Alta Crystal Resort At Mt. Rainier chalets and cabins

CHECK OUT OUR EARLY BIRD SPECIALS FOR THE SPRING AND SUMMER!

Fall and Spring are two of our favorite seasons at Alta Crystal Resort. The crowds are gone and you often feel like to you have the forest and the mountains to yourself. We can always find lots to do but our recommendations will vary based on the snow pack. If you're coming in spring or fall, make sure you check our Events and Activities page (click here) or give us a call. .

We're just outside the Sunrise entrance to Mt. Rainier National Park and it's easy to explore the Park throughout much of the spring and fall. Some of our favorite lower elevation hikes are:

The hike from the White River campground to Glacier Basin. This trail, part of which goes along an old mining road, gives you great views of the mountain and of the Emmons Glacier, the largest glacier in the lower 48. .
The Naches Peak Loop off of Chinook Pass. We have many families who stay with us every year in the Fall just to hike this trail. There are beautiful Fall colors, great views of the mountain, and you'll often hear the trumpeting of elk. If you're feeling energetic, the short side trip to Dewey Lakes is well worth the effort.
The hike to Crystal Lakes. This is a favorite of locals: a 5-mile roundtrip hike to alpine lakes surrounded by jagged peaks, with great views of Mt. Rainier on the way.

Washington's largest ski area is usually open for downhill skiing and snowboarding from late November through mid-April. At other times during the spring and fall, there are great places to hike! Henskin Lake, a beautiful alpine lake surrounded by steep peaks, is always a favorite. On the way, you'll pass Jim Town, the site of an old mining settlement. Hike up to Bullion Basin for incredible views of Mt. Rainier. Head up to the Pacific Crest Trail and look for mountain goats. Just ask us for suggestions when you check in. Click here for more information

There are so many trails in this area, you could literally go on a different hike every single day of the year. From the resort, two favorites are the hikes to Goat Falls and Noble Knob. In the immediate area, we love the hike and the views from Suntop Lookout and from the Rainier View trail up Noble Knob. During the spring, the hikes to Skookum Falls and Snoquera Falls are incredible. In the fall --- well, it's basically almost impossible to find a bad hike!

Grab a mountain bike and explore. There are miles of trails here. The Skookum Flats trail along the White River is considered to be the premier trail in this area, but there are dozens more we can point out.

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