Overview
Greenwater is a small town in Washington state, immediately north of Mount Rainier. This small community of less than 100 residents, along with the nearby Crystal Mountain ski resort, provides the only services on the east side of Mount Rainier National Park.
2 things to do · 1 places to eat · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Greenwater
Crystal Mountain Resort
Washington’s largest ski resort: 11 lifts, over 80 named runs, and 2,600 acres of terrain.
Greenwater Lakes Trail
This easy 2 mi (one-way) trail follows the Greenwater River through lush old-growth forest to the two small Greenwater Lakes. Continue on 5 mi to Echo Lake or 4 mi to Lost Lake.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jun–Sep. Summer highs reach about 76°F; winter lows dip to about 25°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Nov and Dec. (climate data from nearby Mount Rainier National Park)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- SEA Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, Seattle — 39 mi away (major hub). Directions
- BFI King County International Airport - Boeing Field, Seattle — 42 mi away. Directions
State Route 410 (WA-410), the Chinook Pass Highway, runs through Greenwater, connecting Tacoma and the Puget Sound region over Chinook Pass to Yakima and eastern Washington.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Greenwater Lakes Trail
- Lunch Naches Tavern
- Afternoon Crystal Mountain Resort
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
There's one restaurant in town:
There are several restaurants at the Crystal Mountain Resort.
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
State Route 410 (WA-410), the Chinook Pass Highway, runs through Greenwater, connecting Tacoma and the Puget Sound region over Chinook Pass to Yakima and eastern Washington.
Chinook Pass closes for the winter, south of Crystal Mountain. It usually closes in November and reopens in June, but is variable based on snowpack. Check the Washington State Department of Transportation for winter travel information.
See and do
Greenwater is near the Sunrise entrance of Mount Rainier National Park.
Hiking
- The Pacific Crest Trail crosses WA-410 at Chinook Pass. Most trails east of WA-410 eventually connect to it.
Winter sports
Eat and drink
There's one restaurant in town:
There are several restaurants at the Crystal Mountain Resort.
Sleep
There are several hotels at the Crystal Mountain Resort. There are rental cabins scattered throughout the area.
Camping
If you're not able to snag a campsite within the national park, the Forest Service campgrounds along WA-410 are great alternatives.
Go next
Make a loop back across the mountains:
- Mountains to Sound Greenway across Snoqualmie Pass — the next pass to the north
- White Pass (US-12) — the next pass to the south
Explore the other ski resorts in the Washington Cascades:
- Mount Baker — holder of the world record for most snowfall. Elevation 3,500–5,089 ft
- Stevens Pass — the biggest terrain within two hours of Seattle. Elevation 3,500–5,089 ft
- Mission Ridge — on the eastern slopes, with more sunshine than the other resorts. Elevation 4,570-6,820 ft
- Snoqualmie Pass — the closest ski resort to Seattle. Elevation 2,610–5,420 ft
- White Pass — a relaxed atmosphere for all abilities. Elevation 4,500-6,550 ft
Nearby
Mount Rainier National Park
Park · 67 listings · 19 mi away
Snoqualmie Pass
City / town · 20 listings · 20 mi away
North Bend
City / town · 15 listings · 26 mi away
Snoqualmie
City / town · 16 listings · 28 mi away
Auburn
City / town · 17 listings · 30 mi away
Cle Elum
City / town · 15 listings · 31 mi away
Puyallup
City / town · 13 listings · 32 mi away
Ashford
City / town · 3 listings · 33 mi away
My experience
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