Paradise River Camp
Campground
Campground · 1.6 mi from the trail
Washington · Hiking · Near Packwood
Waterfall
Photo: Ralph Arvesen from Round Mountain, Texas, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- 0.4 mi
- round trip
- 175 ft
- climb
- 5,638 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jul–Sep
- best months
Is Waterfall open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Mount Rainier National Park. It doesn't name Waterfall, so check the source for the area it covers.
Paradise Road Status: Gate closed at Longmire: projected to open tomorrow
Park closure covering Mount Rainier National Park · NPS · Mount Rainier National Park
WILDFIRE CLOSURES: Sunrise & northern trails.
Park alert covering Mount Rainier National Park · NPS · Mount Rainier National Park
As of · Source: NPS · Mount Rainier National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Waterfall is an easy hike in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington, managed by the National Park Service and set within the park's Mora conditions area. The trail is short and gentle, with a total round-trip distance of about 0.8 miles and a total gain of about 175 feet. It is an out-and-back route, and the steepest stretch comes about a quarter of the way in, where the grade reaches about 20%. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Rainier Paradise run to highs around 62°F in July and 64°F in August, with lows in the mid-40s. Winters are cold, with January highs around 34°F and lows near 24°F. A fee is charged for the visit. The Lower Lakes hike and the Mount Rainier summit route are both about 0.2 miles away, and the Golden Gate hike is about 0.3 miles away. Cougar Rock Campground sits about 3 miles off.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after 
If it rainsSteven Pavlov, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Steven Pavlov, CC BY-SA 4.0 (commons)
More in PackwoodLocal outfitters
- Sunset Lake Summer Camp & Retreat Center26 mi away
- Silver Beach Resort26 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- Lower LakesHiking0.2 mi
- Mount RainierMountaineering0.2 mi
- Golden GateHiking0.3 mi
- Liberty CapMountaineering2 mi
Cougar Rock CampgroundCampingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain3.1 mi
Cougar Rock Group CampgroundCampingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain3.1 mi
Nisqually RiverCanoeingPhoto: Ian Poellet, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)4.1 mi- Muddy Fork Cowlitz RiverCanoeing6.4 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Nisqually VistaHiking · Next doorPhoto: Mount Rainier National Park from Ashford, WA, United States, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
Pinnacle PeakHiking · ~4 min drivePhoto: justin prince, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Tatoosh Trail #161Hiking · ~12 min drivePhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)- SkylineHiking · Next door
Mildred PointHiking · ~4 min drivePhoto: brewbooks — CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
Pyramid Peak TrailHiking · ~8 min drivePhoto: justin prince, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- Unicorn Peak climbing routeHiking · ~5 min drive
- Comet Falls-Van TrumpHiking · ~4 min drive
Trail Of The ShadowsHiking · ~8 min drivePhoto: yancy9 — CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- Tatoosh Lake Trail #161BHiking · ~10 min drivePhoto: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
Best time to visit Waterfall
Best months: July–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
34° / 24°
Feb
34° / 23°
Mar
36° / 24°
Apr
40° / 26°
May
48° / 33°
Jun
54° / 37°
Jul
62° / 44°
Aug
64° / 45°
Sep
57° / 41°
Oct
46° / 33°
Nov
37° / 26°
Dec
33° / 22°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Rainier Paradise Rs, WA, 0.3 mi away at 5,427 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
