Memorial Day weekend camping at Mount Rainier National Park seemed like the perfect opportunity to spend a few days enjoying the fresh mountain air, plenty of hiking trails, waterfalls, and absolutely no responsibilities other than deciding which snack to eat next.

What could possibly go wrong?

As it turns out….. nothing really went wrong unless you count voluntarily hiking thousands of feet uphill as a poor life choice.

Cougar Rock Campground

We spent our first two nights at Cougar Rock Campground, which honestly was a pleasant surprise. We are avid campers who prefer solitude, and campgrounds are typically NOT our thing. But we loved having bathrooms and bear boxes, and each site was spaced far enough apart that it didn’t feel crowded. Since we typically prefer camping in dispersed areas with no one around for miles, we weren’t expecting it to be a highlight. But it was genuinely peaceful, and the line leading into the park every morning would’ve been unbearable.

Golden Gate Trail to Skyline

One of our toughest hikes of the weekend was the Golden Gate Trail to Skyline Trail.

The scenery was incredible. The mountain was incredible. The waterfalls were incredible.

My lungs, legs, and skin, however, had some complaints.

First of all, wear sunscreen. As someone who spent 14 years living in Florida, and 30 years living in Pennsylvania before that, I have an idea of how much the sun can hurt you on both the hottest and coldest days of the year. But Rainier caught me off guard. I applied a thin layer, and promptly sweated it off in the first 10 minutes of the hike. So between the reflecting snow, blazing sun, and light attire thanks to the 70 degree weather, I was absolutely burnt to a crisp by the end.

The hike, however, was beautiful.

Myrtle Falls wasn’t completely visible due to the amount of snow still present on the mountain, but it didn’t matter. The views of the mountain made it worthwhile. But it’s important to go to Rainier at the right time of year, and this clearly was not it. I would recommend going in late July for a number of reasons. First, the snow on Skyline and Golden Gate will likely be melted, you’ll see the stunning wildflowers that Mount Rainier is famous for, and you won’t need extra gear to hike. Seriously, hiking in snow with ill-fitting micro spikes was beyond inadequate, and most of the switchbacks were buried under feet of snow – meaning the only way up was a straight climb up at 50-70% incline. It was brutal, but the views almost make you forget how tired your legs are.

Waterfall Tour

I don’t think we intentionally planned a waterfall-focused trip.

Mount Rainier simply decided that every five minutes we needed to stop and stare at another waterfall. Aside from the three separate waterfalls we saw along Golden Gate and Skyline, the snowmelt at this time of year turns every little crack in the ground into a roaring fall. Tiny falls, giant falls, waterfalls next to roads, waterfalls next to trails, and waterfalls under bridges. If water could find a way downhill, it was putting on a show.

At one point we stopped saying, “Wow, another waterfall!” because there were simply too many.

Actually, that’s not true. We said it every single time.

Our favorites of the weekend included Comet Falls and Carter Falls. If you get the chance to relax next to a cascade while visiting Mount Rainier, take it.

Trading a Tent for Alexander Lodge

After two nights of camping, we finished the trip with a stay at Alexander Lodge.

And let me tell you, after several days of hiking, a real bed feels less like a piece of furniture and more like a spiritual experience.

The historic lodge was cozy, peaceful, and exactly what we needed after a weekend of soaked boots, jet boil meals, and reapplying deodorant 10 times a day.

Finally, What We All Camp For…. The S’mores

Every great camping trip deserves a proper ending.

For us, that meant sitting around the fire making s’mores and reflecting on the weekend.

And by reflecting, I mean debating whether the perfect marshmallow is lightly toasted or completely engulfed in flames.

As the fire crackled and the last bit of daylight disappeared behind the trees, we couldn’t help but feel grateful for another unforgettable adventure as we watched the sunset colors dance across Rainier.

We came for the mountain.

We stayed for the waterfalls.

We left with tired legs, dirty hiking boots, approximately 4,000 photos and videos, and absolutely zero regrets.

Well… maybe one regret.

We probably should have made more s’mores.