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Paradise
Paradise · Pierce County
Martha Longmire called this 5,400-foot meadow a paradise, and the park still measures about 640 inches of snow here in an average winter.
Paradise sits at 5,400 feet on the south side of Mount Rainier. When James Longmire's daughter-in-law, Martha, first saw the site, she exclaimed, "Oh, what a paradise!" The National Park Service keeps that name. The Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center is in the upper parking area. Paradise is 19 miles (30 km) east of the Nisqually Entrance and 12 miles (19 km) east of Longmire.
It is the park's main winter-use area, receiving on average 640 inches (53.6 feet / 16.2 meters) of snow a year. The road between Longmire and Paradise is plowed in winter but closes at night. Summer trails climb through fragile subalpine meadows. The Skyline Trail, 5.5 miles (8.8 km), is the essential Paradise loop, with views of Rainier, the Tatoosh Range, and on clear days Mount Adams and Mount St. Helens.
Snow can linger on the trails well into June or July. Pets are not allowed on any trails. The sources below are Mount Rainier National Park visitor pages.
- Geography & Geology
Sources (1)
government · Tier S
National Park ServiceParadise
Last reviewed: September 21, 2026
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