Our August Hike on the Skyline Trail
On a lazy Saturday, we suddenly decided to hike the Skyline Trail at Mount Rainier, even though it was 6 hours away. By 12:30 AM, we were on the road, excited for the adventure.
We drove through the night and arrived just as the sun was rising. The view of Mount Rainier at dawn was stunning, and it energized us for the hike ahead.
We began our hike at 8:10 AM, surrounded by a sea of wildflowers. The trail was 5.7 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 1,771 feet. The weather was perfect, and the flowers made the trail even more beautiful. We took our time, enjoying the views and snapping photos. The steady climb was challenging but rewarding, with amazing scenery at every turn. The descent was tougher than expected, but we continued to take it slow, enjoying the trail to the end. The entire hike took about 5 hours.
After the hike, we stopped at the Paradise Visitor Center, which was huge but a bit disappointing when it came to food. The prices were high—$10 for a small slice of pizza, $10 for just one hot dog, and $5 for a small cup of soft drink. The food wasn’t tasty either, so it’s better to bring your own food from home or buy it outside the park.
To enter Paradise and drive on the Sunrise Road, you need an entry pass, which you can get starting from 7 PM the day before. You’ll also need a park entry pass. Luckily, we had the “America the Beautiful” pass, which covers entry fees for a year.
Our spontaneous hike was everything we wanted beautiful, refreshing, and unforgettable. The wildflowers, clear skies, and stunning views made it a perfect day.
