Where to Eat on Your Trip to Mount Rainier
With four entrances to the park, where you'll grub post-mountain depends on the region of Rainier you're visiting. Packwood and Ashford are the two closest towns to the park — near the Stevens Canyon and Nisqually entrances, respectively. The Sunrise section of Rainier is the furthest away from any towns. Enumclaw and Buckley — still about an hour from the White River entrance — are the best towns to grab a bite to and from visiting Sunrise. Log cabin-style establishments are aplenty, where mountain meets Pacific Northwest pub fare is the cuisine of choice — the perfect refuel after a day in the mountains.
Here are some of the best bets for food in the area around Mount Rainier:
This is how you know you're in the right place. Alicia Erickson
All through ski season, Snorting Elk at Crystal Mountain is the apres-ski place-to-be. The cozy chalet is packed with skiers, boarders, and snow sports spectators thawing in front of the fire over frosty beers. There's even Snorting Elk Frost, a beer brewed specially for the Snorting Elk by Elysian. The menu is stacked with pizza, burgers, and nachos — and the servings are generous. For quick bites like sandwiches and cookies, head to the deli in the back. Though markedly less crowded, the Snorting Elk is a reliable spot to eat after a hike near Crystal during summer and fall.
33723 Crystal Mountain Boulevard, in Enumclaw; hours vary by season but are generally 2 to 10 p.m. in summer.
A cider flight at Mill Haus. Alicia Erickson
First established as a cidery, Eatonville's Mill Haus has attracted quite a following in the few years since it opened. Sip house-crafted ciders infused with regional inspiration like huckleberry and apricot on the expansive grounds that feature picnic tables and a water wheel. The food menu is small but solid: brie and apple flatbread, street tacos, smoked pork sliders, and a couple of salads if you prefer to keep it light. Live music frequently draws crowds of locals and visitors alike over the weekends.
303 Center Street East, in Eatonville; open noon to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
A lively daytime through early evening spot in Ashford with a big outdoor section and frequent live music, Rainier BaseCamp's wooden exterior and Himalayan prayer flags pay tribute to its mountain setting. The menu is more American, however, featuring bubbly pizzas, wraps and sandwiches, and burgers, including salmon and veg burgers. If you've forgotten any outdoor gear or necessities, in true PNW fashion, BaseCamp also sells and rents mountain gear, outdoor clothes, and guiding services.
300027 State Route 706 E, in Ashford; open daily from noon to 7 p.m.
Ashford's Wild Berry specializes in mountain fare, but of a different kind. With an emphasis on Himalayan cuisine from Nepal and Tibet, it serves pork-stuffed momos (dumplings), thalis, sherpa stew, and samosas. If someone in your party is craving more traditionally PNW-y food, fish and chips and burgers are also on offer. Wild Berry's inspiration can be attributed to its owner — Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa holds the fastest record for climbing Mount Everest.
37718 State Route 706 E, in Ashford; open noon to 8 p.m. Friday through Tuesday and until 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday (closed Thursday)
The interior of Copper Creek. Bryton Wilson Photography
Part inn, part restaurant, this charming red wooden cabin sits among fir trees in Ashford. Copper Creek Inn's dining room has been operating since 1946, which supposedly makes it the oldest continuously operating restaurant in Washington. It serves filling, home-style meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, from chili and chowder to burgers and salads. Save room for a slice (or two) of homemade blackberry pie — or come just for the pie.
35707 State Route 706 E, in Ashford; open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday to Monday
Tucked into Ashford's Paradise Village, the aptly named restaurant serves Ukrainian fare in a log cabin beneath a thatched roof. Sweet and savory crepes for breakfast, and for dinner, Ukrainian specialties like pierogies stuffed with sour cherries, cheese, or potatoes, along with flaky piroshkies, cabbage salad, borsch, and meaty mains. Wash it all down with a glass of Ukrainian wine or beer.
31811 State Route 706 E, in Ashford; open 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Friday and from 10 a.m. to 9 p,m. on the weekends
Cliff Droppers specializes in burgers in a very serious way. Salmon burgers, elk burgers, jalapeno burgers, Hawaiian burgers… take your pick, the options are plentiful. The famous Sasquatch burger — two patties, Canadian bacon, grilled onion, Swiss and cheddar, stacked high with lettuce, tomato, and pickles— is a challenge to bite into, but your hike-induced hanger will quickly fade.
