Myrtle Falls

Myrtle Falls is a 72-foot cascade in the Paradise area of Mount Rainier National Park that has earned legendary status not for its size but for its setting — a postcard-perfect scene where the delicate waterfall drops through a lush subalpine meadow with the massive, glacier-clad summit of Mount Rainier rising directly behind it. This is one of the most photographed viewpoints in the entire National Park System, and for good reason. When wildflowers bloom in the foreground from mid-July through August, the scene is almost surreal in its beauty.

The walk to the Myrtle Falls viewpoint is just 0.5 miles from the Paradise parking area via the paved Skyline Trail, gaining only about 100 feet of elevation. The trail is wheelchair-accessible and suitable for visitors of all abilities. A stone bridge and overlook provide the classic vantage point where Edith Creek drops over the falls with Rainier framed perfectly above. This is the ideal first stop for visitors arriving at Paradise.

Summer weekends bring enormous crowds to Paradise — the parking lot often fills by 10 AM from July through September. Visit early morning or on weekdays for a peaceful experience. The area is snow-covered from October through June, and the Skyline Trail is not maintained in winter. National park entrance fee required.