This summer, I visited Sunrise to see the sunrise with my family. We crawled out of bed at 2 AM and prepared for the long drive ahead of us. At 5 AM, we finally arrived. The sun wasn’t up yet, and none of us were fully awake, but despite how tired we were, the view of Mount Rainier was still breathtaking.
“The sun’s rising!” my brother shouted. We all turned and saw the sun peeking through the treetops. As it climbed higher in the sky, the snow on the mountain turned whiter and whiter. When we finally piled back into our car and prepared for the long trip home, the sun was already high in the sky. Even though our trip was short, it was still incredibly memorable. The trip truly made me appreciate the vision of Congress when they first established Yellowstone National Park in 1872 “as a public park or pleasuring-ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people” and thus all subsequent national parks.
Sincerely,
Mount Rainier National Park
Majestic Mount Rainier is the highest peak in the Cascade Range and an active volcano with more glaciers than any other mountain in the United States. Just an hour's drive from Seattle, the park's wild landscape feels much further from civilization. The forests, parkland, wetlands, lakes and rivers offer 260 miles of trails and varied habitat to dozens of plant and animal species.
State(s): Washington
Established: 1899
“They're a valuable part of life in the Pacific Northwest!”
National parks represent the best of America. Why do you care about protecting and preserving them? Tell us why parks matter to you!
Success! Thanks for sharing your story with us.
You’ll be notified by email when your story is approved and added to the collection on the My Park Story homepage.
In the meantime, you can share your own story page with your family and friends — and help us spread the word about these priceless memories and priceless places!
Here’s your unique story page link:
{{ storyUrl }}-
Greetings from Mount Rainier National Park
On our first date, we connected over our tales of the outdoors - the mountains we’d climbed, the backpacking trips we’d accomplished, the feeling of peace in laying in silence under the stars. Since getting married, we’ve taken up travel full-time, gravitating to places where park lands are aplenty and…
-
Greetings from Mount Rainier National Park
Just before school began, my family took a trip up to Washington. Our first stop was the visitor center at Paradise where we checked out the films and some interactive exhibits. After orienting ourself with one of the maps, we set out on our hike where we were quickly blown…
Preserve Our Parks
Make a tax-deductible gift today to provide a brighter future for our national parks and the millions of Americans who enjoy them.
Donate Now