Mount Rainier Wilderness

Mount Rainier Wilderness spans 228,400 acres of land, featuring 26 named glaciers across 9 watersheds, with 382 lakes and 470 rivers and streams.

The area received federal wilderness designation on November 16, 1988, through the Washington Park Wilderness Act, establishing protection under the Wilderness Act of 1964.

Six tribes maintain connections to this land: the Cowlitz, Muckleshoot, Nisqually, Puyallup, Squaxin Island, and Yakama, reflecting their traditional and spiritual bonds.

Winter conditions persist for nine months annually, requiring visitors to prepare for snow, elevation gains exceeding 9,000 feet, and rapid weather changes.

The wilderness contains the most heavily glaciated peak in the contiguous United States, with glaciers covering 37 square miles of terrain.

Location: Washington

GPS coordinates: 46.86110,-121.70400

Latest update: March 4, 2025 10:11