The beauty and strength of glaciers are on full display at Mount Rainier National Park, the United States’ fifth national park, which opened to the public in 1899. Before European explorers came, Native American communities had worshiped the peak for generations. It was protected in the late nineteenth century because its natural beauty captivated conservationists.

John Muir, a well-known naturalist, fought for its protection, and his efforts helped make it a national park. The historic Paradise Inn opened in 1917 and serves as a starting point for travelers to Mount Rainier National Park, where they can explore alpine meadows, old-growth woods, and the park’s namesake mountain.

The park was used as a training site for pioneering climbing excursions, therefore its history is inextricably entwined with the development of mountaineering. Its dynamic interplay between glacial forces and ecological richness that characterizes the Pacific Northwest’s natural legacy continues to lure hikers, climbers, and nature enthusiasts today.