At an elevation of 6,400 feet, Sunrise is the highest point that can be reached by vehicle at Mount Rainier National Park. In summer, mountain meadows abound with wildflowers. On clear summer days, Sunrise provides breathtaking views of Mount Rainier, Emmons glacier, vibrant wildflower meadows. Sunrise Point offers nearly 360-degree views of the surrounding valleys, Mount Rainier, and other volcanoes in the Cascade Range such as Mount Adams. These views and an excellent trail system make Sunrise the second most visited location in the park. The Sunrise Visitor Center is open daily from early July to early September and closed in winter.  The meadows surrounding Sunrise are known collectively as Yakima Park. During the summers, this area was a favorite of the Yakama people for hunting and gathering. For thousands of years, these and other subalpine meadows have been important to Native American people for their beauty, and for the valuable plant and animal resources they contain.

Credits and Sources:

“Sunrise.” Mount Rainier National Park: Washington. National Park Service. Last Modified June 27, 2015. http://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/sunrise.htm (Retrieved June 8, 2015).