The signature of Pacific Northwest beauty is the awe-inspiring peaks of the Cascade mountain range. Here at Tehaleh, we have the sublime Mount Rainier in our backyard. Spanning 235,625 acres or 368 square miles, Mount Rainier National Park includes over 260 miles of maintained trails, three main drive-in campgrounds, a museum, and several wilderness and climbing centers and ranger stations. Planning a staycation? The park also offers two inns for lodging.
We love to write about all the things to do and see around Mt. Rainier. Click through to find your next PNW adventure.
Read the blogWINTER ACTIVITIES
Welcome to Paradise, the region of Mt. Rainier where you can cross-country ski, snowboard, sled, and go winter camping. You can also learn about the park’s winter ecology by taking a snowshoe tour led by a ranger!
BIKING
Every skill level is welcome on the trails, which offer routes ranging from relaxed to challenging. September through early October is our favorite time to go, thanks to reduced traffic and spectacular fall colors.
CAMPING
Spend the night under the stars on any of the park’s three drive-in campgrounds. Check availability and get optional reservations for Cougar Rock and Ohanapecosh Rock via Recreation.gov (campsites are on a first-come, first-served basis).
HIKING
Set out on a magnificent trail system offering lake vistas and dramatic mountain views of Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, Mount Hood, Mount Adams, the Olympic Mountains, and the Tahoma Glacier.
WILDFLOWER WATCHING
Speaking of peaks, the height of wildflower season is a must-see. Approximately from mid-July to early August, see (and snap) the park carpeted with yarrow and mountain bog gentian, among many other blooms.
Tehaleh just felt different; it felt more friendly. A lot of people interact here. The first time my boyfriend and I came here actually, almost everyone we came across spoke to us—it was a friendly, embracing environment. Also—this view! And the café was one of the winners for me—as a resident, I love grabbing coffee, walking on the trails, enjoying the mountain view and taking pictures.
We moved to Tehaleh in October 2014 and were the first house on the street. We spend a lot of time reading—we're both voracious readers and can go through five or six books a week! We also collect artwork—we like to support indigenous women artists. And we love our animals. We own adopted cats and dogs, and frequently take the dogs to Tehaleh's off-leash dog park. We meet a lot of people at the park and the dogs absolutely love it there.
We moved to Tehaleh in August, and it was the best part of 2020. We were drawn to the neighborhood by the views and trails, and it seemed like a good community to raise a family in, including our dog Astra. Our favorite park is Hounds Hollow, where Astra can play all day. Now, every time we come down the road and see the mountain, it reminds us that it's a nice place to come home to.
“It feels like Mt. Rainier is watching over us here.”
It feels like a retreat when you go home. When you drive up and see the mountain view; it’s amazing to know that this is home.
The experience of building our home from the ground up was so special. This is our first home, so we got to pick out everything we wanted. Plus we have Mt. Rainier right outside our door. A dream come true!