Status: Open · as far as we can tell, checked Oct 28, 2026

Myrtle Falls

60 ft · Paradise, Mount Rainier National Park · Washington

A 60-ft cascade below Mount Rainier, about 1 mile round trip on a paved trail.

By The Waterfall Guide editorial team · Waterfall near Paradise · run by National Park Service

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Myrtle Falls on Edith Creek at Paradise in July. — Myrtle Falls · Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 4.0

Myrtle Falls · Dana Hutchinson, CC BY 3.0

Myrtle Falls · Mark Levisay from Ruckersville, VA, USA, CC BY 2.0

Right now

Right now as of Oct 28, 2026

Permit No permit needed. Entry fee: $30 per vehicle (cashless).

Status note (Oct 28, 2026): Open. NPS road status (updated October 25, 2026) lists Nisqually to Longmire and Longmire to Paradise as open, though the Longmire gate may close for safety at any time. Park alerts list no Paradise or Myrtle Falls closure. Chains are required for all vehicles from November 1 to May 1. What the status labels mean

Myrtle Falls is a 60-foot braided cascade on Edith Creek at Paradise in Mount Rainier National Park, per NPS. It's about 1 mile round trip on the paved Skyline Trail, though the best view is down a steep stairway. There's no timed entry in 2026, but you need a $30 vehicle pass and dogs aren't allowed. NPS listed the Paradise road open on October 25, 2026, and chains are required for all vehicles from November 1 to May 1.

About Myrtle Falls

NPS describes Myrtle Falls as a 60-foot braided cascade on Edith Creek.

The falls are at Paradise, which sits at 5,400 feet, according to NPS. The park lists the walk as an easy 0.4 mile from Paradise Inn along the paved Skyline Trail. It also includes Myrtle Falls on its list of kid-friendly hikes.

The view of Mount Rainier from the falls

On a clear day the mountain fills the sky behind the falls. NPS describes the cascade with Mount Rainier towering in the background. Its Paradise accessibility page says the steep sections on the way lead to Myrtle Falls and an open view of the mountain.

Entry is simpler this year. NPS did not require timed entry anywhere in Mount Rainier in 2026, per its February 25, 2026 release.

Getting there and parking

The Myrtle Falls walk starts at the upper Paradise lot, 19 miles east of the Nisqually Entrance of Mount Rainier National Park, per NPS.

From Seattle and the Nisqually entrance

NPS gives this route from Seattle: south on I-5 to SR 512 (exit 127), then east on SR 512 to SR 7. Go south on SR 7 to SR 706 in Elbe, then east on SR 706 through Ashford to the Nisqually Entrance.

NPS lists Sea-Tac airport to Ashford as 85 miles but gives no Seattle drive time. Paradise is 19 miles east of the Nisqually Entrance and 12 miles east of Longmire. NPS puts the Longmire to Paradise leg at about 25 minutes.

Parking at Paradise

Park in the upper Paradise lot by the Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center. The Skyline Trail leaves from the north side of that lot, per NPS.

Instead of timed entry, the park now manages parking. NPS advises arriving before 7 a.m. or after 4 p.m., visiting on weekdays, and having a backup destination in mind.

Entrance pass

Mount Rainier charges $30 per private vehicle and $25 per motorcycle, each valid for 7 days. Visitors 16 and older entering on foot pay $15 each. The annual park pass is $55.

Entrances are cashless. If you only have cash, NPS names partner businesses that sell the $30 vehicle pass. Near the Nisqually Entrance they include Ashford Creek Pottery, Ashford Valley Grocery, Ashford General Store and Whittaker Mountaineering.

November 11 is the last fee-free day of 2026 for US citizens and residents.

If you're building a Washington trip, Sol Duc Falls and Marymere Falls are short walks in Olympic National Park, which charges its own entrance fee.

Map and nearby falls

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The Skyline Trail walk to Myrtle Falls

Out and back: NPS gives 1 mile round trip on the paved Skyline Trail, with about 100 feet of gain and an average time of 35 minutes. Another NPS page lists 200 feet of gain.

Viewpoints: a steep stairway leads down to the best view, NPS says. If you skip the stairs, you can see the upper falls from a small bridge with one stair.

The full Skyline Trail: Myrtle Falls is a 1-mile segment of the Skyline loop. NPS lists the whole loop at 5.5 miles round trip with 1,700 feet of gain.

Accessibility: the NPS Day Hiking page calls the route "wheelchair accessible with assistance". The Paradise Accessibility page says there are no accessible trails at Paradise and notes several steep sections. Manual wheelchairs are loaned at the Paradise visitor center.

When to visit

You can visit Myrtle Falls year-round when the Longmire to Paradise road is open, but chains are required for all vehicles from November 1 to May 1.

Summer and September

Summer is wildflower season. NPS says the Paradise meadows usually reach peak bloom in late July or early August, and snow can stay well into June or even July.

Summer is also when the lots fill. NPS advises arriving before 7 a.m. or after 4 p.m. Paradise Inn usually runs from mid-May to early October, and the Jackson Visitor Center is usually open daily from May to early October.

