Trip Date: June 21st, 2021
Driving through Mount Rainier National Park always makes for a great driving adventure. Stunning scenery of trees and epic views of mountains both near and far await.
Layers upon layers of mountain ridges and dark river valleys extend far into the distance. The main attraction of the park, the Mount Rainier Volcano, is almost too big to absorb as you drive around it. On a clear day, you can see the equally impressive Mount Adams off in the distance as you drive south down highway 410 through the park.
It is an even more glorious trip when you have the chance to experience the park during ta clear summer sunset. Absolutely sunning golden light paints the rocks on the mountain peaks while the tall evergreen trees cast shadows all around.
On this early summer visit, the mountain pastures were still covered in snow and glowed brightly in the summer sunset.
Along the east side of Mount Rainier National Park lies Chinook Pass, where Hwy-410 goes above one mile, peaking out at 5,430 feet. Continuing east from the pass the highway travels down the American river valley. The road is cut into the mountainside and provides a stunning overlook of the valley below.
Some parts of the road have only just melted out from snow and early summer wildflowers were to be seen. The blue color of wildflowers along the roadside helped to make this evening drive spectacular.
