Sunrise shines in the morning

Morning is the best time to visit Sunrise, whether that is your destination or you are on your way around Mount Rainier.

Since it is located on the northeast side of the mountain the sun hits there first in the summer, plus if you are early enough you can beat the crowd.

Cars were lined up into the distance waiting to get in before midday on a Saturday, July 9 visit, after you were able to enter with no wait by 10 a.m.

Also helping with the crowd would be an arrival in the middle of the week, especially after school starts and before it is closed by snow.

This year snow remains a factor even in July.

It has been cleared from the roads, but patches remain everywhere around the lodge and gift shop, adding to the view but blocking many trails.

The views of Mount Rainier are outstanding, particularly of the steep Emmons Glacier coming down from the crater on Columbia Crest. Other features like Steamboat Prow and Liberty Cap stand out to the right.

But not to be overlooked are the features to the left on the other side of the White River Valley across from Sunrise.

Jagged peaks stick up into the sky including that of Little Tahoma right next to Mount Rainier, or Mount Tahoma as it was known to the Native Americans.

Little Tahoma ranks among the tallest peaks in the state of Washington at 11,138 feet, but is dwarfed by the 14,410 feet of Mount Rainier.

Sunrise Day Lodge is open from July through the end of September and is located at 6,400 feet -- or 1,000 feet higher than the 5,400 feet of Paradise Inn on the south side of Mount Rainier.

How to get there:

Take Highway 410 out of Sumner, Highway 164 out of Auburn or Highway 169 from Renton and Maple Valley into Enumclaw where the three highways converge.

Follow Highway 410 east toward Chinook Pass, but veer right before you get there into the White River Entrance of Mount Rainier National Park.

From Yakima and the east, take 410 west over Chinook Pass and take a sharp left shortly thereafter into the White River Entrance.

The road to Sunrise switches back and forth up from the entrance and includes one wide parking lot and lookout at the point of the last switchback.  From there it's a short jaunt to Sunrise.

Thursday, Aug. 4 will be free admittance day for Mount Rainier and all other national parks in the United States.  The next free day after that will be Saturday, Sept. 24.

Private vehicle passes good for seven days are normally $30, while seven day motorcycle passes are $25.  The per person walk-up or bicycle fee is $15.

Annual Mount Rainier passes for a car, driver and passengers are $55.

Discover Passes are for state lands only and do not include national parks.

Call (360) 569-2211 for more information on Mount Rainier National Park.

Text and photos by Tim Clinton.