7 Easy Mount Rainier Trails for Mini Mountaineers

Distance: 2.4 miles round trip

At 6,200 feet, Sunrise is the highest point accessible by car on Mount Rainier. Due to snow accumulation, it opens later in the season, usually in late July. Here you will find a visitor center offering educational exhibits and ranger-guided tours. From the center, you can access several trails that are family- and kid-friendly, including the Silver Forest Trail. This trail is flat and offers views of wildflowers, the mountain, silvery trees that met their demise in previous weather events and fires, and the Emmons Glacier. This is a less crowded trail, a good choice if you don’t want lots of company.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in 2021 and just updated for 2023.