Paradise Mt Rainier NP

Last day of summer, we headed up to Mt Rainier NP to do a short hike on a "mostly cloudy" day. We saw the Mountain was out, so we headed up to Paradise to make a loop hike out of combining the Deadhorse Creek Trail to Glacier Vista and returning down the Skyline and Alta Vista Trails with a side trip to Myrtle Falls. About 3.6 miles with 1,000 ft of overall elevation gain. We were rewarded with fabulous views, fall colors, lots of marmots and a few wildflowers.

 Rainier and fall colors near at the beginning of the trail.

 A short ways up the trail, more fall colors and the Tatoosh Range.

 Heading up towards Rainier on the Deadhorse Creek Trail

 Better view of the Tatoosh and pasqueflower seed heads.

 As we gained elevation, we could see Mt St Helens and Mt Adams behind the Tatoosh. Later we would also see the Goat Rocks and Mt Hood.









Some of the many marmot we saw going up the trail.





































The trail is mostly steep, but there are plenty of opportunities to stop and admire the views.











Looking back down the trail and the Tatoosh Range:

View at Glacier Vista: Mt Rainier and the Wilson and Nisqually Glaciers and the Muir Snowfield.
Some nice waterfalls coming off the glaciers.

 View from where we stopped to eat lunch.

 Lots of little critters out foraging.

 Heading down the Skyline Trail on our way to the Alta Vista Trail, looking back towards Rainier.

 more marmots along the trail

Great views of the Tatoosh, Goat Rocks and Mt Adams as we head to Alta Vista.

lovely fall colors along Alta Vista

Rainier and the trail on the east side of Alta Vista

As we took the connector trail towards Myrtle Falls, we could smell the huckleberries! These ones were easy to reach without stepping off the trail.

 Pearly everlasting and fall colors as we head up to Myrtle Falls,

 Myrtle Falls and Mt Rainier

 View of Rainier and Edith Creek above the falls.

 Fireweed, this is where Myrtle Falls drops down. We saw a grouse walking through the grass here.

 Marmot enjoying the views near Edith Creek.












Tatoosh and fall colors as we head back down the trail from Myrtle Falls

 lots of red berries. Looking toward 4th Crossing and Mazama Ridge

 Last look at Mt Rainier as we returned to the parking area. We were blessed with amazing views all day. So happy the clouds stayed high!

 We saw some purple asters and partridge bloom still in bloom along the trail.