Ascending to 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier stands as an icon in the Washington landscape. An active volcano, Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S.A., spawning five major rivers. Subalpine wildflower meadows ring the icy volcano while ancient forest cloaks Mount Rainier’s lower slopes. Wildlife abounds in the park’s ecosystems. In 1988, Congress designated 97% of Mount Rainier National Park as wilderness. This area is managed to preserve its wilderness character. Tens of thousands of visitors encounter the wilderness on overnight trips every year, whether through the challenge of a summit climb, the immersion of the Wonderland Trail, or the restorative peace of a shorter foray into the backcountry. Only a few hours away from major population centers, the Mount Rainier Wilderness provides outstanding opportunities for solitude in a landscape largely unmodified by modern human manipulation and control.