Mt Rainier National Park Photoshoot Guide
Mt Rainier National Park Photoshoot Guide
Brienne & Jeff recently got engaged in Wisconsin (where they’re from!). They wanted to take engagement photos as a token of their love here in Washington State, which I think is SO SWEET. And of course, what better place to commemorate their love for Washington than Mt Rainier National Park?!? Plus they’re both adventurous people, so having their photos done up at Mount Rainier was perfect for them.
Even better: they brought their adorable dog.
Three Mt Rainier National Park Photography Spots
There are literally hundreds of Mount Rainier photography locations, so it can for sure be hard to narrow down. However, there are a lot of closures during the winter months – so that should help you choose a spot!
To make sure the location you want will be available, check the road status here.
Sunrise Mt. Rainier
The photos throughout this blog were taken at Sunrise!! This was such a fun shoot – do you see that sunset?? Absolutely insane.
This subalpine area sits at an elevation of 6,400 feet! It’s the highest point you can drive to in Mt Rainier National Park. As you can see from these pics, it’s GORGEOUS. It’s no surprise Sunrise is the second most visited place in the whole park.
During the summer, you can expect meadows full of colorful wildflowers! On super clear days, the views of Mount Rainier and Emmons Glacier are literally unbeatable. Views here are basically 360 degrees – you can see the valleys and other volcanoes in the Cascade Range, like Mount Adams.
Location: Sunrise is located 60 miles northeast of the Nisqually Entrance. 14 miles northwest of the Sunrise/White River turnoff on State Route 410.
Other details: Opens in late June/early July, and closes in late September/early October.
Longmire Mt. Rainier
Longmire is open all year round and it’s a beautiful option if you want lovely winter wonderland photos!! This is an adorable historic mountain community with picturesque bridges, tall trees, and rich colors.
If you’re up for a two-ish mile round trip hike, Carter Falls Trail takes you to waterfalls. This would be a super fun adventure photoshoot – I can basically third-wheel and take photos while you guys make memories! This trail has mountain views, rushing rivers, & beautiful waterfalls.
Location: Longmire is located in the southwest corner of the park, 6.5 miles east of the Nisqually Entrance.
Other details: Copper Creek Inn or Longmire Bridge are adorable photoshoot spots!
Paradise Mt. Rainier
The wildflower fields at Paradise Mt. Rainier are INSANE. If you’re wanting romantic photos in a field of colorful flowers, this is 100% your dream photoshoot location. There are also beautiful views of the Tatoosh Mountain Range.
This is also where the Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center is – in the upper parking lot area. The Paradise Inn is a historic landmark here and it was built in 1917!! If you’re into history or want some variation in your photos with buildings in the background, this would be a great addition to your gallery.
Location: Paradise is located 19 miles east of the Nisqually Entrance and 12 miles east of Longmire.
Other details: This area actually gets up to 53 feet of snow any given winter!!
Mount Rainier National Park
For any Mt Rainier National Park photoshoot, we need to get a special use permit!! This is super easy to purchase the day of at the park entrance and it’s about $30.
When you’re choosing a photoshoot location, there are a lot of variables to consider! For example, Sunrise is a little less of a hike than Paradise. It’s truly about what makes you guys happiest and what feels most authentic to you!
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