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Mount Rainier National Park Travel Photography
Mount Rainier National Park is located in Washington State and oh what a great state it is. We absolutely loved this trip although we did hit a lot of rain in June it was still incredible. We work with the sun in our photography so it is rare that we are not disappointed due to rainy weather. There are some rainforest areas that the staff fell in love with that changed our entire perspective on rain. The elk just blew us away. We stood with this pack of elk for over an hour with our Canon 100-400mm lenses. We were all waiting for the baby to wake up and stand up. Mama fell asleep while we were standing next to her talking to her telling her to wake up the baby. They let Pam right into the heard.
The mountain rises quickly with elevations a little over 14,000 feet. There are valleys, waterfalls, and more than 25 glaciers. There was a volcano that we didn’t see. It was shrouded in clouds. There are enormous amounts of rain and snow in this park. That’s what makes unbelievable rain forests possible.
Click on the first image below and scroll through the images of the park. It’s one road in and one road out so you are sure to pass all of the places you see in our slideshow. ENJOY!! If you would like to consider going on a tour in another part of the USA or Canada be sure to visit: www.extraeyesphototours.com
We came into the park on Route 706 East. This great little town on the way in has some spots you will want to stop and photograph. The little church, The Mount Rainer Scenic Railroad and just a few cool things around the little town. It’s a good time to stop here for food at the Mount Rainer Railroad Dining Co. Be sure to get some food and or snacks. There is only one more stop for food along the way and again at the top of the mountain and it’s very expensive.
There are a few spots not to miss along the way for photography and for the family. Ex Nihilo Sculpture Park, along the way to Mt. Rainier National Park, is the brainchild of Washington artist Daniel Klennert. This is a must stop spot especially if you are an artist at heart. If you are traveling with family they can stay busy while you have time to take some pictures.
Right past there on the way to the park stop here and pick up some goodies. It’s all one road so you can’t get lost.
Christine Falls – One of many waterfalls in Mount Rainier National Park
You can’t miss this spot right along the road on the way up the mountain. There is not much parking along the road but we got lucky. It was a Saturday in June and there were only two other people besides us. We photographed this spot for about an hour. It was one of our favorite spots on the journey.
We had to find the exact spot to be able to see the falls without the tree limbs in my way. This first picture is shot at 4 sec. f/22, ISO 100. f/22 and ISO 100 is standard for your waterfall photography on a tripod. Your shutter speed will vary depending on your filter. We like the Tiffen 1.2 which we used here. It only gives a little color cast and is easily correctable. It was enough on a cloudy/rainy day to easily allow a 4-second exposure. Have some lens clothes handy when shooting in the rain and don’t forget your lens hood and camera raincoat. I used a cheap one here that I got at The Photo Center in Brick, N.J. They compete with B&H’s prices but give much better personal service.
One night we stayed at the top of the Mountain at Paradise Inn. It was raining and getting dark. If we were to continue or turn around it would be an hour drive down the winding mountain back to the nearest lodging so we stayed and we enjoyed it. The food was fantastic. Everything was good. The service was great, the presentation very nice and overall we would rate it an 8 out of 10. The prices were not too insane being in the middle of nowhere and the only source of food. The atmosphere is out of this world!! If I died and went to heaven this rustic cabin atmosphere is where I would end up. It’s like a ski lodge environment with big fireplaces and but no skiers.
The room was fine but there was no TV or the internet. Boy, we were we lost. We went to the library area in this huge rustic log cabin style country location and chatted with some fellow non-tv watchers. We survived. Our only complaint was where we were the walls were paper thin. One of the staff said very loudly, “Isn’t it nice that I can hear every word of your conversation as if I were in your room.” The hint was not taken. We were in the smaller rooms for $117.00 with no bathroom. I have to wonder if the $ 267.00-night rooms were any better. http://www.mtrainierguestservices.com/accommodations/paradise-inn
More Food and Hotels Inside the park:
Be careful. You sometimes have to go a way to go before getting to the food locations. Be sure to bring snacks and water.
Longmire
The National Park Inn at Longmire includes a restaurant that is usually open year round, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This is the only in-park dining facility that is open all year.Adjacent to the National Park Inn, the Longmire General Store offers a limited selection of groceries and camping supplies, as well as gifts and souvenirs.
Paradise
The Paradise Inn includes a restaurant and a small cafe. Like the Inn, both the restaurant and the cafe are open only from May to early October. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as Sunday brunch. The cafe offers hot drinks, grab-and-go meals, and other quick food items.The Paradise Camp Deli, a cafeteria located in the Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise, is usually open weekends and holidays in the winter and daily from May through early October.
Sunrise
The Sunrise Day Lodge includes a snack bar. Sunrise Day Lodge is usually open from July through September.
