Sunrise
Catch the first light of the day on Mount Rainier from Sunrise, an open area located at 6,400 feet with clear views of this majestic mountain in the Cascade range.
Plan Around Sunrise
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Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.
Sunrise Details
Catch the first light of the day on Mount Rainier from Sunrise, an open area located at 6,400 feet with clear views of this majestic mountain in the Cascade range. Sunrise marks the highest point in the park that can be reached by car, and should top any visit to the region. Sunrise lies 60 miles northeast of the Nisqually Entrance, and 14 miles northwest of the Sunrise/White River junction on Highway 410. The road to Sunrise typically opens in late June or early July, and closes around late September or early November, depending on snowfall. It's always good to check the road reports, due to construction and the weather. RVs and vehicles with trailers longer than 25 cannot travel the Sunrise Road after the White River Campground junction, due to the narrow and twisting route. The second most visited spot in the park (behind Longmire) has a visitor center with excellent exhibits on the mountain and park, a ranger station (get info on surrounding hikes here: 360-663-2425), a café, a small shop with souvenirs and basic items for hikers and campers (from fuel canisters and soups to toilet paper), and a hiker's cache for those stashing food for long-haul hikes such as the Wonderland Trail, a 93-mile trail that circumnavigates the mountain. Limited parking also is available. Look for wildflowers in the meadows around Sunrise come summertime, and enjoy views of the Emmons Glacier, Mount Adams, and other mountains in the Cascade Mountain Range.
Difficulty
Low
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Nearby Parks Around Sunrise
Compare nearby parks around Sunrise when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Sunrise
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Sunrise while the map context is still fresh.
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Sunrise Day Lodge
The Sunrise Day Lodge, open from early July to late September, offers food service and a gift shop.
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Sunrise Rim Trail
This 5.2-mile, loop trail features a 1,000-foot elevation gain.
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Mount Fremont Lookout Trail
This 5.6-mile trail climbs 900 feet between Sunrise (6,400 feet) and a fire lookout tower that was built in the 1930s.
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Dege Peak via Sourdough Ridge Trail
This hike through the subalpine meadows above Sunrise offers unbeatable postcard views of Mount Rainier.
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Forest Lake Trail
Hike up to a quiet lake for a cool dip, and enjoy huckleberries and wildlife spotting along the way.
