Overview

Hype:

Narada Falls is located approximately 17 miles east of the park’s southwest entrance, with Paradise one mile to the northeast. Narada Falls is the largest waterfall accessible by car in the park and one of the most impressive. The area is composed of a parking area with a viewpoint, a stone-faced bridge across the top of the Narada Falls, picnic tables, restrooms, and a trail to a scenic overlook. Walk across the bridge to access the restrooms and a steep trail to the bottom of the waterfall. The path may be wet and slippery. At the end of the short trail, the entire 168-foot-high waterfall is visible. The vista is not only about dramatically falling water but also the rock that creates the steep drop. Here the Paradise River plunges over the edge of a relatively recent flow of hard andesite lava that abuts much older rock. This lava’s cooling was accelerated by contact with the icy surface of the glacier that once filled this valley. The Paradise River runs clear, not milky, because it originates from snowfields, not debris-laden glaciers.

Trail Condition: Class 1 (Trail is either paved or gravel. Navigation skills are not needed because there is only one trail or because there are signs. Elevation gains are gradual or there are stairs.)

Time: 15-30 minutes

Length: 0.3 miles round trip

Elevation Gain: 200 ft

Fees: None

Recommended Ages:

	0-3
	4-11
	12-19
	20-49
	50-69
	70+

Recommended Months to Visit:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Links: https://www.nps.gov/places/narada-falls.htm

Location

Closest City or Region: Mount Rainier National Park

Coordinates: 46.774898, -121.746185

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July 12, 2023 Trip Report

By Jeremy Dye

Trip Members

Jeremy Dye, Tara Dye, Cooper Dye, Miller Dye, Killian Wagner,

Logistics

Start: 3:12

Finish: 3:26

Story

We stopped at Narada Falls on our way back to the cabins, and it was our favorite waterfall in the park. We walked down to the viewpoint at the bottom, despite groanings from the tired boys. On the way back up, the boys had fun climbing up the inside of a hollow tree stump.

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Pictures