5 waterfall hikes near Mount Rainier (plus a mini road trip)

Did you know that Washington state has more waterfalls than any other state in the contiguous U.S.?

Mount Rainier National Park is home to many of Washington’s 3,000 or so falls. Many are buried deep in the park’s wilderness, but plenty are easily accessible by car or on foot. Late spring and early summer are great times to check out waterfalls (as they start to melt, that is), when the falls roar with fresh snowmelt cascading down rock faces and the roads are open and snow-free (… and before late-summer crowds arrive).

This year, plan a day hike around a waterfall reward or embark on a miniature road trip through the park to view several waterfalls. We have you covered with five hike recommendations and that road trip!

Remember that waterfalls are spectacular but powerful and that nearby rocks can get quite slippery. And if you’re planning for a hike, remember to pack the 10 Essentials — and to check trail and road conditions before you go, including timed-entry rules for the national park.

(Note also that patience is a virtue — you’ll need to wait on some of these hikes to thaw out from winter ice and snow — and that there are no hikes to the northwest of the mountain, due to the closure of the Carbon River Bridge and the park’s northwest entry points.) 

Snoquera Falls

Location: Highway 410, Chinook Pass

Round-trip distance: 3.9 miles

Elevation gain: 975 feet

Pass: Northwest Forest Pass

The volume of water at Snoquera Falls varies drastically throughout the year; the falls are incredibly powerful come springtime. Access these mighty falls from a trail in the Chinook Pass area of Mount Rainier National Park. Follow the Snoquera Falls Loop on a gentle hike through rainforest terrain, among maple, cedar and hemlock trees draped in moss. After a short climb, you’ll reach the roaring Snoquera Falls, which plunge 400 feet down sheer rock face. Watch for slippery rocks!

Goat Falls

Location: Forest Road 7176 off Highway 410, Chinook Pass

Round-trip distance: 1 mile

Elevation gain: 230 feet

Pass: Northwest Forest Pass

This short and easy hike is a family-friendly outing in the Chinook Pass region of Mount Rainier. Take your time to enjoy the forest on the half-mile walk to reach Goat Falls. Don’t discount the size of the falls, because while the water only drops about 10 feet, the surrounding scenery is spectacular. The small cascades are surrounded by mossy boulders and lush forest, making a picture-perfect scene.

Little Mashel Falls via Bud Blancher trail

Location: Weyerhaeuser Road South off Center Street East, Eatonville

Round-trip distance: 4.5 miles

Elevation gain: 500 feet

Pass: None

This recommendation is outside the box (at least, it’s well outside the park). You’ll see a total of three waterfalls via two trails, finding the Little Mashel Falls south of Eatonville, well west of Mount Rainier. (The Bud Blancher Trail is shorter and easier to navigate than the Pack Forest Trail.) 

You’ll walk through lowland vegetation and over bridges crossing the Mashel River and Little Mashel River until you come across the first of three junctions to reach the different falls — the Lower Falls. Continue to the Middle Falls, which are the tallest of the three (at approximately 90 feet), followed by the Upper Falls. 

Watch out for potentially muddy conditions there, as the scene of snowmelt cascading over mossy boulders surrounded by thick forest will surely capture your attention.

Carter and Madcap falls

Location: Paradise Valley Road East, southwest of Paradise 

Round-trip distance: 2.8 miles

Elevation gain: 660 feet

Pass: National Park Pass

Carter and Madcap falls can be reached from a segment of the Wonderland Trail near the park’s Longmire entrance. Follow the trail through open-forested terrain along the winding Nisqually River while enjoying commanding views of Mount Rainier. Carter is the first of the two falls, flowing 53 feet down layered rocks enveloped by trees. You can turn around here or continue about 0.2 miles farther to Madcap Falls, a shorter set of falls cascading down about 34 feet.  

Comet Falls

Location: Longmire to Paradise Road, southwest of Paradise 

Round-trip distance: 3.8 miles

Elevation gain: 1,250 feet

Pass: National Park Pass

This hike provides a lot of waterfall bang for your buck. 

You’ll take a less-than-2-mile trail to reach Comet Falls in Mount Rainier National Park — it’s a powerful waterfall pouring out of a narrow gorge. The trail traces a churning creek and passes many small waterfalls. As you move in and out of forested terrain, listen for the roaring Van Trump Creek. Before you reach the namesake waterfall, you’ll cross another highlight of the hike: Bloucher Falls, which tumbles 124 feet down in three tiers.

Bloucher is worth a stop and is particularly spectacular when morning light catches mist rising from the falls. Continue across the East Fork via a footbridge and soon you will reach Comet Falls. If you get too close to the plunge pool, you’re likely to get soaked from the spray!

Paradise waterfall road trip: Christine, Narada, Ruby and Myrtle falls 

Various places near Paradise in Mount Rainier National Park; paid park entry required, via annual permit or day pass

Four of Mount Rainier’s most popular waterfalls are close to one another — and require little to no hiking. Situated between the Longmire and Paradise areas of Mount Rainier, they can be combined for a waterfall-heavy, hiking-light road trip.  

Your first stop is Christine Falls, which is about 4 miles up the road from Longmire. Pull off the side of the road on either side of the bridge. You can view Christine Falls from the bridge or follow a short trail about 100 feet to a viewing point.

Next, drive about 4 miles to the parking lot for Narada Falls, where you can admire the impressive cascading water from the parking area. Alternatively, hike 0.2 miles to the viewpoint; it’s a short but steep trail.

The third stop on your waterfall tour is the 53-foot Ruby Falls. These relatively hidden falls can be reached by hiking or driving. If you choose to hike, walk along the Narada Falls Trail for about 0.4 miles, where there’s moderate elevation gain. Otherwise, you can drive about a half-mile up the road from Narada Falls and park in a pullout on the right immediately after turning onto Stevens Canyon Road. Here, Ruby Falls can be found under the bridge.

The final stop on your waterfall tour is perhaps the most spectacular. The 72-foot-high Myrtle Falls is perfectly framed by Mount Rainier in the background. Park in the Paradise upper parking lot and reach Myrtle Falls from the paved Skyline Trail, which is 1 mile round-trip. Make sure to have your camera charged for this one!