12968 Highway 12, in Packwood; open 11 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. Thursday to Sunday
A newcomer to Packwood's small food scene in 2024, Saint Milagro specializes in hearty breakfasts (including breakfast burritos and home-baked goods) to fuel you up before a hike. Post-hike diners can chow down on meat lunch plates, tortas, homemade tamales, and single tacos.
13807 Highway 12 in Packwood; opening hours vary but generally go from 7 a.m. to the afternoon (check Facebook for updates)
While not a restaurant exactly, Wapiti Outdoors deserves a mention. About 20 miles from the White River entrance to Rainier, a log cabin pops up along a forested road. Wapiti Outdoors has long been a staple on this section of 410, stocked with gifts, snacks, and coffee. While its food options are limited, Wapiti's huckleberry milkshakes are legendary (there are non-huckleberry frozen treats as well, if you fancy another flavor).
58414 State Route 410 E, in Greenwater; open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday to Sunday.
Eater Seattle
All your essential food and restaurant intel delivered to you Email (required)
Sign Up
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
31 minutes ago
- USA Today
American teen pilot agrees to donation to suspend proceedings in Antarctica landing case
An American pilot and influencer who has been stuck on Chilean territory in Antarctica agreed to a deal that would see him make a large donation to avoid a trial on charges connected to landing on the continent, according to American and Chilean reporting. A Chilean court suspended proceedings against Ethan Guo, a teen influencer who intended to fly to all seven continents to fundraise for children's cancer research on Monday, Aug. 11, according to Chilean newspaper La Tercera. Chilean prosecutors alleged that the influencer had provided authorities with false flight plan data and "multiple national and international" rules regarding access to Antarctica, according to CBS News. Guo must make a $30,000 donation to Fundación Nuestros Hijos within 30 days and agree to be banned from Chilean territory for three years, according to La Trecera. Chilean television station 24Horas reported that the donation must be paid within 72 hours of Guo's return to continental Chile and that he must cover the cost of his plane's stay at a Chilean military base in Antarctica. He told the Associated Press that he was "relieved by the outcome" following the ruling. "I remain in Antarctica awaiting approval for my departure flight," Guo told the wire service through text messages Aug. 11. "I sincerely hope they give it to me soon so that I and my plane can continue with my original mission." Guo confirmed he remained on Antarctica in messages with USA TODAY through his Instagram account Aug. 12. A timetable for his return to mainland Chile is unclear, Guo said. Why was Ethan Guo on Antarctica? Guo began a "trip around the world" in Sept. 2024 to raise $1 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and documented the trip on his Instagram page. He had reached six of the seven continents in his Cessna 182Q before flying to Antarctica. He flew to King George Island, an island off the coast of Antarctica that Chile claims as its territory, on June 28 and was detained at the airport there, according to CBS News. Prosecutors alleged that Guo was cleared to fly to Punta Arenas but not continue onto the island, according to La Tercera. The newspaper reported that Guo's defense filed a letter pointing to WhatsApp communications between Guo and officials at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, where a "senior DGAC official expressly responds to Ethan Guo that he can land" at the airport on King George Island for "safety reasons." 'While already in the air, he began to experience a series of complications,' Karina Ulloa, one of Guo's lawyers, told CNN. She added that Guo was on an exploratory flight to ensure the ability to fly the route. La Tercera quoted another of Guo's lawyers, Jaime Barrentos, as saying, "the prosecutor's office made decisions with partial information provided by DGAC." Guo said hardest part of flying is 'paperwork' In a profile before the flight with The Patriot Ledger – a part of the USA TODAY Network – the Milton, Massachusetts native foreshadowed the logistical roadblocks he would encounter. 'Flying isn't easy. It's harder than driving a car, but the hardest part is the logistics and paperwork," said Guo, who told the paper that he would be submitting the necessary permits and documents for each country on the flight. Guo began flying at 13 and already holds a record as the youngest person to fly to all 48 contiguous states, a feat he accomplished at 17, not long after earning his pilot's license. Guo had attempted the flight around the world in 2023 in the additional hope of becoming the youngest person to complete the global trek. That journey, though, was grounded before it started. On his approach to the Memphis airport in September 2023, his plane encountered a partial power failure at 12,000 feet. Contributing: David R. Smith – The Patriot Ledger
