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Mount Rainier’s east side: Sunrise and Chinook Pass
From Enumclaw to the highest road in Mount Rainier National Park, over Chinook Pass and along Stevens Canyon to Paradise and Ashford.
- Distance
- 118 km (74 mi)
- Driving
- 1 h 19 min
- Suggested days
- 2
- Stops
- 7
- States
- WA
- Updated
- July 13, 2026
At a glance: 2-day road trip of about 118 km (74 mi) with 7 stops, from Enumclaw to Ashford. About 1 h 19 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Washington · More road trips from Seattle
Route description
From Enumclaw, SR-410 follows the White River into the mountains, about an hour to the park’s northeast entrance. The Sunrise Road climbs 15 miles from the White River entrance to Sunrise, at 6,400 feet, the highest point you can drive to in the park. It is usually open only from early July to late September. Trails lead to Frozen Lake and the Mount Fremont Lookout.
Back on SR-410, continue to Cayuse Pass and up to Chinook Pass, closed in winter. Tipsoo Lake, just below the pass, reflects Mount Rainier, and the Naches Peak Loop of about 3.5 miles leads through wildflower meadows in late July and August. Return to Cayuse Pass and take SR-123 south to the Stevens Canyon entrance.
Stevens Canyon Road runs west for about 20 miles toward Paradise. Box Canyon has a short loop and a bridge over a slot cut by the Muddy Fork of the Cowlitz River. Higher up, Reflection Lakes mirror Rainier on calm mornings; parking is along the road. Stevens Canyon Road is usually open from late May or June to autumn.
Paradise has the park’s main visitor center, a historic inn and meadow trails such as the Skyline Trail. From there, the road drops through the Nisqually entrance to Ashford, where there are campgrounds and supplies. The park has an entrance fee, and the timed entry reservations used in 2024 and 2025 were dropped for 2026; check the rules before you go.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Enumclaw
WA - 250 km
Sunrise, Mount Rainier
NatureWhite River, WAThe highest point reachable by car in Mount Rainier National Park, at 6,400 feet, facing the Emmons Glacier. The road is usually open from early July to late September; trails lead to Frozen Lake and Mount Fremont Lookout.
- 313 km
Tipsoo Lake
NatureChinook Pass, WAA small subalpine lake below Chinook Pass on SR-410, with Rainier reflected in calm water. Wildflowers peak in late July and August on the Naches Peak Loop, which starts here; SR-410 closes in winter.
- 417 km
Box Canyon
NatureMount Rainier National Park, WAA slot about 115 feet deep cut by the Muddy Fork of the Cowlitz, seen from the road bridge on Stevens Canyon Road. A short loop crosses polished glacial bedrock; parking is roadside.
- 59 km
Reflection Lakes
ViewsMount Rainier National Park, WARoadside lakes on Stevens Canyon Road that mirror Mount Rainier on calm mornings. Parking is along the shoulder; fishing, swimming and walking on the shore meadows are not allowed.
- 62 km
Paradise, Mount Rainier
NatureAshford, WAWildflower meadows at 5,400 feet on the flank of Mount Rainier, with trails toward the glaciers.
- 727 km
Ashford
WA
Suggested stages and overnight stops
2 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Enumclaw → Tipsoo Lake · 39 mi · 0 h 42 minOn the way: Sunrise, Mount Rainier.Overnight nearby, for example: Ohanapecosh Campground (9 mi); Silver Springs Campground (9 mi).
- Day 2: Tipsoo Lake → Ashford · 35 mi · 0 h 37 minOn the way: Box Canyon, Reflection Lakes, Paradise, Mount Rainier.Overnight nearby, for example: Big Creek Campground (3 mi); Cougar Rock Campground (11 mi).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and October. Cold, short days in January. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
FAQs
How long is Mount Rainier’s east side: Sunrise and Chinook Pass?
2-day road trip of about 118 km (74 mi) with 7 stops, from Enumclaw to Ashford. About 1 h 19 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Mount Rainier’s east side: Sunrise and Chinook Pass?
We suggest 2 days: about 1 h 19 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Mount Rainier’s east side: Sunrise and Chinook Pass start and end?
It starts in Enumclaw and ends in Ashford.
Which states does Mount Rainier’s east side: Sunrise and Chinook Pass pass through?
Washington.
Where can you camp along Mount Rainier’s east side: Sunrise and Chinook Pass?
OpenStreetMap lists 68 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: Kanaskat-Palmer State Park Campground, Cougar Rock Campground and Ohanapecosh Campground.
When is the best time for Mount Rainier’s east side: Sunrise and Chinook Pass?
The most pleasant months are usually May–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
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