Local Attractions

There are many exciting activities to embark on in Ashford and the surrounding areas. Yearly tens of thousands visit Mt. Rainier National Park to see the sights, camp, hike, climb, snowshoe, snowboard, ski, and inner tube. There is also horseback riding, ATV trails, gift shops, steam train rides, golf courses, espresso shops, taverns, art galleries, churches, and a movie theatre. There truly is something for everyone! Below are some of the area businesses including web sites and phone numbers.

 Located 54 miles southeast of Seattle, Washington, Mount Rainier National Park was established on March 2nd, 1899 as the nation’s fifth National Park. Dominating the local landscape, this 14,410 foot stratovolcano stands as the highest peak in the continental United States. As the highest point in the Cascade Mountain Range, Mount Rainier is surrounded by a wide variety of old growth forests, lush valleys, stunning waterfalls and more than 25 glaciers. This dormant volcano often finds itself veiled by dense clouds which dump an extraordinary amount of rain and snow on the peak annually, thus living up to the Pacific Northwest’s notoriety for its rainfall. 

 As the primary gateway to Mount Rainier National Park’s interior tourist destinations, the upper Nisqually Valley is the most intensively used outdoor recreational area in Pierce County, with hundreds of thousands of tourists passing through the area annually on their way to visit Mount Rainier. However, the areas surrounding the park also offer an abundance of natural wonders and activities certain to peak the interests of visitors to this charming rural area. Among the activities open to visitors in the area include hiking, fishing, horseback riding, mountain climbing, visits to the working artisan studios in the area, and even an old-time steam locomotive ride through the majestic countryside. There’s no end to the possibilities that await visitors to our community.