One of the goals of our recent road trip was to visit the Cascade Range. Arguably the most iconic peak in the range is Mt. Rainier in Washington state. This mountain is located in Mount Rainier National Park (map). As an active stratovolcano rising to 14,410 feet (4,392 meters), it’s not only the tallest of the Cascade Volcanoes but also a defining landmark of the Pacific Northwest. The Cascade Volcanoes have erupted multiple times throughout modern history, the most recent being Mount St. Helens in 1980. Future eruptions, including from Mount Rainier, are expected. Beyond its geological significance, Mount Rainier is known for its expansive glaciers and vibrant ecosystem.
We spent two nights in the Paradise area of the park, with plans to explore the region, capture striking landscape photos, and hopefully spot some wildlife. We arrived just before sunset and headed straight to one of the scenic overlooks. Unfortunately, clouds rolled in quickly, partially obscuring the mountain. Soon after, a dense fog settled in, limiting visibility to just a few dozen feet. The fog lingered throughout the next day, making traditional landscape photography difficult. Still, we embraced the moody atmosphere and turned our attention to observing and photographing local wildlife—one of our favorite activities. During our visit, we encountered numerous yellow pine chipmunks (Tamias amoenus), a few mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), and a particularly relaxed hoary marmot (Marmota caligata) that allowed us to approach quite closely while it rested. It only stood up briefly in response to distant warning calls from its mates but quickly returned to lounging once it realized there was no threat—clearly unbothered by our company.
The real stars of the park, however, were the golden-mantled ground squirrels (Callospermophilus saturatus). These chipmunk-like rodents were everywhere we went and proved to be excellent photography subjects, especially once you understand their behavior. Constantly on the move in search of seeds, fungi, and green vegetation, they often pause to eat on rocks or fallen logs where they can stay alert for potential predators. By observing their habits and favorite spots, I was able to position myself nearby and simply wait for them to come into frame—allowing me to capture many intimate photos. I’ve used this technique for years when photographing chipmunks and squirrels, and it continues to deliver great results.
Although the thick fog never fully cleared that day, we still thoroughly enjoyed our time in the park. The next morning, as we were preparing to leave, we noticed clear skies from the hotel’s dining room. We quickly decided to make one last stop at Reflection Lake. There, at last, we were rewarded with an unobstructed view of Mount Rainier, and I was also able to capture some postcard-perfect shots of this spectacular mountain. In the end, our short visit to Mount Rainier National Park turned out to be a memorable and rewarding experience.
For most of the ground squirrel photos, I used my Canon EOS 5Ds with a 100-400mm L lens. The rest of the pictures including the other wildlife images were taken with my Canon EOS 5DsR and a 24-105mm L lens. The following gallery contains my favorite photos of Mount Rainier National Park.
