DRIFTLINE

Guided flight · Pacific Northwest

Mount Rainier

Glaciers, alpine ridges and the volcanic heart of Washington

55S → 21W

In-sim reference for Mount Rainier Summit Massif
In-sim screenshotMount Rainier Summit Massif

Mount Rainier dominates the southern Washington Cascades, rising dramatically above forests, river valleys and a broad apron of glaciers. Its enormous relief creates a landscape where volcanic geology, moving ice, subalpine meadows and historic park architecture exist within only a few miles of one another.

This flight explores the mountain from south to north and east to west, beginning near the forested valleys around Packwood before climbing toward Longmire and Paradise, crossing the summit massif, and continuing around Rainier’s glacier-covered eastern and northern flanks.

Origin

Packwood Airport

Destination

Ranger Creek Airport

Waypoints

7

Distance

44 NM

Leg 1 · 55S to 21W

Route

AOrigin1–7WaypointsBDestination

Recommended aircraft

Rugged high-performance single-engine aircraft

Examples: Daher Kodiak 100, Cessna 182, Pilatus PC-12

Well suited to mountain flying, stronger climb performance, and the rugged airfields of the Cascades.

Suggested altitude

5,500–8,500 ft, terrain permitting

Volcano · Glaciers · Mountains · National Park · Scenic · General Aviation

Ready to fly

Start Mount Rainier

Download the PLN for import into Microsoft Flight Simulator, then open the same guided flight on your phone.

Places along the way

  1. In-sim reference for Longmire Historic District

    Waypoint 1

    Longmire Historic District

    Historic park district in a forested valley on Rainier’s southwest side, long serving as an early center for visitors and park operations.

  2. In-sim reference for Reflection Lakes & Tatoosh Range

    Waypoint 2

    Reflection Lakes & Tatoosh Range

    Subalpine lakes south of Mount Rainier where calm water can mirror the volcano above surrounding meadows and forest.

  3. In-sim reference for Paradise Inn

    Waypoint 3

    Paradise Inn

    Historic mountain lodge at Paradise, set amid some of Mount Rainier’s most celebrated subalpine scenery and wildflower meadows.

  4. In-sim reference for Mount Rainier Summit Massif

    Waypoint 4

    Mount Rainier Summit Massif

    The glacier-covered summit complex of Mount Rainier, rising to 14,410 feet above the surrounding Cascade landscape.

  5. In-sim reference for Sunrise & Sourdough Ridge

    Waypoint 5

    Sunrise & Sourdough Ridge

    High subalpine terrain on Rainier’s northeast side, offering broad views across the mountain, glaciers and surrounding Cascades.

  6. In-sim reference for Emmons Glacier & White River Valley

    Waypoint 6

    Emmons Glacier & White River Valley

    Rainier’s largest glacier by surface area, descending toward the White River through a landscape of ice, debris and volcanic terrain.

  7. In-sim reference for Carbon Glacier

    Waypoint 7

    Carbon Glacier

    A heavily debris-covered glacier on Rainier’s north side, notable for its low terminus and immense volume of ice.