviews
“Other attractions”
As well as climbing Mount Rainier, people can also ski and snowshoe on it. There are also numerous hiking trails and some very, very scenic camp sites. Read more...
Written by 
Colin.
“Climb her!”
This is a pretty hard climb which usually takes people two days. The level of difficulty is due to the glacial climbing which requires specialised gear. Most people attempt the mountain from Camp Muir on the southeast flank, and statistics say that abo… Read more...
Written by Andrew Armour.
Comments, reviews and questions by other travellers
Who's been here
Similar Experiences
Kilauea
Kilauea is sometimes called “the world’s most active volcano” due to its voluminous lava output, though visitors who hear this …
Etna
Frequently active and the largest volcano in Europe, Etna is an easily accessible and rewarding volcano to visit. Its eruptions…
Climbing Gunung Batur, Bali’s Volcano
I didn’t want to climb a volcano. One of my biggest fears is to be burnt alive by lava. Ever since watching Volcano with Anne …
Nearby Experiences
Wonderland Trail
The Wonderland Trail is 93 miles long, tracing a route around the base of Mount Rainier and over a few elevated sections – the …
Weyerhaeuser Headquarters
Breathtaking lake views on one side and a wet meadow on the other, this building screams of considerate planning and tribute to…
Boeing Plant Tour
Paine Field and the Boeing manufacturing plant is located about 30 minutes outside of Seattle. It’s hard to miss since it’s the…
Related links
- Seattle travel guide
- Washington travel guide
- US West Coast travel guide
- United States travel guide
- United States travel specialists
- The best Volcanoes
- The best Rock Climbing
- The best Challenging Treks
- The best Mountain Treks
- The best Glacial Treks
Mount Rainier National Park
The Mount Rainier National Park was the fifth state park established in the United States. The park is 368 square miles and includes all of Mount Rainier, with the highest point being 14,000 feet.
Around the volcano are many beautiful landscapes including forests, wildflower meadows, valleys, waterfalls and over 26 glaciers.
The park is open all year round and visitation is at its peak in July and August. On site are also many visitor centers including the Longmire Museum, Henry M Jackson Memorial Visitor Center at Paradise, Ohanapecosh Visitor Center and Sunrise Visitor Center. There are also many places to eat and stay while here.