Javin Elliff Photography

August 10, 2025

Rainier Adventures

I visited Mount Rainier National Park a few times in July and August. In early July I went on an overnight trip with my dad to a place that neither of us had been. A few days later I did an evening hike for a sunset view. And finally, in early August, a five-day 55-mile trip with my sister and niece.

My sister lucked out in the permit lottery early in the year, and we pieced together a unique trip that took us in a semi-circle around the mountain. When we picked up the permit, even the ranger said we had a cool itinerary! I was looking forward to sunset views every night, but instead we were in the clouds and fog the first three nights. Only on the last night did the skies clear. While I didn't get the sunset photos I had in mind, all three trips were wonderful excursions in nature.

Mount Rainier in the evening on a clear day.
Sunset on Mount Rainier above an old burn.
A colorful sky behind the silhouette of subalpine trees.
A trail through a mixed forest of Doug fir, western hemlock, yellow cedar and silver fir.
Evening light on Russell Glacier on the north side of Mount Rainier.
Indian paintbrush and Mount Rainier at sunset.
Last light on Mount Rainier.
A long exposure of a waterfall.
A pika surveying his talus kingdom.
A doe amongst the wildflowers.
A young silver fir surrounded by mostly yellow cedar.
A trail through a foggy forest of hemlock and fir with a lush layer of huckleberries.
A trail weaves through the foggy forest.
Reflections in a lake.
Mount Rainier above a young forest recovering from an old forest fire.
Clouds above and below the summit of Mount Rainier.
A little bit of alpenglow on the mid-section of Mount Rainier at sunset.