Before moving to Washington, I never would have guessed that the Evergreen State would have spectacular fall foliage. But I couldn’t have been more wrong—while Washington state may not have many deciduous trees, it’s still absolutely GORGEOUS in the autumn, with golden larches and technicolor shrubs and wildflowers carpeting the slopes of the Cascade Mountains.
If you want to see some of the best fall foliage in Washington, head straight to Mount Rainier National Park, whose alpine meadows and mountain slopes turn ablaze with autumn colors in late September through early October. Here are the best fall hikes in Mount Rainier National Park to enjoy the vibrant autumn colors and spectacular views of the Washington’s tallest mountain.
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Psssst… heading to Mount Rainier National Park? You may want to check out our other posts about some of the other amazing hikes in the park:
How to Get to Mountain Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier is conveniently located about a two and a half hour drive from Seattle or a three hour drive from Portland. It’s important to note, though, that the park is HUGE, so drive time will vary depending on which hike you’re headed to!
If you’re not lucky enough to live in the Pacific Northwest (ahem, I might be a bit biased), I’d recommend flying into Seattle’s SeaTac Airport (I swear by Skyscanner to score the cheapest flight deals) and renting a car for a few days.
There’s SO much to see and explore in Washington state alone, so I hope you stay awhile!
Best fall hikes in Mount Rainier National Park
While fall in the park can certainly be enjoyed several ways (for example, the Chinook Scenic Byway is awesome for leaf-peeping, come fall!), this guide focuses more on a few hikes that will get your blood pumping and offer spectacular views of Rainier in all of its fall splendor.
1. Skyline Trail Loop
- Mileage: 5.5 miles
- Elevation gain: 1700 ft.
- Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
The Skyline Trail is located on the south side of Rainier, in a part of the park called Paradise, aptly named given that its southern exposure allows for a longer season than its northern counterpart, Sunrise.
It’s arguably one of Rainier’s most beloved hikes, but it’s generally famous for its fields of colorful wildflowers in July through early September. Come fall, however, the wildflowers are replaced by an astounding array of fall colors
The unique thing about the fall foliage in Rainier is that most of the vibrant colors are actually from shrubs, succulents, and other plants blanketing the ground (rather than from the leaves on trees), from the vibrant red of scarlet paintbrush to the flaming orange of elderberries.
To get to the trail, you’ll need to park in the Paradise parking lot, which can fill up as early as 8 AM on weekend days (even on a Monday when we went, the lot was completely filled by the time we returned from our hike in the early afternoon). So I’d recommend stopping here first thing to beat the crowds and secure your spot.
Since it’s a loop trail, you can either go clockwise, starting behind the Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center or counterclockwise, starting behind the Paradise Ranger Station.
We’ve hiked this trail multiple times and have tried it in both directions. I’d personally recommend hiking clockwise, which immediately starts off with a thigh-burning incline with stunning up-close-and-personal views of Rainier, with the most spectacular fall foliage saved for the very last portion of the hike along the southeastern rim of the loop.
Insider tip: Keep your eyes peeled when you’re in the northeastern portion of the loop- close to where the Paradise River traverses the trail. You’ll often see mountain goats sunning themselves up on the mountains here!
This southeastern portion of the hike (and all of its glorious autumnal colors) is paved and right off the parking lot, so, even though the majority of the hike was deserted, by the time we reached this particular spot by noon, it was packed with visitors. If you want to soak up the most brilliantly colored portion of the hike by your lonesome, you may want to go counterclockwise, hitting this spot first.
Throughout the length of the trail, it branches off and intersects with several other trails, meandering up and around Rainier. In my opinion, it’s pretty easy to follow, but you definitely need to keep an eye out for signage. Still, I’d recommend downloading an offline map of this trail on AllTrails, so you can follow along if you get lost!
Pssst.... you do need AllTrails+, a premium membership of AllTrails, to download offline maps, but luckily, we got the hookup for our readers, with 30% off your annual subscription. All you need to do is use this link and use the promo code "UPROOTED30" at check out!
2. Naches Peak Loop
- Mileage: 3.2 miles
- Elevation gain: 600 ft.
- Difficulty: Easy
Naches Peak Loop is an AWESOME hike for beginners or families.
The hike starts in the parking lot for the beautiful Tipsoo Lake, in the southeast section of Mount Rainier National Park.
Getting here is honestly a bit tricky. The hike is not identified on the park’s maps and the actual trailhead itself did not have great signage. To add to the confusion, if you put “Naches Peak Loop Trailhead” into Google Maps, it will drop you off at an unmarked spot on the side of State Route 410, without any place to park.
Instead, head to the northeast corner of the Tipsoo Lake parking lot, where you’ll find the entrance to the trailhead. From here, you’ll follow a short trail up a steep hill, north of the lake. Continuing on, you’ll get jaw-dropping views of Rainier and an absolute EXPLOSION of fall colors.
