Fine Art Photography Blog

Aptly named, Paradise is an outpost of civilization in southwestern Mount Ranier National Park. More than a mile - 5,400 feet - above nearby sea level, our destination is every bit the sub-alpine wonderland its name implies. A valley of meadows teaming with wildflowers, lakes, and backing up to the foot of a glacier, the place is easy to fall in love with.

Unsurprisingly, Paradise is the most visited section of the Mount Rainier whose boundaries as a national park cover 1/3 the area of Rhode Island. During the summer - which can be short and unpredictable in the high country - Paradise is impossibly crowded. Much like Yosemite. Route 706 from the Nisqually entrance is kept open to the Paradise Lodge through the winter, but requires four wheel drive or chains - sometimes both. Difficult but accessible is a good combination.

There’s little hiking to be had in the winter, though, at least on foot. Snow shoes are needed to get mroe than a few hundred yards; the snow is wet, dense, and becomes packed. “Cascade concrete” will generally hold an adult’s weight, but you’ll break through too often. Luckily, the park service has a free but guided hike, and plenty of snow shoes to go around.

Paradise itself is usually covered by about 15 feet of snow in January and February. It was 20 degrees, with strong wind - you can see it blowing a flurry of snow from the volcanic peak in one of the photos above. Dress in layers, and bring appropriate cold-weather gear.