Mount Rainier, Paradise - Fall Colors

October 1, 2026

Washington Trails Association page for this hike. All Trails page for this hike.

Ying has been anxious to get out and do some hiking while the fall colors are present. Skyline Trail Loop is exceptional in the fall. We headed out at 6 AM as the drive to Paradise is about 2 1/2 hours plus time for the usual coffee stop. We knew that we might not get to see the mountain today as the clouds could completely cover it.

It is a Thursday but the trail reports from the day before spoke of the park being crowded. We we got there around 9 AM and found there was plenty of parking still. This is Ying’s boss BMW X5 in a nearly empty lower parking lot.

Looking back at the visitor center as we start up the trail.

Pretty much immediately we get to see what we came for. We were glad we didn’t come too late in the year and miss it. A lot of folks will visit Paradise today for the same thing. Fortunately, you don’t have to be a hiker in order to enjoy this as there is a lot to see within short walking distance for the non-hikers.

Online, Paradise is getting some flak in hiker reports for the rude behavior of some folks on the trail. We found out that early in the day it is quite the opposite. On our way up we meet a lot of really nice folks enjoying the hike and sights with camaraderie. As the day goes on there are more folks with maybe less hiking experience. My recommendation is to hit the trail early and be one with the serious nature lovers!

These two deer are right next to the trail and happily ignore us as they feast.

As you can see, the top of the mountain is currently obscured by the clouds. We get fortunate as the clouds mostly dissipate when we are higher up the trail.

Off in the distance you can see another trail.

This is the top of Mount Adams. When we get higher we will be able to see more of it.

We can also see the top of Mount St. Helens in the backgound here.

Lucky us! The clouds are clearing up.

I get Ying to sit for a picture.

I think its pretty common to see Mount Rainier with a cloud hat like this. As is the norm, we will be taking way too many pictures of it today.

So many views to capture.

As you get higher up the trail it seems that you can make out more detail from your view of Mount Rainier. There is a humongously large waterfall visible in the lower left that is Wilson Glacier Falls. Today you can actually see the water flowing rather than just see the white lines.

Seems like the central mountain gets all of the attention, however there are great views to see all around.

A fellow hiker takes a picture of us.

Here is a fun camera effect to help convey the enormity of the mountain. Zoom in from a distance when you take a picture of someone (in this case Ying) and you get a sense of the scale which of course is still massively under represented.

The cloud hat is gone now.

The Skyline Loop trail will take us up a bit higher and the higher you go the better the view all around.

There are a couple neat rock formations along the trail here.

We find a common lookout spot for taking a snack break. Many fellow hikers are doing the same.

Off in the distance we can see Mount Adams slightly better now. It seems to also have lost it’s temporary cloud cap.

Here is Mount St. Helens again.

And from a far distance we can see Oregon’s Mount Hood also.

The small chipmunks and squirrels up here are not shy.

Time to head down the other side of the loop where we will see dramatic fall colors again.

Here they are.

We (as most folks) recommend taking the Skyline Loop Trail clockwise. You get to look up to the mountain as you hike up. If you go counter-clockwise the mountain is often hidden from view on the way up. Going clockwise, you get to see some spectacular views on the way down.

This part of the trail is a lower spot with a bridge that crosses a stream.

Ying poses on the Stevens-Van Trump Monument which was built to commemorate the first known accent of Mount Rainier in 1870.

The reds make these views even more spectacular. From here on out its going to be non-stop stunning views.

We are just about done with the hike. Just taking pictures as we go.

Here is a picture from the viewpoint of Myrtal Falls. There are a lot of folks here as this is a draw for many visitors and isn’t far from the parking lot.

These are views folks see as they walk from the parking lot to Myrtal Falls.

We stopped on the roadside on the way down from Paradise to visit Narada Falls. It is a short walk down to this viewpoint. The trail is steep and muddy but most folks shouldn’t have any trouble with it.