Similar to the Skyline Loop, you can either do this trail clockwise or counter-clockwise. You should ABSOLUTELY do this hike clockwise, so that you will have a stunning continuous view of Rainier looming above and subalpine meadows as far as the eye can see for the latter half of the hike.
Insider tip: There’s a viewpoint of Tipsoo Lake along State Route 410, between the lake’s parking lot and where the loop trail traverses the road. I’m not usually a huge fan of scenic overlooks you can drive to (I want to EARN my gorgeous views, damnit), but the vista here will knock your socks off and would be a perfect spot for a post-hike snack.
3. Summerland Trail
- Mileage: 10.1 miles
- Elevation gain: 2,595 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
The Summerland Trail is one of the most underrated trails in Mount Rainier—and is one of the best hikes to see the park’s stunning fall foliage.
The first three miles of the hike are through a beautiful old-growth forest, until you cross a precariously placed log bridge over the milky glacial waters of Fryingpan Creek.
Once you cross the creek, you’re hiking through a beautiful meadow, with Rainier’s massive peak looming straight ahead. We hiked this trail in early October and this portion was SO gorgeous, with paintbrush, lupines, and avalanche lilies, all in autumnal hues, carpeting the surrounding hillsides.
After some steep switchbacks, you’ll find another beautiful meadow, with scarlet- and burnt orange-hued wildflowers, as well as Camp Summerland, a backcountry campground with five campsites and one group site. We camped here overnight in mid-October and had an absolute blast! I’d highly recommend trying to snag a permit for this campground, if you can swing it.
Lots of hikers turn around here, but if you want to press on, the trail continues for about another mile up to Panhandle Gap. The rest of the trail is through a steep and rocky scree fields, with several crossings of icy streams and waterfalls. Accordingly, I’d highly recommend wearing waterproof boots (like these for men or these for women) to protect your feet if the water level is low enough—glacial water is straight up FROSTY!
Once you reach the top of Panhandle Gap, you’ll have one of the best views of Mount Rainier in the entire park and, on a clear days, vistas of Mount Adams, Goat Rocks, and Mount Hood in the distance.
Other fall hikes in Mount Rainier National Park
While these three trails are the best options to see fall foliage in Mount Rainier, here are some other recommendations for autumnal foliage if you’re a REAL overachiever or have more than one day in the park:
1. Tolmie Peak Fire Lookout
- Mileage: 7.5 miles roundtrip
- Elevation gain:1100 feet gain
- Diffiiculty: Moderate to challenging
Hike to a historic fire lookout, with stunning lake views below and plentiful huckleberries abound. Be careful when driving here, though- the road is notoriously full of potholes.
UPDATE AS OF MAY 2026: The road leading to Tolmie Peak is currently inaccessible. Stay tuned for further updates on the Mount Rainier website.
2. Narada Falls and Reflection Lakes Loop
- Mileage: 5.0 miles roundtrip
- Elevation gain: 1150 feet gain
- Difficulty: Moderate
This trail loops past a gorgeous lake which, on a clear day, offers a perfect reflection of Rainier (especially lovely at sunrise or sunset!) and several cascading waterfalls.
3. Crystal Peak
- Mileage: 8.0 miles roundtrip
- Elevation gain: 3100 feet gain
- Difficulty: Challenging
If the weather cooperates, the summit of this challenging hike provides views of SIX volcanoes spanning two states, but if you want to conquer this thigh-burner, I’d recommend doing so earlier on in the season. This trail often sees snow by mid-October.
When to Go to Mount Rainier National Park to See the Fall Colors
If you’re looking for fall colors, Mount Rainier is one of the best national parks to visit in October, with peak colors hitting around the first week or so of the month.
However, autumn in Rainier is extremely short. In fact, by late October, many trails in Rainier start closing due to snow conditions.
This may seem obvious, but if you can swing visiting on a weekday, I’d definitely recommend it. Justin and I did our Epic Fall Day in Rainier™ on a Monday and we had the Skyline Loop trail (discussed further below), one of the park’s most popular hikes, mostly to ourselves!
Where to Stay Near Mount Rainier National Park
Hotels Near Mount Rainier National Park
As mentioned above, Mount Rainier is HUGE, so there are a couple of home bases that most visitors stay in sprinkled around the park.
The most popular option is the teeny town of Ashford, near the southwestern Paradise section of Rainier. Here are some options to consider:
- Paradise Village: We’ve personally stayed here before and enjoyed the clean, updated rooms, reasonable prices, yummy Ukrainian restaurant, and convenient location just 5 miles outside of the park’s Paradise entrance. It also is home to the TikTok-famous Cannibal Hot Tub (i.e., a giant wood-fired hot tub). The hourly price to use the hot tub is a bit rich for my blood ($140 per hour!), but if you had a large group to split the cost, this seems like the perfect addition to a fall road trip!
- Alexander’s Lodge: This historic lodge dates back to 1912 and has a LOT of character, with every room in the main building being uniquely decorated. There are a lot of nice perks with staying here, including a cozy fireplace in the Big Room and hand-delivered breakfast basket to your room every morning!
