Mt. Rainier is the highest peak in the Cascade Range and in Washington. It is a huge stratovolcano with a summit elevation of 14,411 feet. The mountain is among the 16 Decade Volcanoes, which means that Mt. Rainier exhibits several volcanic hazards. Mt. Rainier has a total of 26 massive glaciers, and a summit that has two volcanic craters. The large amount of glacial ice can cause Mt. Rainier to produce lahars that can be a hazard to the entire Puyallup River valley.
This majestic stratovolcano is located in the southeast portion of Seattle, Washington. Mt. Rainier features a number of exciting sights and activities that many tourists can enjoy. Among the many recreation at Mt. Rainier are horseback riding, skiing, hiking, mountain climbing, camping and fishing. The mountain is home to different species of fishes such as the whitefish, brown trout, rainbow trout, Coho salmon and Steelhead. There are also several types of animals at Mt. Rainier including the black-tailed deer, 54 species of mammals, 17 species of reptiles and amphibians and 126 species of exotic birds.
Because of the numerous recreations that tourists can enjoy in Mt. Rainier, it would be great to visit the place no matter what time of the year. During the winter, tourists will love to go skiing and snowboarding. There are also autumn activities such as foliage and berry-picking. For those who enjoy hiking, the best time of the year to go to Mt. Rainier is in the summer. Tourists will love to engage in several summer activities including mountain climbing, camping and mountain biking.