We’re spending 3 nights in Longmire at Thanksgiving in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington. Along with our daughter, 2 grown sons and Kelly, we’re excited to visit Mount Rainier for the 1st time. And we’re staying at the National Park Inn in Longmire. Check out all of the things to explore in Longmire in early winter at Mount Rainier!
Planning Longmire at Thanksgiving in Mount Rainier
We’re spending Thanksgiving week in Washington to visit our son Drew and his girlfriend Kelly. And after 3 nights in downtown Seattle, we’re spending 3 nights in Mount Rainier National Park. (Check out our separate post Best Things in Seattle to See and Do in 2 Days) Staying at the National Park Inn in Longmire, we made dinner reservations for Thanksgiving Day. Though we’re just as excited to explore this area of the park.
Longmire is located in the southwest area of the park and is the main area open at Thanksgiving. With its lower elevation around 2,760 feet, it is one of the few accessible spots year round. And it’s a hub for visitor activity, especially in winter. It’s also referred to as the Longmire Historic District due to its designation on the National Register of Historic Places. And there’s plenty do here with a collection of historic buildings, mountain views and hiking trails. We’ll explore the park entrance to Longmire before checking into the inn. And once in Longmire, we’ll fully explore the historic district.
From the Nisqually Entrance to Longmire at Thanksgiving
Right before we get to Mount Rainier, we start the GuideAlong app. For those of you that have followed us, you know we use it every chance we get. It truly is like having a guide in your car pointing out interesting sites, history and more. They have one just for Mount Rainier or as part of their Pacific Coast Bundle. Check them out at: Audio Tour Guides | GuideAlong.
Just before the Nisqually Entrance is their national park entrance sign hanging over the road. And it’s raining when we approach, but there’s no line to get in the park. So I park just off the road to get a picture. On a nice day cars can be parked past the sign, so it’s good to take a picture when you can.
Once past the entrance, GuideAlong starts to talk about some of the trees and history of the park. We learn about James Longmire’s homestead that turned into the park headquarters and is now the Longmire Historic District. On the way to Longmire, there’s a couple short stops. The 1st is the Kautz Creek Nature Trail to a viewpoint.
About 3 miles from the entrance on the right is a large parking lot with restroom facilities and pit toilets. The trail starts across the street and is a 0.1 mile boardwalk to a viewpoint. Here you can see how mudflows shaped a path through the trees. And a sign explains how the flow of the creek changed in 2006 during a record rainfall. A mile past this stop is the Twin Firs Trail, but it’s raining too hard now to stop. So, we head to the National Park Inn early to check-in.
The National Park Inn in Longmire at Thanksgiving
The National Park Inn is the only lodging open in the park year round in the heart of Longmire. And check-in is at 4:00PM. Though when we arrive at 2:30PM, our room is ready. So, we grab our luggage and take them to the rooms upstairs. For more information, see: National Park Inn | Mount Rainier Guest Services.
Parking and the main entrance to the inn is located behind the building. And they must have just put up a Christmas wreath. The ladder is still out. Right inside is the front desk, and the restaurant is to the right of that. But before dinner, we want to settle in and explore the inn.
All the rooms are upstairs. So after settling in, we head back down to explore. Besides the front desk and restaurant, there is small lounge. It’s a perfect place to relax in front of a fireplace while having coffee or tea. They also have many tables and board games available. Since they have no TV’s or Wi-Fi in the inn, this is a popular spot.
Also popular is the long covered porch out back. With some tables and rocking chairs, it’s a great place to get a good view of the mountain when it’s out. We’ll talk more about that later. But after orienting ourselves, we are ready to head to dinner.
Dining at the National Park Inn in Longmire at Thanksgiving
Here is a summary of our dining experiences over the 3 days, including Thanksgiving. Starting with one of the great things about booking a stay at the National Park Inn at Thanksgiving. Not only are the rates cheaper, but we were able to get a package that includes a full breakfast. That includes breakfast for 4 of us in 1 room.
This rate is a great deal because it includes a breakfast entree and a drink. And the portions are very large. Even the hot chocolate is a large overflowing cup with whipped cream piled high. After breakfast, we had plenty of energy to explore the park that we skipped lunch each day. But we were more than ready for an early dinner.
Hearty dinner options include bison meatloaf, a wagyu beef burger or pot roast. They also have kid options for chicken tenders, Kraft mac-n-cheese and more. No one left hungry. Though that was nothing compared to their Thanksgiving dinner.
Thanksgiving Day dinner reservations are required, so we booked ours at 4:00PM. This was the only day the restaurant was packed, and for good reason. Dinner was served buffet style and had everything you would want for Thanksgiving, and then some.
