Mt Rainier Gondola

«Gondola» — makes me think of the Swiss Alps. Well, we drove out just for the ride up and the view. It’s kind of crazy driving through the pass and arriving in this valley where several mountains come together to form the slopes at Crystal.
Pretty straightforward — get a ticket, get in line. They jam you in with as many people as possible on the way up, so that was a little less than I’d hoped, especially for $ 20/​person. It’s essentially a ski lift, though, so I’m not upset. The view on the way up is nice, for sure, as is the view at the top.
We had lunch and then rode back down. The way down you get the car to yourself, so that was nice. If you’ve got the time and a little extra cash, it’s worth the view.

A great place to see Mount Rainer, if you want to see it pretty up close without any hiking.
This gondola ride is closed for now until ski season.
But it’s a must-​see! Scenic ride over meadows, there are also restaurants and gift shop atop.
Soak in all the views of Mt. Rainer and the Cascade Range from the sling back chairs they offer along the ridge. $ 22 per person
There are also hiking trails along the gift shop! But didn’t have time to check it out.
Pet-​friendly, great for kids and families.
Each gondola cabin can hold up to 8 people, and each ride is 12 minutes.

We decided to ride the gondola after eating at the Alpine Inn. It costs $ 22/​person round trip. There is a restaurant at the top as well. The view is just spectacular! We got into our gondola and began our ascent. The ride was smooth even though it was a windy day. It was chilly on top but worth it as the view of mt. Rainier was extraordinary! I would suggest the ride if only for the view. The ride down seemed faster and smoother. We had workers with us and they were friendly and knowledgeable. Even though you may think it a bit pricey, certainly worth it!

We went on a cloudy day so we only had a glimpse of mt rainier. The gondola ride was nice and we sat on the lawn chairs for a bit. Next time we will try the skiing — looked like there were lots of great slopes.

THIS PLACE IS AWESOME! If you’re ever in Washington, this is a great way to get up close and personal with Mt. Rainier! The ride up to the summit is a highlight but when we reached the top we didn’t know we would be greeted by a breathtaking view of the mountains!
It gets really cold up there so plan accordingly. We would gladly come back up here again next time we’re in Washington.

Easy parking. Great view of the mountains riding up and once you reach the top. Dogs are allowed!

As much as I love hiking in Mt. Rainier N.P., it is terribly overcrowded and too challenging for anyone who is not physically fit. So, with that in mind, I highly recommend taking the gondola ride at Crystal Mountain for the best views imaginable of Mt. Rainier. Unlike the visitor centers in the National Park, Crystal Mountain has ample parking. Anyone, especially those with small children or mobility issues, can enjoy seeing the mountain and get some fresh air without having to battle the awful crowds at Sunrise or Paradise.

It is awesome. We’ve been twice. My children love it… totally not scared (ages 3 and 4) We would love to get together a flash mob to go up there and suddenly sing, «Go Tell it on the Mountain.»

I don’t know jack about snowboarding/​skiing :-(but this view was great. And when it started snowing and getting windy, it kept the weather out pretty damn good :-)
It can get very romantic in there too :-)

Beautiful gondola ride right to the top of Crystal Mountain. It’s actually slightly longer of a trip than riding the two lifts up but well worth it. Beautiful view, easy to use, the convenience factor is worth the extra $ 8!

This was fantastic! I cannot recommend it highly enough. The gondola is slow enough to give you a chance to relax and take all the photos you want. They also try to accommodate groups and let you have a gondola all to yourself instead of sharing with strangers.
If you didn’t pack a picnic and don’t have reservations for the restaurant, I would buy from the food truck near the Gondola entrance (Mexican, I think) and take it up with you and sit in one of the chairs facing the mountains at the top. Get their early if you want a spot as they were all taken in the early afternoon and it looked like folks were going to be relaxing for awhile so no spots became available.

On a clear blue sky day, this gondola is AWESOME!

Woof woof! Another awesome dog friendly activity in the beautiful outdoors of the Pacific Northwest. Yes, I am one of those people who brings my dog everywhere she is allowed, which, sadly, does not include the National Parks. So, I confine my long weekend backpacking and hiking treks to the vast wilderness of the National Forest System that lies just outside the park boundaries. Had hiked around quite a bit on Friday and Saturday to places like Lost Lake, Noble Knob, Norse Peak, etc. Figured I’d take it easy on Sunday and ride the gondola up and just hike down. Dogs are allowed on odd numbered cars only so that folks with allergies can be assured of cars with no canine dander. So up to the top we went. Gorgeous view of Mt. Rainier from the top, and several different trails now to hike back down (some actual trails now and not just access roads as was mentioned in prior reviews). Took the Crystal Mountain trail around and back to the bottom, about 5 miles, so super easy, and a couple of lakes you can stop at along the way and let your dog cool off with a quick dip. There are some portions with some pretty jagged rock, not bad for humans with shoes, but might be a tad rough on doggy paws. Also pass along the disc golf course that is set up which looks like another fun activity to pass the time as you descend. Was a great easy day to cool down after a weekend of more strenuous hiking.

A steep trip up in a gondola that leads to a great view of the mountain. But then I didn’t know what to do. I was hoping there would be hiking trails around like there is at Whistler but the only trails are the service roads back to the ski resort. We took some pictures and walked around a little and then just headed back down. The only reason I would come up there again was to go to the restaurant. Although, I was expecting a nicer restaurant than the one I saw… There aren”t that many tables next to the windows and didn’t give off the vibe of a good quality restaurant.
A better view of the mountain can be found at Sunrise or Paradise for a lot cheaper.

Wow. This new 10-​minute, 2,500 vertical foot gondola ride to Crystal Mountain’s summit is spectacular and a new destination for my out-​of-​town visitors. The ride is stunning and the breathtaking view of Mt. Rainier and foothills and Cascade Range is second to none. You just can’t get a better experience than this of the mountain, especially for a diverse group of ages and those with mobility issues.
The Summit House, a restaurant at the top open for lunch and dinner (we didn’t have reservations for lunch and got in, but dinner was booked solid for weeks), is an added treat. The Townsend chipmunks are entertaining, especially for kids, and did I mention the views?