- Mountain Meadow Inn: This cozy inn is located on a beautiful property, with a small stream trickling by, plus a big ol’ porch, with lots of chairs, to take in the views. I love that there’s an outdoor hot tub (perfect for soakign those muscles after all that hiking!) and a hearty complimentary breakfast and high quality coffee every morning!
Camping in Mount Rainier National Park
The park has several established campgrounds, for both RVs and tent campers. All of them, however, close in either late September or early October (check for closures and availability here), so the timing may not work out if you’re visiting in the fall.
Backcountry camping is also available. Usually, permits for the summer season (typically, through mid-October) are through advanced reservation only, while backpackers may self-register for backcountry permits after the summer season has passed (you hardcore lumberjacks, you!).
You can read more about the park’s backcountry camping permits here.
What to Pack for Mount Rainier National Park
I assume you know to bring along the basics, like your hiking boots, backpack, and camera, but here are some odds and ends you might not remember:
Layers
With a forecast in the low 50s for our day in Rainier, I wore a cozy flannel, a warm puffy vest, and a beanie, to keep me nice and warm during our hike. But within five minutes of climbing up a steep, continuous incline on our first trail, the flannel shirt had been stripped off and I was unexpectedly sweating profusely and hiking in my sports bra.
So learn from my mistakes- even if the weather is forecasted to be cooler, don’t underestimate how hot you’ll get from climbing up a mountain (and wear layers)! Similarly, be sure to bring lots of water- I’m all for lightweight, yet durable Nalgene bottles like this one.
A rainjacket
You know how everyone talks about how rainy it is in Seattle? It’s actually our little secret that the weather here in Washington is PERFECT in the summer- it’s really only rainy in the wintertime.
Which brings us to fall… it can kind of be a mixed bag of gorgeous, sunny days or moody, gray days, perfect for rocking out to Nirvana. The good news is that it rarely pours here (it’s more a state of constant mistiness so you just sort of feel moist all the time), so it shouldn’t really prevent you from hiking, so long as you come prepared!
I’ve been rocking this jacket for years (it’s affordable and comes in TWENTY EIGHT COLORS) and it’s always treated me right. Here’s the same jacket for men.
A cooler
The national park has two restaurants and two snack bars in it (you can see their menus and hours of operation here), but most of them close for the season at the beginning of October, are a bit on the pricier side, and have few options for my husband and me, who follow a vegan diet.
If you’re roadtripping here, I’d highly recommend packing a cooler (we picked up one very similar to this one for our road trips in 2020 and have been using it all the time!) to keep in your car with some breakfast and lunch so you’re not scrambling to find food within the park. If you’re really feeling like getting into the autumnal spirit, pack some pumpkin beers or hard ciders to celebrate after your hikes.
Headlamps
In this blog post, I’m recommending two hikes that offer spectacular views of fall foliage, which can easily be accomplished in one day. However, if you either hit the trails later in the day or you’re a brave soul that wants to squeeze in three hikes, I’d recommend bringing along a headlamp, as it starts getting darker around 5:30 pm or so in the autumn (and while Rainier is great fun, falling down it is not). Justin and I have these rechargeable ones for sunset hikes and camping and I absolutely LOVE them.
Offline maps
The park has really spotty cell coverage, so I definitely recommend downloading offline maps on the Google Maps app before heading here.
America the Beautiful Pass
For one car, it costs $30 for a one-week pass into the park.
However, if you have plans to stop by a couple of U.S. National Parks within a year span (for example, you should DEFINITELY check out Olympic National Park if you’re in Washington state!), these fees are included if you pick up an America the Beautiful Pass, an annual pass that costs just $80 and gets you into more than 2,000 U.S. national parks, forests, shorelines (and on and on).
The proceeds support the National Park Service and if you plan to go to at least three national parks per year (which usually cost around $30-$35 per car per visit), picking up one of these bad boys is a no brainer. You can either pick one up here, at your local REI, or at most staffed entrance stations at U.S. National Parks.
Well, I hope you have as much fun as I did relishing in the autumnal gloriousness in Rainier. Did you find any other must-see hikes in the fall in Mount Rainier? Let me know in the comments below!
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We will be in Seattle mid November. We love to hike, but are from Florida. What are your recommendations.
Hi Roberta! Mount Rainier will almost certainly be snowy by then. Luckily, many of the hikes (other than the high elevation ones) in Olympic National Park should be ice and snow free. Some suggestions include the Ozette Loop, Mount Storm King, Hall of Mosses, or Shi Shi Beach. We have a whole article all about the best hikes in Olympic here: https://uprootedtraveler.com/best-hikes-in-olympic-national-park/.
You might also want to check out Rattlesnake Ledge, which is a bit closer than the Olympic Peninsula! Here’s our post on it: https://uprootedtraveler.com/rattlesnake-ledge-trail/.
Safe travels- hope you have the best time!