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Ashford, Washington

Ashford is one of the hub towns around Mt. Rainier (14,411 feet), located just a few miles from the west gate into Mt. Rainier National Park. The Nisqually River, known for its scenic fly fishing, runs right through town and many of its feeder creeks are worth exploring if you are looking to beat the crowds. In the summer, Ashford is bustling with RVs and out-of-state plates that keep the souvenir shops in business. Add in the seasonal Forest Service and National Park employees and it can be downright crowded. During the winter, Ashford still sees decent traffic from backcountry skiers and snowboarders headed up to Paradise and the Muir Snowfield on Rainier and the north slopes of the Tatoosh Range. Don’t miss the Highlander if you want to sip a domestic and check out the local scene.

Recent Articles

  1. Training For Mount Rainier: What A Mountain Guide Wants You To Know

    By Charlotte Austin in Mountaineering, Training

    As a longtime guide on Mount Rainier, I am constantly fielding questions about how to prepare to make a summit attempt on the highest mountain in Washington State. I give the usual suggestions – physical fitness, gear, and mental preparation – but in the recent years, I’ve also started talking to prospective climbers about some […]

Maps

  1. Map of the Highest Points in Each of the 50 States

    Many have heard about the state highpoints quest and contemplated it over a beverage or two. An experienced mountaineer or even someone who is fit and very determined could do most of the peaks. You could even get a little help, like on Rainier where climbers often use a guide service. Denali in Alaska however, is in […]

  2. The Bulger List – Washington’s Highest 100 Peaks

    In the summer of ’96, I ran into a friend that I hadn’t seen in awhile. After catching up and laughing about the crazy times back in college, he mentioned that a few guys were climbing Mount Shuksan in a couple of weeks and asked if I wanted to join them. I immediately said yes, […]

Featured Mountains in Ashford

Mountain Approx. Elevation
Unicorn Peak 6,844 ft (2,086 m)
The Castle 6,414 ft (1,955 m)
Roundtop Mountain 2,648 ft (807 m)
Pinnacle Peak 6,473 ft (1,973 m)
Mount Wow 5,892 ft (1,796 m)
Mount Rainier (State High Point) 14,411 ft (4,392 m)
Mount Beljica 5,315 ft (1,620 m)
Gobblers Knob 5,426 ft (1,654 m)