This is most popular destination within the park and to find parking here is as difficult as, if not more than, downtown Seattle. The only difference is that the parking here is free. I was shocked to see that parking slots extended to even after a mile from the main visitor center. One would get tired just by walking from your parking slot and wouldn’t have any energy left for the trails.
There are dozens of trails (short and long ones) starting from the Paradise visitor center and the map provided at the center is amazingly accurate as far as the details of the trails are concerned. This visitor centre at 5000+ feet is the highest point on the Mount Rainier mountain you can drive up to. So, it is no surprise that you are treated to magnificient views along with carpets of wild flowers.
.JPG "Paradise Visitor Center")
.JPG "Paradise Visitor Center")
We were waterfall crazy on that particular day and chose the Myrtle falls trail which is close to the skyline trail. It was a short walk (less than a mile) and the fall looked good with the mountain in the background.
.JPG "Myrtle Falls Paradise Center")