At 14,410 feet, Mount Rainier towers over Sunrise and is a major influence on landscape and the life it supports. In addition to its volcanic and glacial activity, the mountain intercepts moisture-laden ocean air flowing inland. This air cools as it rises over the mountain, dropping most of its moisture as rain or snow on western slopes. The northeast side receives less precipitation, resulting in more clear, dry days at Sunrise than at on the southwest side at Paradise. This “rain shadow” effect is a major influence on the plant life in this area.

We hope you enjoyed this guided hike and that on your next visit to Mount Rainier the meadows will look as beautiful as they did today, in part due to your own efforts to keep it so. As a good steward, you are leaving a lasting legacy by staying on designated trails to preserve the meadows that call Mount Rainier National Park home.

Turn left and head down to the Sunrise parking area or take the trail to the right to hike the Sunrise Rim Loop, a 5.2-miles roundtrip, 1,000 feet elevation gain, or take in views from the Fremont Fire Lookout, 5.6-miles, 900 feet elevation gain roundtrip, or check out the water source for the Sunrise area, Frozen Lake, a 2.8-miles roundtrip trek.