Wander through trails surrounded by vibrant reds and yellows, all while a majestic mountain stands overhead. Visit Mount Rainier in October and you’ll see why this is the most magical autumn destination. ✨
At 14,000 feet, Mount Rainier is the tallest peak in Washington and the most glaciated peak in the contiguous US- an incredible sight to behold.
Having explored 56 National Parks, Mount Rainier has secured its spot as top 5 of all time. I’ve visited in both early summer and fall, but nothing compares to autumn scene. 🍁 I was in complete awe of this landscape and it’s one of my favorite places I’ve ever experienced fall colors.
However, weather changes quickly in October and you have to be prepared for a variety of circumstances. If you are planning on visiting Mt Rainier in the fall, then you’ll want to read my complete guide. It includes where to hike, what to see, and places to stay! 📝
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Mount Rainier in October Details
Quick Park Facts
💵 Mt. Rainier costs $30 to enter per vehicle for 7 days. If you have an annual pass, like the America the Beautiful Pass, they also work.
☀️ Weather changes quickly in Mt. Rainier National Park. Make sure that you stay updated and that you take the proper precautions. If there are signs of bad weather, then stay in the lower elevations.
⛺️ You can book reservations at Cougar Rock and Ohanapecosh Rock up to six months in advance on recreation.gov. These two campgrounds often close in mid-October.
🐻 Mt. Rainier is bear country, so make sure to stay bear aware and make loud noises when hiking on the trails. Use the rule of thumb when viewing wildlife, so that you stay the correct distance away.
🦮 Pets are not allowed in the park and they must stay leashed in parking lots as well.
⚠️Steves Canyon Road is open seasonally and often closes in mid-October. The Youc an check the NPS website for the latest updates. Both the Paradise and Longmire areas are open in October to see Mount Rainier.
🍃 Remember to follow the Leave No Trace Principles. As always, you want to leave nature looking better than you found it.
Is October a Good Time to Visit?
October is one of the most beautiful times to visit Mt Rainier. The foliage is at its peak in early-mid October and you will be delighted as reds, oranges, and yellows cover the park. You can hit the trails, visit Paradise, and enjoy some of the most magnificent views! Plus, there are no timed entry tickets required.
Although October can get rainy, you’ll get plenty of gorgeous sunny days ☀️ that create an incredible scene. In late October, trails and roads begin to close, but there are still great opportunities for hiking and crowds tend to thin. Visiting in October is truly a joy!
Things to Know About Visiting in October
Early October is a beautiful time to visit with bright foliage 🍂 and sunshine. But, as the month goes on the cold begins to come in and there is even a chance of snow.
Sunrise Road tends to close anywhere in mid to late October 🚧. So, it’s best to stay updated on the park website and note any closures. The earlier you go in the month the more likely you’ll have a chance to visit all of the areas that you want!
Where to Stay
If you want to stay in the park then you can book a reservation at one of the two inns or two campgrounds that are open in June. The National Park Inn has rooms in the Longmire area of the park or you can stay in Paradise at the Paradise Inn.
Rooms fill up quickly so get reservations early! Both the Cougar Rock and Ohanapecosh campgrounds ⛺️ are open to the public until early October typically.
You can also find some lodging outside of the park in the small towns and there are a few places to stay in Ashford, which is closest to the Longmire entrance of the park!
Great Hotels Near Mt Rainier
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Things to Do in Mt Rainier in October
Explore Paradise
Paradise is the true gateway to Mount Rainier. This visitor center is located at 5400 feet above sea level and is just at the base of the mountain. There are tons of trails that leave directly from the Paradise area!
It’s the best placed to really start exploring the mountain and getting up close to the base of it. Also, there is a gift shop and cafe at the visitor center if you need to pick up anything on your trip. You’ll be in awe of the beauty and understand why it’s called Paradise.
Hike to See Foliage
One of the best ways to see the fall colors in Mt Rainier is to get off the road and onto the trails. There are a ton of great hikes to choose from. But, the ones I’ve detailed below are some of the most epic autumn trails for your visit in October.
Naches Peak
In my opinion, Naches Peak is one of the prettiest fall trails in the entire country. This trail is a gorgeous loop that has stunning reds and oranges ❤️🧡 cover the ground in October. As you walk, you’ll get to see awe-inspiring lakes with incredible scenes of Mt Rainier.
