Alicia Erickson

The further you drive around the winding, forested roads en route to Mount Rainier National Park, the better the views — but the scarcer the food options. Aside from a couple basic deli and snack shops and a few restaurants that I can’t recommend (and so won’t name), there are few places to dine inside the park’s boundaries. So, where do you satisfy your appetite after a day of hiking and glacier viewing?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 EricksonAll 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 EricksonFirst 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 PhotographyPart 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 MondayTucked 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 weekendsCliff 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 SundayA 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.