Much of the area southeast of Paradise, the major tourist attraction at Rainier, is located in Lewis County. A lot of Chinook Pass and most of Stevens Canyon Road, long-established as one of the most scenic routes through the park, are nestled in northeast Lewis County.
The Ohanapecosh entrance to Mount Rainier is easily accessible from Packwood, less than a 30-minute drive east on Highway 12 and a northward turn up State Route 123. In the spring, summer and fall, this route into the park offers looks at several waterfalls and pristine creeks, lakes and more fed by Rainier’s glaciers.
The Nisqually entrance is accessible in Pierce County and is found by taking State Route 7 north through Morton, and east on State Route 706 through Ashford.
Hiking trails abound; chief among them is the 90-mile Wonderland Trail that encircles the mountain.
In the summertime, hiking and camping are chief among activities to do; the wintertime brings about copious amounts of snow, making a snowshoeing trek a must. A snowplay area opens up at Mount Rainier’s Paradise area in the winter, making a sledding or tubing trip a must-do!
