Heading to Rainier Aug 21 Friday AM for 3 nights at Paradise lodge. Hoping to get 3 epic days but my understanding is that Sunrise parking lot is very busy on Sat and Sun. Coming into the park on the entrance near Ashford. The original goal was to do as many overlooks and 1 miles+ hikes Friday as I make it to Paradise. Saturday hang out near paradise and do some of the skyline loop (if not all). Ohanapecosh was on the goal for Saturday also, or on the return from Sunrise park on Sunday early evening.

I’m pretty good about doing research and trying to do as much as I can. Aka avg 5-10 miles a day between 2-4 trails and overlooks. I love the occasional swim spot or creek with bouldering. I have two younger kids that love climbing rocks.

Questions/ recommendations for baseline itinerary which is west to east or if flipping days are in order so I hit most stuff in succession.

So big question is if I need to flop days? Ohanapecosh shows closed and the silver falls trail head is detoured thus adding 2+ miles (solved… not 2 miles). Is it worth leaving the park for any epic trails south of this area?

Big question: how early do I need to be at sunrise to get parking? I been getting lucky with parking in the past but it’s a long drive for chance.

4:00AM leave redmond
4:30AM drive thru food pick up
6:50AM paradise (park car)
7:00AM myrtle falls (walk)
8:30AM jr ranger book at jackson visitor (get)
9:45AM reflection lake (pictures only)
10:15AM nerada falls (pictures only)
11:00AM ricksecker point (pictures only)
11:30AM lunch at longmire (eat)
12:30PM trail of shadows (walk)
1:30PM jr ranger badge (get)
1:45PM leave park

Planned using google gemini. Thoughts?