Last updated: April 20, 2023
Article
Enjoy the View Like Jalyn Cummings
How do you enjoy the view?
The Enjoy the View Like Us series invites National Park Service employees to share their stories about their favorite park views. The ways to enjoy the view are as unique as parks and their visitors. We hope these stories inspire you to enjoy the view! Learn more about scenic views in national parks.
NPS Photo / Jalyn Cummings
“The volcano unifies us, reminds us how small we are, and how big nature is, bringing us all together.”
This is how Jalyn Cummings describes one of her favorite views: Mount Rainier from the Mount Fremont Lookout trail at Mount Rainer National Park. Mount Fremont Lookout Trail from Sunrise to the lookout is through meadowland and over rocky crags. On a clear day hikers can enjoy superb views of Mount Rainier, the Cascades, and the Olympic Mountains.
Jalyn is an air resources coordinator for Pacific West Region (interior regions 8, 9, 10, 12). She helps parks to protect park resources, visitors, and employees against the adverse impacts of air pollution. She believes in building relationships and interdisciplinary teamwork. Air quality takes everyone working together across agencies, boundaries, and professions, so it’s the perfect job.
NPS Photo
What makes this view so special?
Jalyn says “The hardest part was picking one view. So many incredible views in national parks. But this one is special to me because on a clear day in the Puget Sound, Mount Rainier dominates everything in the region. The volcano unifies us, reminds us how small we are, and how big nature is, bringing us all together.” The months of December to March have some of the clearest days because there is typically less air pollution to reduce visibility.
On a hike to see wildflowers in bloom, Jalyn was struck by “the contrast between Mount Rainier’s glaciers, rock, and hardness against the softness of its delicate and colorful flowers. When you’re there, it’s almost impossible not to stop and stare, slow down (take a picture of course), and just smile."
NPS Photo / Brittany Burnett
What should visitors know?
The trailhead starts at 6,400 feet elevation at Sunrise and climbs moderately a short distance to the top of Sourdough Ridge. Follow the Sourdough Ridge trail west to the five-way trail intersection at Frozen Lake. From there, the trail to Mount Fremont traverses the west side of a rocky ridge for another 1.3 miles to a fire lookout built in the 1930s. Mount Fremont Lookout is one of four historic fire lookouts in Mount Rainier National Park. With spectacular views of Mount Rainier and the surrounding Cascades, Mount Fremont Lookout is an excellent spot to view sunrise or sunset. If you are hiking early in the morning, you might not see Mount Rainer because of the fog or clouds.
Visit Mount Rainier National Park’s website for information to help you plan your trip.