I love to hike and take photyos, but hate the big crowds. Would late September be too late? I also do not want to fight deep snow.

Thanks for your replies.

I've been to Mt. Rainier park three times, all in August I believe, and despite being the peak of tourist season the park never seemed that crowded to me.

Late September should be beautiful, but you're right that by then the snow might have already started to fall.

On the other hand, I was there in mid-August one year and we hiked on trails around Louise lake that had LITERALLY dozens of feet of snow that hadn't melted from the previous winter yet!!

I would probably try to go earlier than "late September" if I were you. One of the most incredible things about Ranier (other than the mountain obviously!!) are the incredible wildflowers. From what I understand they peak in July but by the end of September would be gone. I was there the last week of August 2005 and it didn't seem crowded to me but there was still color in the meadows.

oooh! yes, the other poster made a great point. the wildflowers are so ... alpine! it's just gorgeous at that time of year at rainier.

Well, I live in Seattle, and have been there many many times, never any crowds...it is a big mountain, lots of trails, and a nice lodge. but the best time for this year is gone; we had a spectacular summer, clear every day. Not much point going if it is 'fogged in'. Wait til spring, go in late June or July. It's pretty awesome!!!

We hiked there on a perfectly clear day in early August. I would not call it crowded at all. If you have the stamina to hike a bit, you won't be in crowds, because it is a touch strenuous. In early August there were wildflowers every where....I kept thinking that around every corner it looked like a picture on a calendar. Beautiful!

We were there one year around 9/18...beautiful and not crowded; glorious day, BUT...it had been closed because of snow the previous day. My guess it that mid-September is good if you have other things you want to see in the area and can be flexible about the precise days you are in the park.

I was there after Labor Day and it was perfect--no crowds at all.

I live in Seattle and sometimes it does "seem" crowded, mostly at the parking lot at Paradise.

You can check this site. (day)

http://www2.nature.nps.gov/air/WebCa...am/moracam.cfm

This past July when we were there it was near impossible to find a place to park. The cam shows the picnic area just below the V/Center at Paradise.

We were just at Rainier September 22 thru 25. Weekends are a little busier. On Saturday @ Sunrise the parking lot was half full. On Sunday @ Paradise the lots by the visitors center were full, but wait a couple of minutes & a space was open. As far as hiking the trails, the longer the hike, the less people you will have. Most just do the easy hikes around the visitors centers. We had absolutely beautiful weather. We always go to a National Park this time year, just because the crowds are gone. As far as taking photos that time of the year, the evergreens with mix of yellows, oranges & reds, although not a lot is beautiful.

Crowds won't be a problem if you do the obvious-avoid weekends, and avoid the most popular trails (ie near the visitor's centers). Even in August, as long as you go on a weekday and are on a "real" (not a paved nature trail) hike, there won't be crowds.