| Wildflower Destinations > Washington Cascades (Central) |
Van Trump Park (Mt. Rainier)
Pierce County, Washington
Mt. Rainier National Park
Fees: National Park Service & timed-entry reservation
Activity: hiking
Elevation: 3625'-6925'
Current status (as of 1/20/25): not blooming
Notes: This is the hike for people who want to explore Mt. Rainier without getting trampled by tourists. The flowers in Van Trump Park aren't as spectacular as at Paradise, but the crowds are minimal. (Due to overcrowding, you now have to get a timed-entry reservation to enter the park in the summer — or arrive before 7:00am or after 3:00pm.)
Peak wildflower bloom at Van Trump Park is typically from mid-July through the end of August, but there may be some flowers blooming from early July until mid-September.*
Typical year: 
Featured plants: Empetrum nigrum, Pedicularis rainierensis
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* The dates given on this Web site for each location's blooming season are only estimates and can vary from year to year. Weather conditions in the winter and spring can shift these dates by up to a month, especially in the mountains. For the latest updates, check the Oregon Wildflowers or PortlandHikers Facebook groups, or browse the most recent postings to iNaturalist or Instagram.
