Paradise Glacier

Paradise Glacier is a glacier on Mount Rainier's southeast flank, situated between 7,200 and 9,000 feet elevation and flowing into the larger Cowlitz Glacier system. The ice field covers roughly one third of a square mile across the mountainside.

The glacier took its name from early explorations of Mount Rainier in the late 1800s, when mountaineers first mapped this region. A memorial marker near the trail honors the first documented summit ascent by Stevens and Van Trump in 1870.

The memorial includes a waterfall named after Sluiskin, a Native American guide who led the first documented climbers through the Mount Rainier wilderness.

The area is accessible from June through October, when snow coverage is manageable for hiking. Access starts near Paradise Inn, which offers parking and visitor facilities in the park.

The glacier's southern section once contained ice caves carved by meltwater that attracted visitors for decades. These caverns melted away completely between 2004 and 2006 as warming accelerated.

Location: Washington

Location: Pierce County

GPS coordinates: 46.81765,-121.71741

Latest update: December 14, 2025 12:20