MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK
Paradise in Pierce County!!
Mount Rainier National Park is the fifth largest national park. Established by Congress in 1899 it is now visited by more than 2,000,000 people every year. It is 378 square miles in area with an elevation of 14,411 feet at the summit. The first European to see the mountain is recorded to be British Navy Captain, George Vancouver in 1792. He coined the name after his friend Admiral Peter Rainier.
The first men to reach the summit were Hazard Stevens and P.B. Trump in 1870. The first woman was Fay Fuller in 1890.
Hiking is a favorite activity in Mount Rainier National Park, both for day hikers and over night backpackers. The park offers 210 miles of trails, plus the 95 mile Wonderland Trail which completely encircles the mountain.
There are 34 waterfalls and 62 lakes within the park. It is home to over 700 species of flowering plants, including magnificent displays of wildflowers in the sub-alpine meadows during the summer.
Mount Rainier's forests are home to several species of hemlock, cedar, fir, and pine trees, including many trees over 600 years old.
More than 130 species of birds and 50 species of wild animals inhabit the park, including mountain goat, elk, deer, bear, beaver, marmots, and racoons.
There are three areas with tourist facilities, including accomodations, restaurants, and gift shops:Paradise (elevation 5,557ft.) Sunrise ( 6,400ft.) and Longmire (2,761ft.).
For more information on the park, contact the National Park Service @ (360)569-2211. For information on tourist facilities, call (360)569-2400.
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