03/08/2014 10:36 AM EST
Ascending to 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier stands as an icon in the Washington landscape. An active volcano, Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S.A., spawning six major rivers. Subalpine wildflower meadows ring the icy volcano while ancient forest cloaks Mount Rainier’s lower slopes. Wildlife abounds in the park’s ecosystems. A lifetime of discovery awaits.
Photographed by Justin Kern September 10, 2012 and shared in Mount Rainier Flickr photo group http://flickr.com/groups/MountRainierNPS.