sunrise visitor center

I loved the drive to Sunrise and it offers a few short and a couple long hikes. I did not care for this visitor center or any of the surrounding buildings. They are very outdated and I did not find them to be inviting. You don't have to own a mansion to have something nice. I also thought the people were a little less than helpful here - rangers included. They had 2 bathroom areas with one out of commission; hence, lines were really long.Take the short hike down to the right when coming out of the center to Emmons Vista. It is not marked - they say it is - IT IS NOT. It was a sweet site overlooking the glacier on this side.

Just when you begin to get tired of the only summit in this park, this place offers different view of the mountain, if you're lucky, get there when close to sunset, mild sunshine cover the whole mountain in a caramel gold, peace and warm. We didn't do much trail at this spot due to the mosquito issue in summer, parking is much easier compare with skyline trail.

Of course, the area is perhaps the most beautiful in the world. The scenery is jaw dropping. However, the lodge is run down. No health safety standards are used, and the food is cheap fast food (worse than a meal at mcdonalds). Management is corrupt and most employees are terribly mistreated due to how isolated the lodge is. Do not work here, or for any gsi location if you are thinking about it. Living conditions are grotesque. And because employees are not treated properly they do NOT care about your experience at the mountain. Expect cold food, long lines, and yes someone probably spat in your burger.

The new interpretation centre has various displays about the park as well as a small theatre with videos about the mountain and its wildlife. There's also a gift shop and a very expensive cafeteria - which did the best chilli dogs we have ever had, but at $9 each they needed to be good!!

Breathtaking views and intense hiking awaits any visitor to this area. Bring your camera (on panoramic mode) and you won't be disappointed. Keep in mind that some of the trails aren't for the light at heart and will involve quite the heights.

Drive up to Sunrise if you have the chance. I consider this one of the best car accessible ways to see Mt. Ranier and all it's glory. Hike to Third Burroughs and watch the climbers ascending like ants on a wall. Hear the glacier crack and crumble. Frolic with goats. The view of the mountain on a clear day will make you feel very, very small. One of my favorites. 15 dollar fee for the whole park.

The winding road up to Sunrise deters some, but the views, fresh air, and explosion of colors in the meadows is well worth the effort. We went in late September and the meadow were a beautiful golden color, with lots of reds and yellows from the bushes, combined with the dark green of the fir trees against the blue sky and white of the nearby glaciers, was fantastic. Nice visitor facilities as well. The road up offers lots of fabulous vistas. Perhaps best to visit this side of the mountain in the morning when the sun shines on the mountain from the east. This is the highest point in the park that can be accessed by car.

Sunrise, Mt. Rainier, isn't as famous as Paradise...but in many ways is more spectacular. It is a two hour drive from Seattle and the last 15 miles from the Park entrance on the northeastern flank of the mountain is a memorable mountain road. It is one of the closest views of glaciation on the mountain and on a clear day one can see to Mt. Baker on the Canadian border.

I actually prefer to hike out of Sunrise rather than Paradise. There are more options than just "up the side" and the crowds are less. There is a bit of food available for purchase and a small gift shop. The visitor center is pretty sparse. But it is all about the mountain and the hikes for me.

The drive upto the visitor center is very scenic with fabulous views of the cascades and Mount Rainier! We had lunch at a picnic area right behind the visitor center with an up-close view of the majestic Rainier - definitely a memorable picnic spot! There is a lot more snow (and perhaps glaciers) on this face of the mountain compared to the view from Paradise.Having said that, if you are in a crunch for time, Paradise is the place to visit. The skyline trail there is truly one-of-a-kind. If you have 2 days to spare or are a WA local, you have to visit both Paradise and Sunrise for a complete Mount Rainier NP experience! Another great spot to view Mt. Rainier near Sunrise is the Crystal Mountain ski resort (which is outside the national park). They run a gondola service during summer which offers great views from an elevation of ~10,000 feet.

only if you have time, its beautiful in early season but kind of quiet and a long dangerous drive at night.

The displays were very helpful in understanding the geography of the region. There were several interactive activities for children. Park rangers were visible, and very helpful when picking trails. The National Park service has revamped their information to mark the difficulty of trails. Trails were well maintained and marked.

Leaving the town of Enumclaw heading up to Sunrise, it is sunny and looks like a great day for a hike. You drive an hour with anticipation, get to the lodge and what a decision. which hike do I take? You can go for half hour to all day. Trails are great. Oh, but what about those clouds, don't look so good, we may not be able to see the mountain for long. Yep, you guessed it, Mt Rainier is know to hang on to clouds. They come in fast and can stay, so go prepared with a jacket, even if it is 80, pack a windbreaker. We did the Frozen Lake - 1st Burrough then Shadow lake and in to the back side of the parking lot. Great hike to see many beautiful sites. Some areas were level 4 but mostly 2. Enjoy!

Sunrise was the closest to my sister's place in Kent, so we went here. Never having been to Mt. Rainier, we were quite awestruck! Yes, the road up was long and winding, but well maintained. Views were astounding of the valley and mountains. Not much in the way of wildflowers this time of year and after a hot summer, didn't see any waterfalls. We were blessed with a totally sunny and 70's day. We chose any easy hike this time around. The Visitor's Center was average, and yes, food is way too expensive! Still-- the highlight of my summer.

Sunrise visitor center in the Mt. rainier national park is an important point, from where we can view the mountain from a different angle. This time, we saw the snow clad Mt. Rainier from the north side and its really Awe some. The visitor center 6400 feet high is well maintained and its good place to spend some time here, before going on trails.Do not miss to enjoy the scenic view of Sun rise LAKE and MT ADAMS from an observation point just a mile away from the center.