GoldCast · Mount Rainier, WA

Sunset Tonight at Mount Rainier


Reading tonight's sky
Sunset
Golden hour
Sky coverage
Atmosphere
Horizon clarity

GoldCast sunset forecast — LightCast Suite
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The app is more than the score. Get a full 7-day golden hour outlook, cloud layer timing, and a map of better light nearby. Set notification preferences so you can plan shoots days out, not just check tonight.

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Frequently asked
Will the sunset be good tonight in Mount Rainier?
The live score above pulls today's forecast and runs it through GoldCast's scoring model. Above 70 is worth going out. Below 40, stay home. The score updates daily.
What makes a good sunset in Mount Rainier?
Mount Rainier is a 14,411-foot glaciated stratovolcano dominating the western Washington skyline, visible from over 100 miles away on clear days. The summit glaciers catch alpenglow in intense pink and orange hues that can last 20 minutes after the valley goes to shadow. Reflection Lakes on the south side of the park mirror the peak perfectly on calm evenings. The western slopes of the Cascades and the Puget Sound lowlands to the west provide a clear horizon for the sun to set against, though cloud cover from the Pacific is the main limiting factor.
What time is sunset in Mount Rainier tonight?
Mount Rainier sunset ranges from around 4:15 PM in December to 9:00 PM in June. Tonight's exact time is shown in the score card above, updated daily from live weather data.


What makes a good sunset?

GoldCast scores six atmospheric variables weighted by how much each one actually affects the light. A clear sky isn't always best.

High Cloud
20–80%
Cirrus clouds scatter warm light across the sky. Too little means a bare sky. Too much blocks everything.
Humidity
Under 50%
Low humidity keeps colors vivid and punchy. Above 80% produces milky, washed-out tones.
Horizon Cloud
Clear
Low cloud at the horizon blocks the sun at peak warmth. A small gap makes all the difference.
Post-Storm
Best skies
Rain clears the air and leaves textured cloud at altitude. Often the most dramatic light of the year.

Score guide
75–100
Epic
Rare. Multiple factors aligned. Don't miss it.
55–74
Great
Strong showing expected. Go if you can.
35–54
Decent
Modest but workable. Worth a short trip.
0–34
Flat
Uninspiring sky expected. Save your time.

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