Washington · National Park trail

Paradise Trails Orientation: Alta Vista & JVC Connector Trail Junction

in Washington · centroid 63 mi from Seattle

Season: Summer Paradise is open year-round, but this orientation guide is designed for the summer season when trails are snow-free. In spring and fall, there may be patches of snow covering sections of trail. Please stay on trails, even if it means crossing snow, to avoid trampling delicate meadow plants.

Pets are not allowed on trails. At this trail intersection, the Alta Vista Trail connects to the lower parking park or to the main Paradise Road via the Jackson Visitor Center (JVC) Connector Trail. This junction is bordered by a low rock wall with benches along the south side, making this area a good place for a break.

Alta Vista Trail climbs to the north and angles downhill to the southwest. JVC Connector Trail goes northeast to connect to the Paradise Road. How Far Is It? Jackson Visitor Center and Upper Parking Lot: 0.15 miles, average walking time 6 minutes, by following JVC Connector Trail to the northeast to the Paradise Road, then follow the sidewalk uphill along the road to the visitor center.

States: Washington
Trail type: National Park trail
Centroid nearest city: Seattle, WA · 63 mi · ~1.8 hr drive
Centroid coords: 46.7849°, -121.7403°

About Mount Rainier National Park

National Park

This trail is inside Mount Rainier National Park, a national park managed by the U.S. National Park Service. Conditions, road status, trail closures, and reservation requirements are published on the park's NPS page — check it before driving in, especially in winter or during major weather events.

Entrance fee: $30 per vehicle (verify current rate on the park page). An America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) covers entrance to all NPS units.

Official NPS trail page: https://www.nps.gov/places/paradise-trails-orientation-alta-vista-jvc-connector-trail-junction.htm

Park homepage: https://www.nps.gov/mora/index.htm

Plan your hike

Practical notes

Maps + permits: long-distance trails like this often require permits for through-hiking, backcountry camping, or specific sections (especially in National Parks). Check with the maintaining organisation listed above and the relevant land manager before booking travel.

Water + supplies: water sources vary seasonally on most U.S. trails. Carry a filter and consult current trail-condition reports — through-hiker journals (PCT-L, AT Reddit, etc.) and the maintaining organisation publish regular updates.

When to go: hiking seasons vary widely with elevation, latitude, and snowpack. Through-hikers traditionally start the AT in March-April (Springer northbound) and the PCT in late April (Campo northbound). High-elevation western trails (CDT, JMT, Wonderland) generally aren't passable until July.

If you've hiked Paradise Trails Orientation: Alta Vista & JVC Connector Trail Junction and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.

Stay nearby

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