Visit Nearby Mount Rainier National Park

National Treasure Located Just an Hour from Ten Trails

 

Ten Trails residents can count themselves lucky that the community is located just an hour’s drive from Mount Rainier National Park. As one of three national parks in Washington State and one of just 63 elite national parks in the country, Mount Rainier sees more than one million visitors in a typical year.

Training Ground for Mountaineering

Mount Rainier is an active volcano and the tallest mountain in the Cascades Mountain Range. Mountaineering teams use the mountain as a training ground for climbers who are looking to climb some of the tallest peaks in the world, like Denali or Mount Everest. Thousands attempt to climb Mount Rainier each year, but not all of them are successful in reaching the summit.

Miles of Hiking Trails

For the average park visitor who is not looking to summit the mountain, Mount Rainier National Park offers spectacular views and more than 250 miles of hiking trails. One of the most popular hikes in the park, Grove of the Patriarchs, features Douglas firs, western red hemlocks and Douglas cedars that are estimated to be more than 1,000 years old.

Plan Ahead for Road Conditions 

Based on current snow pack levels, roads to Mount Rainier National Park are predicted to be open for visitors by the end of May. Before your visit, plan ahead by checking road conditions on the passes to the park by visiting this website. www.TenTrails.com 360.469.4043

Take a Day Trip from Your Ten Trails Home This Summer

Summer travel plans may have  changed this year, but luckily Ten Trails residents have access to some of the country’s most scenic and beautiful areas all within a day’s drive from the community. Read on to plan your family’s summer day trips!

Bellingham, Washington

Bellingham is the northernmost city in the contiguous United States and is known for its abundant outdoor recreation opportunities. Take a two-hour drive from Ten Trails to explore this city which includes a quaint downtown along with places for fishing, hiking and golfing.

Bainbridge Island 

Summertime is the perfect time to take a ferry ride over to Bainbridge Island! Pier 52 in Seattle will take you on a quick 35-minute ferry ride by car or on foot to this gorgeous island. Once there, take a walk on the waterfront trail which begins at the park close to the ferry terminal. Visitors can opt for the two-mile western loop or the 1.5-mile eastern route. The latter takes hikers alongside the waterfront and forest, while the western trail runs along parks, restaurants, and historical sites.

Mount Rainier National Park

Just a short drive south of the community, Ten Trails residents can visit one of the country’s most beautiful national parks. Most roads and trailheads within Mount Rainier National Park are now open for the summer season, however visitors’ centers, Paradise Inn, and facilities remain closed per guidance from the CDC and state, local and NPS public health officers. Be sure to pack your own lunch and plan your visit by checking the park’s website before heading out.

Olympic National Park 

Another Washington State-based National Park, the Olympic National Park, is located about two hours from Ten Trails and offers visitors access to top-rated hiking trails as well as a chance to take a stroll through one of the last temperate rainforests in the country. The Hoh Rainforest is a popular destination in the park due to its spectacular old-growth forest featuring Sitka spruce as well as western hemlock among a wide variety of other trees. Visit the park’s website prior to making the trip to learn how to recreate responsibly and what facilities and centers will be open for your visit.

Snoqualmie Falls

For a quick afternoon trip, take the family to nearby Snoqualmie Falls which is only 35 minutes from Ten Trails. Snoqualmie Falls is one of the state’s most popular attractions and, in addition the spectacular 270-foot waterfall, there is an outdoor upper observation deck as well as a trail that wanders through the two-acre park for visitors to explore. As of publication date of this post, the park’s restrooms and lower boardwalk are closed to the public. www.TenTrails.com 360-469.4043