Explore Waterfalls from Longmire to Paradise

Narada Falls with a rainbow. This waterfall is located on the road between Longmire and Paradise.

NPS/E. Brouwer Photo

This tour is a great opportunity to see four of Mount Rainier's stunning waterfalls between Longmire and Paradise without taking on any long or strenuous trails.

Starting from Longmire, begin driving up the Paradise Road towards Paradise. Notice the glacially-fed Nisqually River on your right. The first waterfall on this tour ends up flowing into the Nisqually! Christine Falls will be on your left approximately four miles up the road from Longmire. The waterfall is visible from a bridge along the road, but be sure to park in pullouts on either side of the bridge. Do not stop in the road and block traffic. Watch out for vehicles if viewing the waterfall from the bridge. From the uphill pullout there is a short trail (~100 feet) to the viewpoint of these beautiful falls. While open year-round, the trail to the viewpoint can be steep and icy or blocked by snow during the winter. 

From Christine Falls, continue on the road for another four miles, keeping a lookout on the right for the parking lot for Narada Falls. At 188 feet tall, this waterfall is the largest that is accessible by car in the park! This waterfall is best seen from the viewpoint, which is reached by a 0.2-mile trail (0.4 mile round-trip) with a steep, 200-foot descent/ascent. The trail can be very icy in winter. However you can also see a view of the top of the falls from the parking lot. There are also bathrooms and picnic tables available at this stop.

The next waterfall on our tour is Ruby Falls, located just about half a mile up the road from Narada. You can access this falls by taking the next right after Narada onto Stevens Canyon Road, and immediately using the pullout on the right (parking is limited and do not block the road). This hidden gem is a 53 foot cascade located just under the bridge you parked on, and the cascades can be better seen by walking a bit down the Narada Falls Trail. Both Ruby and Narada falls are along the Paradise River. You can also view Ruby Falls by parking at the larger Narada Falls parking area and using the Narada Falls Trail to hike up to Ruby Falls (0.4 miles one-way, with approx 270 feet of elevation gain). 

The last waterfall on the tour is perhaps the most spectacular. At 72-feet-high, these falls are perfectly framed by a stunning view of the mountain behind them. Myrtle Falls is best accessed from the Paradise upper parking lot. From there, you can take the steps behind the visitor center, and take the next right following the signs for the falls along the Skyline Trail. This paved trail is one mile round-trip, with about 100 feet of elevation gain. Be aware that you will have plenty of company here! This viewpoint is one of the most photographed spots in the park. 

Details

Duration

2-4 Hours

Activity

Scenic Driving

Age(s)

Suitable for all ages. 

Pets Allowed

No

Pets are allowed on roads and parking lots but are not allowed on any trails. 

Activity Fee

Yes

Park entrance fee required. 

Reservations

No

Season

Spring, Summer, Fall

Many of the trails and viewpoints are snow covered in spring and winter. 

Time of Day

Day, Dawn, Dusk

Remember to always carry headlamps or non-phone light sources when hiking at dawn or dusk. 

Accessibility Information

Christine falls viewpoint trail is approx. 100 feet long, with a slight descent. The trail is not paved and has some roots on the path. The Narada Falls viewpoint trail is a 0.2-mile trail (0.4 mile round-trip) with a steep, 200-foot descent/ascent with some steps and roots. This trail can remain icy in June and early July. Ruby Falls is best seen by walking approx. 200 feet down Narada Falls trail. This trail is unpaved with some roots, with a gradual descent. Myrtle falls trail is approx. one mile round trip and paved. The trail ends at the viewpoint, which is down a set of stairs. The trail has 100 feet of elevation gain and is the longest on this tour.