Peaks of Legend
Mt. Rainier
A major Cascade summit with immense glaciers and a demanding alpine ascent.
Quest challenge 10/10 · Legendary Climb
Quest estimate for the described approach: endurance, altitude, and technical terrain combined. Conditions can change the difficulty. This is not an AllTrails or climbing grade.
Meet the mountain
The approach: Disappointment Cleaver from Paradise via Camp Muir
Summit finish: The recognized summit area on Mount Rainier.
A major Cascade summit above immense glaciers. This entry uses the Disappointment Cleaver approach from Paradise through Camp Muir. Camp Muir alone is a separate outing; the summit climb continues across glacier terrain and the upper mountain. The route changes with glacier conditions, and climbing registration and permits are part of planning.
Prepare for a long glacier ascent and descent using current ranger route information.
A SUMMIT QUEST TALL TALE · FICTION
The sky landlord
Rainier rents parking spaces to clouds. Most pay in drizzle; one keeps promising a rainbow next Tuesday. The lease now explicitly forbids leaving weather in the hallway.
Explore the Field Guide’s peak legends →Before you set out
Every good quest starts with a little map time. Explore these route guides and check the latest updates before setting a date.
Sources reviewed 2026-09-08. Check the links for current conditions. The approach above explains our challenge rating; logging this peak does not assign that route to your outing.
NPS Disappointment Cleaver route brief ↗
Reference route; glacier lines evolve after publication.
Opens in a new tabNPS Mount Rainier climbing ↗
Current climbing requirements and planning resources.
Opens in a new tabFind AllTrails routes ↗
Search for an approach that matches your plan.
Opens in a new tabFind recent trip reports ↗
Check dates and route choices; reports do not replace current land-manager information.
Opens in a new tab“Find AllTrails routes” opens a Google search restricted to AllTrails trail pages, not a selected route. Completion is tracked in Summit Quest and does not sync with AllTrails.