Winter: snow, chains and road hours

The Longmire-Paradise road is plowed in winter but closes at night. NPS lists a typical winter schedule: the gate opens at 9 a.m., the uphill gate closes at 4 p.m., and the downhill gate closes at 5 p.m. It recommends leaving Paradise by 4:30 p.m.

As of mid-October 2026, NPS said regular nightly closures of the Longmire gate had not yet started for the season. It posts the gate status each day on its Alerts page.

All vehicles in the park, including 4WD, must carry tire chains from November 1 to May 1. NPS lists Stevens Canyon, White River, Sunrise, Paradise Valley and Ricksecker Point roads as closed for the season.

From mid-October through April, the Jackson Visitor Center is usually open only on weekends and holidays. NPS warns that "this area is treacherous in spring". The sources we checked don't name a best month for flow at the falls.

All visitor facts
Height	60 ftNote: per NPS
Trail	1 mi round trip on the paved Skyline Trail from the upper Paradise lot; part of the 5.5 mi Skyline loop
Difficulty	Easy paved trail; a steep stairway leads to the best view (NPS)
Time needed	About 35 minutes round trip (NPS)
Entry fee	Mount Rainier entrance pass: $30 per private vehicle or $25 per motorcycle (7 days), $15 per person age 16+, $55 annual park pass. Cashless at entrances.
Permit / reservation	No timed entry in 2026; entrance pass required
Parking	Upper Paradise lot; arrive before 7 a.m. or after 4 p.m.
Dogs	Not allowed; pets are banned on all park trails (NPS)
Swimming	No rule found; view the falls from the trail, the stairway viewpoint or the small bridge
Wheelchair / stroller	Partial: NPS calls the route accessible with assistance, but its Paradise accessibility page lists no accessible trails and notes steep sections
Walk behind the falls	No
Restrooms	Jackson Visitor Center (family restroom) and Plaza Restrooms near Paradise Ranger Station; none on the trail (NPS)
Best time to visit	Late July to early August for peak wildflowers at Paradise (NPS); snow can linger into June or July
Managed by	National Park Service, Mount Rainier National Park

Safety and swimming

We found no swimming rule for Myrtle Falls. The stairway to the main viewpoint is steep, so take it slowly and hold small children's hands.

In September 2025, NPS posted that part of the route to Myrtle Falls was closed for construction, with alternate routes on steep slopes and steps. Park alerts in October 2026 no longer mentioned it. Follow any posted detours.

There are no restrooms on the trail, so use the visitor center or the Plaza Restrooms first. In late fall, winter and spring, carry chains and check road status before you drive up. More tips are in our waterfall safety guide.

Where to stay near Myrtle Falls

Compare hotels, cabins and rentals close to the falls around Paradise.

See places to stay nearby

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Photos

Myrtle Falls dropping into the Edith Creek gorge with Mount Rainier behind it. — Photo: Dana Hutchinson, CC BY 3.0

Myrtle Falls just above Paradise Inn in early September. — Photo: Mark Levisay from Ruckersville, VA, USA, CC BY 2.0

Myrtle Falls in Mount Rainier National Park in summer. — Photo: Srikar Devaguptapu, Public domain

Myrtle Falls FAQ

Is Myrtle Falls open right now?

Yes, as far as NPS shows. Its road status page, updated October 25, 2026, lists Longmire to Paradise as open. Park alerts list no Paradise or Myrtle Falls closure. Chains are required in the park from November 1, and the Longmire gate can close at any time.

Do you need a reservation to see Myrtle Falls in 2026?

No. Mount Rainier didn't use timed entry anywhere in 2026, per the park's February 25, 2026 announcement. You still need a $30 vehicle entrance pass or an annual pass.

How long is the walk to Myrtle Falls?

About 1 mile round trip on the paved Skyline Trail from the upper Paradise lot, with 100 to 200 feet of gain depending on the NPS page. NPS puts it at about 35 minutes.

Is Myrtle Falls wheelchair accessible?

Partly. NPS calls the route "wheelchair accessible with assistance," but its Paradise accessibility page notes steep sections. The best view is down a stairway; the upper falls can be seen from a small bridge with one stair.

Can you drive to Myrtle Falls?

Not all the way. Park in the upper Paradise lot and walk the paved Skyline Trail. NPS calls it an easy 0.4 mile from Paradise Inn, or about 1 mile round trip from the lot.

Can I bring my dog to Myrtle Falls?

No. NPS doesn't permit pets on any Mount Rainier trail.

Can you visit Myrtle Falls in winter?

Yes, if the road is open. NPS typically opens the Longmire gate at 9 a.m. and closes the uphill gate at 4 p.m. in winter. Chains are required for all vehicles from November 1 to May 1. Check the park's road status page before you go.

Can you see Mount Rainier from Myrtle Falls?

Yes, on clear days. NPS describes the falls with Mount Rainier towering in the background, and says the route leads to an open view of the mountain.

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Sources

Last verified Oct 28, 2026 by The Waterfall Guide editorial team. Conditions change: confirm with National Park Service, Mount Rainier National Park before you go. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.

Photos: Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 4.0; Dana Hutchinson, CC BY 3.0; Mark Levisay from Ruckersville, VA, USA, CC BY 2.0. Photo credits