There are some benefits to hiking Mount Rainier during a government shutdown - very few people, plenty of parking, and for those of you who don't have a pass, no fee.  I tried to get the day entry pass to Sunrise (the $2 one you get in addition to your National Park pass) and that system is down.  You can donate or pay later, though, support our parks!

There were maybe 4-5 cars at the trailhead (on the main Sunrise Road) when I got there, 5 when I got back.  Never filled.  Though there are very few spots, so I imagine it's challenging in a non-shutdown weekend.  I literally saw less than a dozen people all day on the trail.

Thank you to DayHiker50, the trip report right before me here, who talked about going on to Tamanos (continue on the trail and bear right, it starts climbing about 1/4 mile after the end of the lakes).  I opted to just go to the saddle, and the views were really gorgeous.  That said - BRUTAL.  I'm not in the best possible shape, and that last 3/4 mile to the saddle is basically straight up the mountain.  Took me forever, and the trail is not delightful, rocky and rooty and often in a trench.  Really makes you thankful for the WTA trailmakers - the lower part up to Owyhigh lakes is gentle/medium grade, plenty of space, switchbacks, etc.

I do recommend this addition to the Owyhigh lakes hike if you're up for it - and I'm sure the last bit to the top of the mountain would be worth it too if I weren't so lazy!  It's 1 mile from Owyhigh to the saddle, 4.6 miles from the trailhead to the saddle according to GAIA.   I also scrambled up the little social trail up to the left as you're facing Rainier until it ended in about 150 yards.  No new perspectives from there, but nice.

The lovely park people at Mount Rainier have kept the bathroom at the entrance open and stocked, which was terrific.  I also drove up to Sunrise since I hadn't been up there in years (additional 13 miles or so) - just as impressive as usual.  Plenty of parking, I didn't try going in anywhere so can't speak to what's open up there, if anything.

One final note, the Sunrise Road officially closed for the winter as of 10/6, but this trailhead (and the road in general up to White River Campground) is still open and accessible.  Not sure about whether they keep the bathrooms open.

THE HIKE. Quite wonderful, even with the vast fields of flowers now done. Still some color. The segment on the Owyhigh Lakes Trail flies by on great tread and kind slope. On the path from there up, you earn your views. Some steep slippery segments, not a problem with poles. The local views and variety going up are lovely; the emergence of Rainier as the saddle is achieved should put a smile on anyone's face.  Reaching the initial (false) summit, I just relaxed and enjoyed for an hour and a half. Then checked out the scramble to the true summit, and decided to skip it. 

DATA.  On this lovely Thursday, on the trail I saw just one person all day, a hiker coming down as I went up. Including my car: 4 cars in the Owyhigh Lakes TH lot at 9:30 am, 2 cars at 5:30 pm. (Does everyone know you no longer need a permit to enter at Sunrise on weekdays?)

WATER. For water, one of the under-bridge streamlets about 2 miles in looked adequate, or, you could take a path to Owyhigh Lake from the trail. Tamanos Creek was dry below the bridge crossing over it. 

STATS per GAIA. 9.75 miles, to 6730' from 3811'. 

Decided to pay a visit to Sunrise area this year for the first time. Booked my timed entry for the 7 - 9 AM the evening before without any problems. The line getting to the park was also short.

Owyhigh trail was a bit deserted this morning with only 3 vehicles parked at the trailhead. 

There's only one big blowdown blocking the trail that I am aware of, otherwise the trail was very easy to navigate.

Saw a big bear not far from the trail munching berries. There were definitely lots and lots of juicy sweet huckleberries on the trail and I ate some of them. The last bit of Tamanos involved some scramble and it's a bit exposed. The gpx route I had were kinda all over the place but I sticked towards climbers left. 

The summit register was sealed shut. Maybe it was me but I couldn't open it 🙃. I guess I ate too much berries and was somewhat distracted and left my trekking poles probably somewhere near the berries or before the scramble section. If found, you may bring them to the nearby ranger station and I will collect them later. Thank you!

VIEWS! FLOWERS! MEADOWS! This hike really packs a lot into it in 5 miles up and 3000' vert.  Bluebird day with great hiking temps.

Met a Wonderland hiker that had to detour to the Tamanos camp because no reservations available for that night. At least a seven mile detour, but she did not seem to mind. All told we met 6 people day hiking. 4 of them were hikers we met on other hikes this year. Not sure how our secret hiking schedule leaked out but investigating.

Now the views. The Lakes and the Governors were spectacular. The bright green around the Lakes contrasted with the rugged Governors is a great sight. At the saddle the view of the Mountain is always spectacular with all its surrounding landscape. But both Georg and I think the meadows are some of the most deserving of views. Only Bear Park (view from Brown Peak) rivals these meadows and today they were filled with flowers as far as the eye could see. As I often say, a picture is worth a thousand words, but seeing it in person is worth a million pictures. One hiker taking some pictures said the same thing, these pictures just do not do justice to these views.

Happy Hiking!