Nisqually Glacier, Mount Rainier - Washington
Posted by: 
Hikenutty
N 46° 46.853 W 121° 46.750
10T E 593192 N 5181538
The Nisqually Glacier is one of the many glaciers covering the flanks of Mt. Rainier, the most glaciated peak in the continental United States.
Waymark Code: WM1KM9
Location: Washington, United States
Date Posted: 05/27/2007
Views: 51
Excerpt is from the Mount Rainier "Park Tour 1" section of the guide, p. 583-84.
Near the upper reaches of the valley the road, which has followed the west side of the river beneath timbered mountain flanks, crosses the boulder-strewn Nisqually River over a picturesque bridge at 11.9 m. To the left is the mighty NISQUALLY GLACIER, its blunt end marked by piles of gray and brown ice and debris around a huge ice cave, from which issues the river. (A turnout provides parking at this point; rest rooms are available).
Nisqually Glacier is one of the most accessible glaciers on Mount Rainier. It can be seen easily from this location, and also from Glacier Vista, about a 1/4 mile walk from the Paradise Visitor Center. The glacier is currently in retreat, and cannot be seen as well as it probably could have been seen at the time of the guides publishing in 1941.
The bridge has been replaced and is more utilitarian than picturesque.
In the gallery, one of the photographs looks like a large V of rocks and gravel. In the center of this V you will see a horizontal formation. This is the not-so-pretty toe of the Nisqually glacier. For a better view of the glacier, continue on to Paradise and take the Glacier Vista trail. If you're interested in seeing more of the mountain's glaciers, a wonderful trail accessed from the Carbon River entrance to the park will allow you to walk right up to the toe of the Carbon glacier (DO NOT ENTER THE ICE CAVES). Perhaps the mountain's greatest glacier, the Emmons glacier, can be seen from the Sunrise Visitor center. You can also hike out onto the glacier from Sunrise.