Mt Rainier National Park to North Cascades

Are you trying to decide between visiting Mt Rainier vs North Cascades National Park in Washington state?

The Pacific Northwest is one of the best places for hiking, adventure, mountains, and national parks in the entire country.

And with three of those national parks being located right in the state of Washington, there is plenty of adventure to be had.

When you’re trying to decide which to visit, it can be hard to choose, as they’re both stunning parks.

Whether you’re looking for hiking, viewpoints, camping, or just getting outdoors, each park has its own unique features.

In this post, we’ll go over everything you’ll need to know to plan your trip to Washington’s most beautiful areas, and which you should choose.

Table of Contents

Mt Rainier Vs North Cascades: Overview

Washington is home to three national parks, including Mount Rainier, Olympic, and North Cascades, each of which is uniquely beautiful.

I’ve been to both parks a few times and have experienced many of the incredible things to do in each. Let’s do a quick overview of each park before getting started.

About Mount Rainier National Park

Mount Rainier National Park is Washington’s first national park, established in 1899, surrounding the tallest mountain in the state.

The main mountain herself stands at 14,410 feet above sea level, is the most glaciated peak in the country and is an active volcano.

It’s one of five active volcanoes in the state, although it hasn’t erupted in about 1,000 years.

Visitors can enjoy viewing the mountain from visitor centers, hiking trails, or the main roads through the park.

There’s also no doubt about it (except if it’s raining of course…) that you’ll be able to see Mount Rainier dominating the skyline in Seattle.

About North Cascades National Park

North Cascades National Park is my personal favorite park in the state and is home to some of Washington’s most remote wilderness.

From jagged peaks covered in snow and glaciers to alpine lakes tucked away in meadows, this area is known for its pure beauty.

It’s one of the least visited national parks in the country, due to how remote it is, which in turn makes it less busy than others.

If you’re looking for somewhere to escape the busyness of the city, then this remote park will surely give you what you’re looking for.

Differences Between North Cascades and Mt. Rainier

Best Activities in Each Park

North Cascades

• Hike the Maple Pass Loop

• See the Washington Pass Overlook

• Visit the Ross Dam

• Hike to Thunder Knob

• See wild mountain goats

• Go stargazing

• Drive the Scenic Highway

• Drive to Picture Lake

Mount Rainier

• Backpack the Wonderland Trail

• Watch the sunrise at Fremont Lookout

• Look for mountain goats

• See Myrtle Falls

• Hike the Skyline Trail

• Witness a cloud inversion

• Hike the Naches Peak Loop

• Hike Grove of the Patriarchs

Aside from all of the specific activities that you’ll find in each park, you can also expect each park to have more hiking trails, visitor centers, and overlooks.

These can be found on the maps for each park (NCNP map; MRNP map).

Views and Landscapes

Because both parks are in the Cascade Mountain range, they both have pretty similar landscapes, but still have differing views!

At NCNP, you can expect to see large viewpoints of tons of fantastic snow-capped mountain peaks.

Whereas at MRNP, you’ll find expansive views of rolling hills and the main viewpoint being the main mountain, Rainier.

Family Friendliness

If you have little ones that are coming along on your adventure, you may want to consider how family-friendly the park that you’re visiting is.

Between Mt Rainier and North Cascades, I’ve found that MRNP tends to be a better fit for little kiddos.

There are many more options for short, easy hiking trails, pull-off viewpoints, and areas to see views at visitor centers.

Park Location

North Cascades is located in far northern Washington, almost on the Canadian border.

The largest nearby towns are Winthrop and Marblemount, although neither are very close, so don’t expect to find much in either.

Mount Rainier is found in southern Washington, about 2 hours from Seattle, with the nearest towns being Ashford and Packwood.

Nearest Airport

The nearest airport to both parks is the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) in Seattle.

It’s about a 2.5-hour drive from SEA to North Cascades National Park, or just under 120 miles.

And from Mt. Rainier, SEA is about 1.75 hours or about 75 miles.

Rental cars are available at the airport.

How to Get Around

The best way to get around either park is by car, whether it be your own or a rental, this is the best way to see the area.

Because of how large each park is, getting around on foot or bike just isn’t as feasible.

There also isn’t any public transportation within the park, so I would recommend grabbing yourself a rental car or an Escape Campervan.

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Best Time to Visit

While both parks are absolutely beautiful year-round, there’s definitely a better time to plan a visit.

Because there is quite a bit of snow that falls in the winter, and hiking in the snow becomes difficult, I would avoid winter.

I would recommend planning your visit during the summer or fall months.

For both parks in the summer, you’ll have warm temperatures, snow-free trails, open roads, and sunny skies.

And during the fall, the parks will be filled with beautiful foliage, larches, and leaves changing colors.

Time Needed to Visit

How long you have to spend at each park is an important consideration, because it’ll dictate how much you can do during your visit.

I would say that both parks require about 2-3 days to fully experience everything.

You can of course spend more time than that in either, but that’s about what is recommended.

Crowds and Wait Times

Both parks can get pretty darn busy in the peak season, which is summer, but it seems that Rainier tends to get busier.

When I visited last, there was what must have been a 1 mile-long line to get into the entrance of the park.

North Cascades isn’t as busy because it’s just typically a less visited park, but you definitely may still see crowds during the summer months.

To avoid crowds at either, visit during the morning (even during the sunrise!) to get the park more to yourself!

