Sunrise Day Lodge

Very nice! This is the «other» side of Mount Rainier that those from the Seattle side don’t visit as often. At least come once … It’s strange how you cross over to this side and the drier, less humid air makes this side appear almost as a desert in places. This is the highest in elevation you can get on Rainier by car. Once at the summit you have beautiful views of the Cascades and lunch at the Sunrise Day Lodge will make for a perfect lunch, Reasonable prices, especially with no competition, clean, and many little trails that start at the lodge. My favorite hike on the way down is Frying Pan Creek in which Wonderland Trail runs parallel. This side of Rainier is seasonal.

Diverse gift shop, ample room in ranger station for hiker registration, and reasonable prices in cafeteria. Lost one star on the lack of air movement in the main gift shop /​eating area. It was really crowded and hot and humid on a day that was just over 70 and breezy outside.
There is a ramp for wheelchairs, but the wooden deck outside the gift shop /​cafeteria door is rotten and soft. People with walkers and crutches had a hard time finding spots to land on.

The Sunrise Day Lodge, open only from early July to late September, offers food service and a gift shop.
Although the facilities are spare, this cafeteria-​style restaurant located above the ranger station gets four stars for offering soft serve ice cream and not gouging its captive audience on price. After a 3 mile hike at 6,500 feet, nothing hits the spot like a strawberry ice cream sundae.