Paradise – even in the fog!

Paradise is located about 23 miles east of Ashford, WA on Hwy. 706, and can be reached from the west via the Nisqually Entrance to Mt. Rainier National Park, as well as, from the east via the Stevens Canyon Entrance.

These roads can be closed during the winter months due to heavy snowfall, although Paradise is the prime winter-use area within the park.

Paradise is located at 5400 feet elevation on the southern midsection of Mt. Rainier National Park with a variety of hiking trails to choose from that offer views of the mountain peak - on a clear day. However, this mountain that is over 14,000 feet in elevation tends to create its own weather, and often will be covered with clouds. On this day in August, as I hiked up the Skyline Trail toward Panorama Point, the fog continued to lower, only to rise again and blow through, until suddenly, a cloud simply settled right down on top of me, forcing me to turn around. I would not see that snow covered peak today, but was left with views of beautiful wildflowers that covered the hills below instead.