Mount Rainier: what time does it glow at sunrise?
Short answer: 6 Nov 2026: First light on Mount Rainier at 06:47; the red-to-gold glow lasts until about 07:22. Be at Reflection Lakes or Paradise by 06:17.
Mount Rainier towers 3,000 m above everything around it, so its summit glacier catches the dawn long before the forests below. From Reflection Lakes it is mirrored pink in the water.
Fri 6 November 2026
First light 06:47
First light on Mount Rainier at 06:47; the red-to-gold glow lasts until about 07:22. Be at Reflection Lakes or Paradise by 06:17.
| 06:17 | Arrive at Reflection Lakes or Paradise |
| 06:47 | First light: the very top turns red |
| 06:58 | Sunrise on a flat horizon here (the valley stays in shade longer) |
| 07:22 | Glow fades to gold, then white |
Plan it
Stevens Canyon Road to Reflection Lakes is usually open from July to October. The glow needs a clear sky towards the east as well as over the peak.
Through the year
| 15th of | First light | Glow |
|---|---|---|
| January | 07:37 | 07:37–08:14 |
| February | 07:02 | 07:02–07:35 |
| March | 07:11 | 07:11–07:42 |
| April | 06:10 | 06:10–06:42 |
| May | 05:21 | 05:21–05:57 |
| June | 05:00 | 05:00–05:39 |
| July | 05:16 | 05:16–05:54 |
| August | 05:55 | 05:55–06:28 |
| September | 06:36 | 06:36–07:07 |
| October | 07:16 | 07:16–07:48 |
| November | 07:00 | 07:00–07:36 |
| December | 07:34 | 07:34–08:13 |
Mount Rainier by month
Questions
What time is the sunrise glow on Mount Rainier?
6 Nov 2026: First light on Mount Rainier at 06:47; the red-to-gold glow lasts until about 07:22. Be at Reflection Lakes or Paradise by 06:17. The time moves through the year; pick your date above.
How much earlier does Mount Rainier catch the sun than the valley?
About 11 minutes before a sunrise on a flat horizon at Reflection Lakes or Paradise, and the valley itself stays in the mountains' shadow for longer.
Which month has the earliest and latest first light?
January 07:37, February 07:02, March 07:11, April 06:10, May 05:21, June 05:00, July 05:16, August 05:55, September 06:36, October 07:16, November 07:00, December 07:34 (15th of each month).
How is this calculated?
A summit high above its surroundings looks down on its own horizon, so it sees the sun before anything below it. For each date we find the moment the sun's upper edge clears the skyline as seen from the summit (allowing for the dip of the horizon, refraction and higher ridges nearby). The red, then orange, then gold glow lasts until the sun is about 5° higher. Expect the real moment within about 5 minutes.
Summit 4,392 m. Times are local (America/Los_Angeles).