This is the place where Highway 410 and the road to Sunrise part company, and it is worth knowing about because the turning leads to the highest point you can reach by road on Mount Rainier. The junction lies near the White River entrance on the park's north-east side, in a valley of old-growth fir and cedar, with the White River running cold and milky beside the road, and the mountain hidden behind the ridges until you climb out of the trees.
The Sunrise road is a spectacular, tidy piece of mountain engineering. It climbs about fifteen miles in a series of switchbacks and gentle bends to a height of around 6,400 feet, where Rainier stands directly in front of you, 4,392 metres of ice and rock. The Emmons Glacier, the largest in the lower forty-eight by area, is spread across the mountain's north-east face. The road is generally open only from early July until September or October, and snow can fall at any time at the top. Wildflower season in late July and August brings meadows full of lupin and paintbrush, and marmots whistle from the rocks.
Highway 410 itself, the Chinook Pass Scenic Byway, is a joy. It leads south-east from Enumclaw along the Greenwater and White rivers, climbing toward Chinook Pass at 5,430 feet, with a sequence of flowing bends under big timber. The road is closed in winter, normally from about November until late May, and the pass often sees cloud and drizzle even in July. There are few places to stop or turn, so be wary of traffic behind you, and be aware of the cold wetness of the forest roads, where moss and shade keep the surface damp.
There is a park entry fee payable at the White River entrance, and a limited timed-entry system has sometimes been in place for Sunrise in recent summers, so check ahead. Enumclaw, to the west, is the last big town with petrol, and the small communities on Highway 410 have limited and sometimes seasonal supplies, so fill up before you leave. Bring warm clothing even in August, because Sunrise can feel like early spring.