Guidebook for Ashford

ASHFORD/Mt. RAINIER Winter updates: The Park Road between Longmire and Paradise will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday through May. November through the 1st of May, Mt. Rainier National Park requires all cars (even 4-wheel drives) to carry chains in the vehicle. No Chains required May – October. Great Day Hikes in Mt. Rainier National Park Directions to all hikes can be found online by searching the name or looking that the Mt. Rainier National Park Website Summer weekend are busy. I recommend hiking early or late

Paradise Area: Bench and Snow Lakes: This 2.6-mile (round trip) hike is moderate and perfect for kids. It culminates in a gorgeous alpine lake you can jump in if you are brave. It’s so clear you can see the trout swimming from the rocks above. The Skyline Trail at Paradise: This 5.5-mile trail is for those in moderate hiking condition. The views are worth the hike! You can see the cascades in all their glory from the vista of this trail. I have seen more wildlife on this trail than any other from bears to mountain goats to whistling marmots. A great family hike, you can always turn back.

The best hike in the park in my opinion! Palisades Lakes trail. You hit 7 alpine lakes on this trip. All your ascending is done at the very end of the hike, so save some energy. If you want to shorten the hike, there is a great place to picnic or jump in at the 4th lake. Don’t miss Tom, Dick, and hairy lakes off to your left as your hiking. You could go 7 miles round trip, but you can catch 4 lakes just by going 3.5 miles. We saw a Momma bear and her cub on this hike summer of 2018....very special. The Freemont Peak Hike is also a favorite. We tend to see a lot of wildlife in this area.

Grove of the Patriarchs: CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO FLOOR DAMAGE FOR 2022! This is a short 1-mile hike where you can see incredible giants of the forest. Perfect for kids. Lots of shade. THIS IS THE BUSIEST TRAIL IN THE PARK. Go early to avoid crowds and lines. Silver Falls Hike: This starts at Ohanapacosh Campground. Walks a 3-mile loop along the Ohanapacosh River to the gorgeous Silver Falls. Best in spring or early summer as the falls will be impressing. Easy for families. Very pretty any time of year. Parking lot fills up, so go early or take an evening hike.

Cora Lake: 1.5 miles, 400-foot elevation gain (easy to moderate). Highest point is 3,800 feet, so you can hike this earlier in the season when the snow makes it hard to hike higher up. Beautiful mountain lake. High Rock Lookout: 3.2 miles, 1,300-foot elevation gain. A little harder hike begins around 4,000 feet, so only accessible in the summer months unless you want to snowshoe. Gorgeous views! Sheep Lake: Off HW 410 near the top of Chinook pass, this hike is a drive from our area, but a beautiful one. Easy hike. To make it longer continue the PCT to Crystal Lakes.

Swimming or kayaking at Alder Lake, near the town of Elbe. There are several public beaches along the lake. Drive past Elbe on HW, West toward Tacoma. The lake and several parks to enjoy it will be on your left. Kayak rentals in Elbe. Northwest Trek Wildlife Park. This is about 40 minutes from the cabin, near Eatonville. It features wildlife native to the Pacific Northwest. Tram tours and walking areas. From owls to wolves this is a wonderful experience for any age. Great for families! Ashford County Park, right in the town of Ashford, Amazing playgroung, walking trails.

There are two stores in town, generally open until 9pm. They sell a little of everything, but not fresh meat and produce. To stock up on groceries you should stop on your way in or visit the nearby towns of Morton or Eatonville for full-service grocery stores. Other Necessities: Post office: located next to the General Store in town Eatonville or Morton are the closest towns if you need a drug store or fresh groceries. There is a hospital in Morton