The Marine Memorial is found along Westside Road within Mount Rainier National Park.
This memorial serves as a simple yet powerful tribute honoring the lives of 32 U.S. Marines who lost their lives in a tragic plane crash on December 10, 1946. Dangerous conditions at the crash site on the South Tahoma Glacier made it too hazardous to retrieve the remains of the fallen Marines. This makes the Marine Memorial even more significant as a site of remembrance.
The memorial is a large boulder inset with a bronze plaque that bears the names of the Marines who perished. It offers visitors a chance to pay their respects.
Reaching the Marine Memorial requires a bit of effort. During the summer season, the first three miles of Westside Road are open to vehicles, with limited parking available at Dry Creek. Once at Dry Creek, visitors can hike or bike the remaining 3.8 miles to the memorial. During the winter, the road is closed to vehicles, but snowshoers and cross-country skiers can still use the road to access the memorial site. The best time to visit this area is during the summer season.
On a clear day, visitors can see a view of the South Tahoma Glacier on Mount Rainier from the memorial.
The Marine Memorial is in a remote location. Visitors should prepare for the conditions they may encounter. Proper clothing, footwear, and gear are essential for a safe and enjoyable visit.
In the mid-1990s, the road to Round Pass washed out, making the area inaccessible to vehicles. A 1999 replica of the memorial at Veterans Memorial Park in Enumclaw, WA, offers a more accessible option for those who cannot travel to the original site.
For more information on the original memorial site, contact Mount Rainier National Park at (360) 569-6575 or https://www.nps.gov/places/
For more information on the replica site, contact the Enumclaw Chamber of Commerce at (360) 825-7666.
To visit the memorial, enter Mount Rainier National Park via the Nisqually Entrance. The Nisqually Entrance is open year-round and is approximately 58 miles from Joint Base Lewis McChord, and approximately 78 miles from Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA).