Mount Rainier, << ruh NIHR or RAY neer, >> National Park is in west-central Washington, near Seattle. The park was established in 1899 to preserve the natural beauty of majestic, ice-clad Mount Rainier. For the area of Mount Rainier National Park, see National Park System (table: National parks) .
An old 14,410-foot (4,392-meter) volcanic cone, Mount Rainier bears a glacier system over 35 square miles (90 square kilometers) in extent. Twenty-five “rivers of ice” originate at or near its summit.
Covering the lower slopes of the mountain are magnificent forests of Douglas-fir, western hemlock, and western redcedar. Blacktail deer and mountain goats are among the animals that visitors may see in the park.
To enjoy fully the park’s spectacular scenery and interesting natural phenomena, visitors must hike or ride horseback. One park trail–the 90-mile (140-kilometer) Wonderland Trail–circles the peak and enters remote areas. In winter, Paradise Valley, on the south side of Mount Rainier, is popular for cross-country skiing.
