Mount Rainier this weekend? (Seattle, Naches: camping, vs, car)

[bloom]

I'm thinking of a potential first day or overnight trip to Mt. Rainier National Park this weekend.

But first need to make sure weather is good - any best web link to weather forecast, as hoping for mostly clear and not freezing day?

Second, I list up below a menu of potential easier hikes. Any specific recommendations of best ones, most iconic, ones to skip? Wildflowers this time of year or not, and which hikes for that?

Third, any specific lodging recs if I do an overnight?

I'm thinking of doing some easy shorter hikes on day 1 and perhaps the longer Skyline trail on day 2. And save Spray Park, Tolmie for another visit. But I'm flexible and will heed suggestions here.




White River Entrance / Sunrise Visitor Center:
Sourdough Ridge Nature Trail 1.3mi lolli 1h
Emmons Morraine 2.8mi rt 1.5-2.5h 960ft

Naches 3.5mi rt 2-3h clockwise

Stevens Canyon Entrance / Ohanapecosh Visitor Center:
Snowlake 2.6mi rt 1.5-2.5h 700ft

Nisqually Entrance / Henry M Jackson Memorial Visitor Center / Paradise:
Skyline Trail 5.5 mi loop 3-4h clockwise 1700ft

165 / Mowich Lake:
Spray Falls 4mi rt 1.5-2.5h -
Spray Park 7mi rt -8h
Tolmie Peak 6.4mi rt 3-4.5h 1020ft

[Chilkoot]

We were there for an overnight at Paradise Inn the end of August. Only hiked some short trails around the Inn. Wildflowers were past peak and dwindling. We used this site for weather:
Mt. Rainier National Park Weather Forecasts and Webcams

This one to get wildflower updates:
Discover Wildflowers - Mount Rainier National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

If I was going again I would hope for cold temps and clear skies vs clouding and warmer. We never did see Mt. Rainier.

[sean98125]

Skyline Trail at Paradise is a really good hike, and so is the Naches Peak loop. (Be sure to hike it clockwise from Tipsoo Lake.)

Burroughs Mountain and Fremont Lookout are both great hikes out of Sunrise, but most of Burroughs is above the treeline so if you're looking for meadows it might not be what you're looking for. Another hike that is worth doing is the Glacier Basin trail out of the White River Campground.

If it is cloudy, I'd recommend something like Carter Falls or Pyramid Creek Camp. The scenery is still stunning even if the mountain itself is shrouded in gray.

[Hemlock140]

I have found this to be far more reliable than any other weather forecasts, but with all of the mountains and water no one can predict 100% accurately here, especially on the mountain. Looks like partly cloudy/sunny at best.



Western Washington Zone Forecasts

[analogkid84]

In general, for mountain weather forecasts, this is a go-to site: National Weather Service - NWS Seattle

The mountains, especially Rainier, create their own weather much of the time. That said, it is prudent to take in the whole weather picture for Western Washington to get an idea of prevailing conditions.

If you are camping via a backpacking tent, you could probably get a site at the Sunrise backcountry tent site, a bit over a mile from the visitor's center. Sunrise Lake is nearby to filter from, but I've also just carried in a three gallon water jug from my car given the proximity. From here you can day hike to the aforementioned Mt. Fremont Lookout, Burroughs Mt., and the meadows of Grand Park - about 12 miles from the campsite roundtrip. Wildflowers will be pretty non-existent this time of year, but fall colors should be appearing.

Good luck and have fun - I look forward to the day when I can go once again.

[bloom]

Thanks. Well, forecasts may be mixed this weekend, so unsure to go or not.
Let me recheck tomorrow and maybe call down there to get more accurate and any other input welcome:

NWS: partly sunny Saturday and Sunday, temperature 54-62 high
TWC: mostly sunny Saturday, sunny Sunday, temp 51-57 high (in the 30s low), no ppt, not sure precisely where TWC forecasting

[analogkid84]

I would not trust a Weather Channel forecast for mountain conditions in the Pac NW. The conditions are too localized and the forecasters largely unfamiliar with the terrain and local effects.

[sean98125]

Always use NOAA for weather - they are where places like the Weather Channel get their info from, anyway.

National Weather Service for Longmire.

You can click on the little map to get a forecast for a different area, even a short distance from the highlighted area.

[bloom]

on the fence
sat - partly sunny sunday - mostly sunny
temps range high 45-63 sat 60s sun (lows 30-40s)

[sean98125]

Go.

The fall colors will be kicking in. Perfect hiking weather.