Exploring Washington State: Mt. Rainier

If you're planning on traveling to Washington state anytime soon, you should pay a visit to Mt. Rainier. It's definitely an experience you don't want to miss out on. In this article, I will describe what Mt. Rainier is like.

Mt. Rainier is technically an active volcano, but don't let that stop you from visiting. More than likely, there will be serious warning signs before an actual eruption. The park is located a couple of hours from Seattle, and it is open year round. However, parts of the park will probably be closed in the winter due to all of the snowfall that it receives.

So if you want to see the entire park, be sure to visit it in the summer. Be aware that it will be quite crowded in the summer months, but at least you will be able to see all of the park. For more information about the hours of operation, go here.

The climate of Mt. Rainier will vary depending on the season, but the weather can change very quickly at the higher elevations. When I visited, it was a partly cloudy day; however, this abruptly changed into a cold rainstorm. And then, about thirty minutes later, it was partly cloudy again. Keep in mind that this is Washington state, which has a notorious reputation for being cloudy and rainy.

The summer months are also when Mt. Rainier has the most sunshine, but it is still cloudy on some days. I was fortunate enough to visit Mt. Rainier on a clear day, and take some decent photos of it. Mt. Rainier's high temperature in the summer months is usually around the mid seventies, and the low temperature is around the mid forties. In winter, expect highs in the thirties and lows in the mid twenties. As for rain, the summer months are usually the driest of the year. Usually, Mt. Rainier receives about two hundred and ninety inches of precipitation annually(snow and rain). So bring some rain gear with you, even if you're visiting in the summer months.

What about the scenery? Well, as you may have surmised, all of the rainfall that this park receives makes it a very green place. The trees are quite tall and lush, there are mixtures of green and yellow moss, tall grasses, and plenty of flowers abound in the warmer months. As for the flowers, if you've ever visited or lived in Texas you know that the state flower is the Bluebonnet.

I thought that the Bluebonnet only grew in Texas, however, it also grows around Mt. Rainier. The only difference between these two flowers is that the Mt. Rainier Bluebonnets have slightly longer leaves. As for wildlife, you may or may not see some. I didn't see any animals, but the park is home to several species. Some examples are bears, goats, birds; etc.

Personally, I recommend hiring a tour guide for your journey. This way you don't have to worry about parking or getting lost. The tour guides will also know where the most interesting places are in the park, and you might learn a few things from them. For more about tour guides, go here.

So for your next trip or adventure, pay a visit to Mt. Rainier. Be sure to bring an umbrella and an extra jacket, just in case the weather decides to become cruel. It does happen. And be prepared to take lots of pictures that will last a lifetime.