For the most jaw-dropping views, make sure to do this hike counter clockwise! That way, you’ll be able to look at Mt Rainier as you walk down the path. The other way is beautiful, but the backdrop just isn’t as good.
Naches Peak Hike Details
Distance: 3.5 miles
Elevation: 650 feet of gain
Type: Loop
Difficulty: Moderate
Skyline Loop
The Skyline Loop trail is one of the most popular hikes in the entire park and for good reason. 🥾 It has incredible panoramic views over the mountains, stunning waterfalls, and tons of autumn colors. It’s one of the best things to do in Mount Rainier in October!
One of the best parts of this trail is that you can really pick and choose what you want to do. Complete the entire loop, hike to panorama point and back, or choose a section to do. Either way you will love it!
Skyline Loop Trail Details
Distance: 5.7-6 miles
Elevation: 1700 feet of gain
Type: Loop
Difficulty: Hard
Alta Vista Trail
Alta Vista is a fantastic family friendly trail that leaves from the Paradise area of the park. You’ll hike just three quarters of a mile to get to beautiful views of Mt Rainier, the Tatoosh mountains, and foliage all over!
If you’re lucky then you’ll even see a marmot scurrying along the rocks. We didn’t do this trail in October, but we loved completing it when it was snow covered in June and I can’t even imagine how much better it is with fall colors!
Alta Vista Trail Details
Distance: 1.5 miles
Elevation: 560 feet of gain
Type: Out and Back
Difficulty: Moderate
Packing List for Fall Mt Rainier Hikes
- Comfortable Hiking Boots
- Day Pack
- Hiking poles
- Water Reservoir
- Plenty of Water
- Snacks and Food
- First Aid Kit
- Sunscreen
- Bug Spray
- Bear Spray
- Headlamp
- Rain jacket
- Light winter jacket
- Satellite phone
Go Waterfall Chasing
Fall may not be the time where the waterfalls are at their highest water levels, but they are still incredibly gorgeous! There are a variety of waterfalls throughout the park and seeing them with fall foliage is incredible. Make sure to add these falls to your itinerary.
Narada Falls
Narada Falls is one of the most visited falls in the park and for good reason. It’s just a .2 mile walk down from the road to see these stunning falls. If you travel down the path to the bottom, you might be able to feel the mist hitting your face from the waterfall 💦!
Myrtle Falls
Myrtle Falls is one of the prettiest sights in the Fall! Mt Rainier sits as a stunning backdrop for the falls, while reds and oranges surround it 🤩. Even though it was very crowded, I still was in awe of this beauty.
Myrtle Falls is located off of the Skyline Loop trail and it’s just a short walk from the Paradise visitor center. So, it’s easy to add to your October trip to Mt Rainier.
Christine Falls
I feel like Christine Falls is an underrated stop in Mt Rainier. You can get here right off the side of the road and it literally looks like a fairytale oasis. Although there aren’t as many fall colors in this spot, it’s worth seeing no matter the time of year!
Stop at Scenic Overlooks
Drive along the road and stop at the scenic overlooks for Mount Rainier and the Tatoosh mountains. One of the best spots to visit is Reflection Lakes. Here, you can see a gorgeous reflection of Mt Rainier in the water below.
There are a ton of magnificent landscapes from various perspectives throughout the park. So, you can drive through and stop at spots to take some great photos. 📸
Visit the Longmire Area
Longmire used to be the gateway to Mount Rainier back in the day, it was the very first visitor center back in the late 1800s! Travelers visited this destination to view the beautiful mountain.
Now, you can still go to the gift shop, stay at the National Park Inn, visit the gift shop or take one of the great trails that leaves from this area. The trails in Longmire are at a lower elevation, so they are open throughout October. We stayed at the inn for a couple nights and it was a great home base to explore!
Final Tips for Visiting Mount Rainier in October
You will surely fall in love with this amazing national park when you take a fall adventure here. Mount Rainier is one of the most stunning mountains and the autumn colors just really provide a magical landscape. Be flexible with your plans, stay updated on closures, and you’ll have a fantastic trip!!
Let me know if you enjoyed this guide in the comments
📍 Pin Guide to Visiting Mount Rainier in October to Pinterest
This is the perfect park to visit in October!
Seriously, It’s so amazing!!
Ah, this makes me want to visit Rainier in October! I’ve been in July, but it looks so pretty with the fall colors 😍
The fall colors are something else!!