The buffet includes 2 types of salad, and sides like cranberry walnut stuffing and sweet potatoes gratin. Entrees include roasted turkey and gravy, sliced beef and vegetarian shepherd’s pie. Dessert is the only thing brought to the table, and you get the choice of 3 options. Between all of us we tried the pumpkin pie, chocolate torte and blackberry cobbler. Everything we had was good, and filling. And we didn’t have to cook or clean-up this year!
Mountain Views from the National Park Inn
Seeing mountain views from Longmire at Thanksgiving may be tricky. Because November is one of the wetter months and the weather is unpredictable. And when it’s cloudy, you can’t see the mountain. But one of the best places to look for it is on the back porch of the National Park Inn.
On our first day, it rained steadily, and we couldn’t see much of anything. Still, it was nice to grab a drink and sit out on the porch. You can even order hot toddies and other warm beverages at the front desk to take outside.
Fearing it would rain the whole time and we would never see the mountain ended quickly. The next morning the rain had stopped, and there was the mountain!
Even after sunset, we could still see most of the mountain. Some clouds were covering the top, but it’s still fun to grab a drink and take a look. Unfortunately the following day, which was Thanksgiving, it was raining lightly. And even after the rain stopped, it was too cloudy to see anything. That’s until the last morning.
On our last day, not only had the rain stopped, but the sun had come out in force. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, and the mountain was the clearest we saw. Looking from the back porch is a good way to see if the mountain is out or not. But we found an even better place to look in the Longmire Historic District.
Longmire Historic District Walking Tour
If you’re looking for something to do in Longmire at Thanksgiving, everything is within walking distance. And if you download the NPS app, they have an 8-stop Longmire Historic District Walking Tour you can follow. And the 1st stop is the Introduction Exhibit Panel.
There are actually 3 identical signs located in the front of Longmire to get you started on the tour. We learn the Longmire Historic District contains the largest collection of structures in the park’s rustic style. It is also commonly known as “parkitecture”. This panel also shows us a map of these historic buildings.
General Store, Service Station and Longmire Museum
The closest buildings to the National Park Inn are the general store, service station and museum. In fact, the Longmire General Store is attached to the National Park Inn.
This building, constructed in 1911, is very different from the attached inn. The small log building with an angled roof was built with materials to blend in with the natural setting. And it has had many uses including a clubhouse and hiking center. But today it is the general store which has all kinds of food, supplies and souvenirs.
Inside the store is very large with all kinds of stuff. They have books, clothes, ornaments, and just about any other souvenir we would want. They also have a corner with grab-and-go food and drinks. And the beer is about half the price of the inn.
On the other side of the inn is a very small building. It is the old Longmire Service Station built in 1929. It is no longer in use, but it still has 2 historic red gas pumps. You can also see the wooden log construction and the natural stones around its base. And inside houses information about this historic station.
Past the service station are some restrooms, and then the Longmire Museum. Built in 1916, this building was originally the park headquarters. Not only does it have some informative exhibits about the park, but it serves as the visitor center in Longmire. Here you can get your passport stamped or talk to a ranger. And there are a few items for sale. You can also pick up a brochure with a map of the Longmore Historic District. So, this is a good place to start the walking tour.
Nisqually Suspension Bridge and Community Building
To reach the next building, we have to take a long walk or a drive. Though this is where we get the best views of Mount Rainier. From the end of the parking lot, the road curves left. We continue straight on a walking path toward a small hut and the Nisqually Suspension Bridge.
Also known as the Longmire Suspension Bridge, it crosses the Nisqually River. Originally built in 1924 to reach a campground, this bridge has been rebuilt and undergone several rehabilitations. It’s absolutely beautiful, and walking across provides nice views of the river. But we have to look out for cars, since they can still use this 1-lane bridge.
On the other side, we continue on the road along the river to the community building. Though the campground is no longer here, this building is still used for occasionally for social gatherings. And from here we walk past some parking spots to the river’s edge.
The 1st day we walked out here and could not see the mountain. But, on our last day we drove back when the mountain was out. And though it was past sunrise, the mountain was glowing. There’s also another thing to check out here.
Just beyond the community building stands the Mount Rainier National Park Valor Memorial. Dedicated in 2017, it honors four park rangers who lost their lives while serving in the park.
On the way back, we pull to the side of the road closer to the bridge. There’s ample space to get a great view of the mountain and the bridge in front of it. And there’s still 2 more buildings to check out.