2 hours ago
Child climber tells David Muir about conquering the Matterhorn, setting new record
Three years after becoming the youngest person to summit Yosemite's El Capitan rock formation, 11-year-old Sam Evermore has just shattered another world record. In an interview with "World News Tonight" anchor David Muir, the young climber and his father shared their triumphant journey to the top of one of the world's most dangerous peaks, the Matterhorn. The Colorado Springs native, alongside his father, Joe, successfully reached the summit of the Matterhorn over the weekend, standing proudly at nearly 15,000 feet with the American flag in hand. The accomplishment wasn't just about breaking records -- it was about strengthening an already remarkable father-son bond. "I'm hoping that my story inspires fathers and sons to get out and do something that seems impossible," Joe Evermore told Muir from their basecamp. The pair had been preparing for this moment for over a year, having to turn back their first attempt when they came within 1,000 feet of the summit due to dangerous weather conditions. This time, accompanied by professional climbing guides and documented by a drone crew, they started their ascent at sunrise. Through snow and challenging terrain, they navigated the treacherous rocks of the iconic peak that stands between Switzerland and Italy. When asked about reaching the summit, Sam's response was simple, but heartfelt: "It felt so good. We had been working on it for two years." The achievement comes with mixed emotions for the father-son duo. "There's part of it that was also a little sad," Joe said. "Our relationship has really enjoyed spending all this time getting ready for this mountain, and when you get there, there's this afterglow of getting it done, but it's also kind of sad because the mission is accomplished." In the Evermore household, each of their boys (once they turn five) takes on one "colossal goal" each year. "It has to be so big we work on it a little bit every day," Joe said of training with his four children. "It's got to be remarkable, something we can hang on the wall, and most importantly -- you can't die, so you have to do it safely." For parents looking to follow in their footsteps, Joe suggests starting smaller. "Just be intentional with your kids," Joe said. "Put together some kind of plan. It doesn't have to be climbing mountains -- it could be something like an annual parent-child road trip. The important thing is creating those bonds and helping our children become courageous adults."
USA Today
5 hours ago
- USA Today
State Department updates Mexico travel advisory for Americans
The U.S. State Department updated its travel advisory for Mexico on Tuesday, Aug. 12, urging American travelers to "exercise increased caution" when visiting the popular Caribbean destination. The North American country is issued a Level 2 designation "due to terrorism, crime and kidnapping," with a travel advisory summary to reflect those risks. "Many violent crimes take place in Mexico. They include homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery," the updated summary states. "There is a risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Mexico." Under the update, the U.S. is advising travelers to cooperate if stopped at a road checkpoint, and risk being hurt or killed if they try to flee, push back on, or ignore instructions. They should also avoid traveling after dark or alone, especially in remote areas. It warns that if travelers get in trouble, U.S. government assistance and emergency services are limited in many parts of Mexico, especially those that are remote, rural or high-risk. Although Mexico has long been a popular vacation spot for Americans, it's seen a string of warnings by the U.S. government this year. In March, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico posted a warning for those visiting spring break hotspots, including Cancun and Puerto Penasco. Most recently, in June, it cautioned travelers of kidnappings tied to dating apps. Is it safe to travel to Mexico? It varies based on where travelers are going in Mexico, with some states identified by the State Department to have a higher safety risk than others. The State Department breaks down advisories into four levels, from Level 1 warning people "exercise normal precautions" down to Level 4, meaning "do not travel" there. The two states with a Level 1 advisory, indicating the lowest safety risk, are Campeche and Yucatán, home to the famous Chichén Itzá archaeological site. Some of the most popular Mexican destinations have a Level 2 advisory – telling travelers to "exercise increased caution" – such as Mexico City and Quintana Roo, where Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum are located. Several states are under a Level 4 advisory due to "a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations." Homicides and shooting incidents in which U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents have been victims have taken place. These states are Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas.