Entrance Fees

Most national parks charge a fee to enter that helps keep the park up and running and ensures that it stays protected.

MRNP has a $35 vehicle fee that will last for 7 consecutive days.

NCNP doesn’t have a fee to enter, so you actually don’t have to worry about any additional costs to visit.

But, if you’re a regular visitor of national parks, I would recommend getting yourself an America the Beautiful pass, which allows you into any park and national recreation area for an entire year.

How Far Apart are North Cascades and Mount Rainier?

These two parks definitely aren’t very close to each other and will require quite a bit of driving to get from one to the other.

From the Nisqually Entrance at MRNP to the Eastern Entrance at NCNP, the drive time is just under 4 hours.

This equals out to be about 200 miles.

Remember that this could definitely change if you’re driving from different areas.

For example, if you’re on the far eastern side of NCNP, it may take you closer to 5 hours to get down to Mount Rainier.

Is Mt. Rainier or North Cascades Better for Hiking?

If you’re looking for the best park for hikers, then I would personally recommend heading to North Cascades over Mt. Rainier.

In this park, you’ll find a lot of great, longer hikes that lead you into the mountains and past beautiful views.

There aren’t many shorter trails, but there are a lot of longer trails that are perfect for those who love to get out on the trail.

My favorite trails include Blue Lake, Heather-Maple Pass, and Thunder Knob.

Which Park is Better if I’m Not a Hiker?

If you aren’t interested in hiking but still want to visit a national park in Washington, then I would recommend visiting Mount Rainier.

This park is better for non-hikers because there are many viewpoints that are accessible from just off the road.

There are also short trails that visitors can walk on that don’t have much elevation gain and are really easy!

Even little kiddos will enjoy the park, and so will parents, because you won’t have to drag the kiddos along.

North Cascades or Mt. Rainier: The Verdict

Now that we’ve gone over everything that there is to know about visiting these two national parks, let’s go over which the best is.

Quite honestly, the choice is really tough, because they are both such incredible places to visit! But if you have to choose, I totally understand.

If you’re looking for a more family-friendly trip with shorter hikes, great views, and a nice location, then I would head to Mount Rainier.

On the other hand, if you’re hoping for lots of great hikes, a remote location, and incredible mountain ranges, then North Cascades is for you.

Which you visit will entirely depend on what you’re hoping for, but when I’m asked, “is North Cascades worth visiting?” and “is Mount Rainier worth visiting?”, the answer is always a yes, absolutely.

So while my personal choice would be North Cascades, it doesn’t matter which you choose, because you certainly won’t be disappointed.

Tips for Visiting Washington

• Always bring a raincoat, as you never know when it will begin to rain, and you don’t want to get stuck without one!
• Follow the 7 principles of Leave No Trace to help protect our planet.
• Have the correct pass for each park or trailhead. The America the Beautiful Pass is best for national parks.
• Prepare yourself for the day by always packing the 10 essentials.
• Wear sunscreen, even when hiking in the winter in Washington, because it’s very easy to get burnt in high altitudes.
• Be prepared for changing weather, as it’s very common for the weather to change quickly in the mountains.
• Enjoy wildlife from a distance.
• Arrive to trailheads and parks early in the day to avoid crowds and full parking lots.

FAQs

Is North Cascades Worth Visiting?

Yes, North Cascades National Park is highly worth visiting, and in fact, I think that it’s my favorite park in the state!
There are so many fantastic views, great hikes, and unique sites. I really recommend a visit!

Why is North Cascades National Park Not Popular?

One of the biggest reasons why North Cascades isn’t as visited is because of how remote it is and how difficult it is to get to.
There is only one main road that runs through the park and in the winter, it’s typically shut down.
There are also not many towns, restaurants, or places to lodge nearby, which makes it difficult for people to visit.

What is the Most Visited National Park in Washington?

Olympic is the most visited park in the state with nearly 3 million visitors per year.

Is North Cascades or Olympic National Park Better?

When comparing North Cascades and Olympic National Parks, I personally would choose North Cascades, just because I think that the hiking trails are better.
There are more beautiful areas to see and it’s better for those who enjoy getting out on the trail!

When Can I See Larches in the North Cascades?

Larch trees begin to turn golden yellow in the Cascade mountain range between late September and October.
They typically have finished turning by mid-October.

How Far is it From North Cascades National Park to Seattle?

To drive from Seattle to NCNP, it’s about 2 hours, but can be more depending on where you’re coming from.
This is about 110 miles.

Is Mt. Rainier or Olympic National Park Better?

If you’re choosing between Mt. Rainier and Olympic, I would personally choose Olympic because it’s much more diverse.
There are a lot of beautiful hikes, plus you’ll get to see the ocean, mountains, and rainforests.

Is Mt. Rainier Part of the Cascades?

Yes, Mt. Rainier is the tallest mountain in the Cascade range.

Conclusion: North Cascades and Mount Rainier

Choosing between two of Washington’s best national parks is a really tough decision, because of how beautiful they each are.

Both have so much to offer, so it can be hard to only visit one.

But if you have to choose Mt Rainier vs North Cascades, then I would consider all of the things that we’ve talked about here to make the best choice.

Which is better Mt Rainier or North Cascades?

Is North Cascades National Park worth visiting?

Is North Cascades a day trip from Seattle?

How many days do you need in Mt Rainier National Park?