Wildlife Viewing
What sort of animals you'll see at Mount Rainier is largely determined by when and where you look.
Plan Around Wildlife Viewing
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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.
Wildlife Viewing Details
What sort of animals you'll see at Mount Rainier is largely determined by when and where you look. Visitors often spot coyotes along Stevens Canyon Road and Box Canyon. Red foxes are typically seen at the picnic areas around Longmire and Paradise. Summer visitors may see ground squirrels, marmots, chipmunks, and pika in the Paradise and Sunrise areas. Deer are spotted year round. Columbian black-tailed deer live on the west side of the park, while mule deer live on the east side. Some of the park's larger, more charismatic wildlife is decidedly more elusive. Although Mount Rainier is home to cougars, also known as pumas or mountain lions, they are solitary, nocturnal animals and rarely spotted. If you do see one, report it to a park ranger as soon as possible. Visitors may spot elk, although sightings are infrequent. Watch for them on the east side of the mountain in September. Mountain goats live on high ridges, and visitors' best chance of seeing them is on hikes in Summerland, Panhandle Gap and Indian Bar. Black bears also live iin the park, and although shy, are not nearly as elusive as mountain lions. Bears have a highly developed sense of smell and will visit a campground if the opportunity for a free meal exists. Protect both yourself and the bear from a negative interaction by properly storing your food and adequately maintaining your campsite. If you do spot a bear at close range in the park, give it the opportunity to avoid you. Do not approach it and back away slowly.
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Activities
Nearby Parks Around Wildlife Viewing
Compare nearby parks around Wildlife Viewing when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
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