The Longmire Administration Building and Library
Back across the bridge, there are 2 more buildings part of the Longmire Historic District walking tour. And the 1st is across the street from the museum. It’s the Longmire Administration Building which is the most iconic structure on the tour.
Built in 1928, it features glacial boulders and thick cedar logs. This was also the park headquarters building until 1976. Though it still has some park offices, it now serves as the Longmire Wilderness Information Center when open. However it is closed Thanksgiving week and during the winter. Just past the administration building, the last building is the smallest and also the oldest.
Built in 1910, the Longmire Library still houses books and documents today. The library is used by staff to research the park and appears closed to the public. And that brings us to the end of the walking tour. We actually visited the buildings, some more than once, over multiple days. Though all of the historic structures can be seen easily in 1-2 hours if visiting for the day. But for those seeking a little more adventure, there’s a great hike across the street.
Trail of Shadows
The Trail of Shadows is a short 0.7 mile hike located directly across the street from the National Park Inn. And Becky and I decide to start this trail at 8:00AM on Thanksgiving morning while cold and slightly raining. The trail loop starts to the right, and within steps it opens up to a large meadow.
The Longmire Meadow is covered in red-orange grass surrounded by green trees. And looking down we see some bubbling water. A sign here tells us how the Longmire family managed a medical springs resort here.
A little further down the path, we find remnants of the old resort. An intricately designed spa with stone walls comes into view, featuring a front opening and cedar planks. Inside, cool mineral water still bubbles.
Farther down the trail, we pass a replica of an early homestead cabin and “Iron Mike.” This enclosed, rusty spring is stained orange by dissolved iron. After the spring, we cross a bridge and follow the path around the meadow.
There are some openings where we can see the meadow. And in one, we can see a beaver pond. Though no sign of beavers, we can see their lodge on the far side. And the trail continues through an old-growth forest.
While walking, we pass under some enormous fir, cedar and hemlock trees. We imagine this trail is named after these large trees casting shadows below. Though this trail can take only 20 minutes, we found it very interesting and took us almost an hour. And when we exit the trail, we see they’re opening the road to Paradise.
Gateway to Paradise
From the back porch of the National Park Inn in Longmire, we can see the gate to Paradise. During winter, the road to Paradise is only open during the day when conditions are good. And during our stay in Longmire at Thanksgiving, the road actually opened every day.
Each morning and night we could easily see the gate closed. Though we saw some cars rushing down the road only to stop in Longmire. The good news is the front desk at the inn was informed each day if and when the gate would open.
Once past the gate, the road continues up to Paradise. And unlike Longmire, since Paradise is at a higher elevation it is usually covered with snow even at Thanksgiving. Look for our next post about the Winter Wonderland at Paradise in Mount Rainier. But before we leave Longmire, there is one more trail we want to do.
Twin Firs Trail
The Twin Firs Trail is 2 miles past Longmire on the right. And you can stop here on the way to or from Longmire. Though we skipped it on the way in because it was raining, it’s sunny today so we make a stop here. This short trail is a 0.4 mile loop through an old growth forest. We learn from GuideAlong an old growth forest is undisturbed from logging and hundreds of years old. Which means there are some very large trees.
Though the twin fir trees the trail was named after no longer exist, there are plenty on this trail. In fact, besides Douglas fir trees, there are also western red cedars and hemlocks. But walking through this forest, the biodiversity doesn’t stop there.
Walking along the trail feels like going through a rainforest. Besides some puddles left by the recent rain, there is plenty of green vegetation including ferns and hanging mosses. And there are a few small creeks to cross.
The trail ascends up a hillside, but we have no issues with the climb. So when we cross a creek, the water is flowing down below us. And after crossing the log footbridge, the trail starts to descend back down.
Being so wet, another thing we see a lot of are mushrooms. In fact, we see many of different shapes and colors. One particular tree is covered with them in the shade as the Sun peeks in from above. This trail took us 25 minutes
Summary of Longmire at Thanksgiving in Mount Rainier
We had a wonderful time in Longmire at Thanksgiving in Mount Rainier National Park. Though the weather was rainy, cloudy and even sunny, we really enjoyed our stay at the National Park Inn. Without TVs and Wi-Fi, the inn was the perfect place to relax. And the staff was very helpful. Also the dining portions were plentiful, including Thanksgiving dinner. And everything in the Longmire Historic District was within walking distance. We really enjoyed the walk over the Nisqually Suspension Bridge to the Community Building to get great views. And across the street, the short Trail of Shadows was both interesting and beautiful. Also on the way out, the Twin Fir Trails was also a nice short trail. Though we skipped the longer trails due to so much rain, there’s so much to experience in Longmire at Thanksgiving!
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