• Mount Rainier peeks through clouds, viewed across subalpine wildflowers and glacial moraine.

    Mount Rainier

    National Park Washington

Natural Features

A view looking down on the Sunrise with Mount Rainier in the background.
The Sunrise Visitor Center and Day Lodge with Mount Rainier and the Emmons Glacier in the background.
NPS Photo
 
The protection, study and management of the park's natural resources and processes is essential for achieving the park's purpose and mission goals. The park includes outstanding geologic and hydrologic resources that represent key physical elements in the park ecosystem, including glaciers and snowfields, geomorphic features such as watersheds and landforms, soils, and paleoecologic deposits. Glaciers, snowfields, watersheds, and soils are especially sensitive to air pollution and climatic change.

Volcano - Glaciers - Aggradation

  • Seismicity Seismicity

    Is Mount Rainier an active volcano? Seismicity- the study of the distribution of earthquakes- could give us a clue. Read More

  • Geohazards Geohazards

    Geologic hazards at Mount Rainier include more than just the risk of volcanic eruption. Read More

  • Ecological Restoration Ecological Restoration

    How do we help keep subalpine meadows thriving? Learn more about the Ecological Restoration program through this video. Read More

Did You Know?

Magenta Paintbrush

The Paradise meadows were once home to a golf course, rope tows for skiers, an auto campground, and rows of tent cabins. All of these activities damaged the meadows, as does walking off-trail. Management practices have changed over the years, and we now protect and restore our precious subalpine meadows.