Places / Mount Rainier
UV index at Mount Rainier (Paradise), Washington
Check another placeLoading today’s UV…
- Low 0 to 2
- Moderate 3 to 5
- High 6 to 7
- Very high 8 to 10
- Extreme 11+
Hour-by-hour numbers
| Time | UV index | Level |
|---|
The next few days
Each day’s UV curve and peak, drawn on the same scale so you can compare. The forecast reaches roughly four days ahead.
What to do today
About Mount Rainier
Paradise, at about 5,400 feet (1,650 m), is the starting point for many of Mount Rainier’s best-known day hikes, including the Skyline Trail and the climb to Camp Muir. It is the most heavily glaciated peak in the contiguous United States.
Elevation and your real UV
The forecast on this page covers the general area around Mount Rainier. Weather models don’t resolve individual peaks and valleys, so treat it as the level of Paradise (5,400 ft). The WHO says UV rises by 10% to 12% for every 1,000 metres you climb. Using that rule of thumb:
| Place | Elevation | Compared with baseline |
|---|---|---|
| Paradise | 1,646 m (5,400 ft) | Baseline |
| Camp Muir | 3,072 m (10,080 ft) | about 14% to 17% more UV |
| The summit | 4,392 m (about 14,400 ft) | about 27% to 33% more UV |
Read the peak UV from the chart above, then adjust it up for where you’ll actually be. There’s a worked example in UV at altitude, on snow and under clouds.
When UV is strongest here
Snow can cover Paradise-area trails well into summer, so you may be hiking on snow when the sun is already high. Summer is also when the meadows are at their best. Rainier makes its own weather, and cloud can roll in quickly, but UV still gets through thin cloud.
On the trail
Trails around Paradise mix open meadow with long snowfields. The route to Camp Muir crosses the Muir Snowfield for most of its length and climbs about 1,400 m from the parking lot. There is no shade, and reflection from snow is strong.
Sun protection tips for Mount Rainier
- Put sunscreen under your chin and around your nose. Snow reflection reaches places a hat brim doesn’t.
- Wear real sunglasses with side protection on any snow, and glacier glasses for the Muir route.
- Don’t let cloud fool you. Broken cloud can make UV spike as the sun appears.
- Reapply at Camp Muir or your turnaround point before the descent.
Similar places
Related guides
- What to Wear Hiking for Sun Protection: A Practical Guide
- UV at Altitude, Snow and Clouds: Why You Burn Faster
- When Is UV Strongest During the Day? Best Times to Hike
Elevations are rounded published figures. UV forecasts are model estimates for the area and can differ from what you experience on the ground. This is general information about sun safety and isn’t medical advice. Last updated September 20, 2026.