Mount Rainier National Park takes you into the alpine and sub-alpine zones, only a two hour drive from Seattle. Paved roads to Paradise and Sunrise areas lead onto the flanks of the volcano. Both areas have wildflower meadows laced with trails. Try hiking to the top of one of the subsidiary peaks around Rainier, such as Burroughs Mountain or Mount Fremont, for views of the mountain, its glaciers, and the rivers that flow from the glaciers. Climbing Mount Rainier is best done as part of a guided group, and there are several outfitters. Backpacking around Mount Rainier on the 93 mile Wonderland trail will probably take anywhere from ten days to two weeks. Though lesser-known, the park's old growth forest and waterfalls are some of the most impressive in the Pacific Northwest.