Mount Rainier National Park announces Memorial Day weekend operations
Although 13 feet of snow remains on the ground at Paradise, many areas within Mount Rainier National Park will be accessible to visitors beginning Memorial Day weekend. Preparing for the season involves plowing winter snow from park roads, cleaning up the roadsides and ditches, placing information and regulatory signs along the roadways of newly opened areas and starting up water and utility systems. Park visitors should be prepared for snow-covered trails at high elevations; only some low-elevation trails are snow free at this time. Hiking safety information can be found on the park’s website.
Some locations will have a delayed opening due to the lingering heavy winter snowpack, including Tipsoo Lake and Chinook Pass. Impacts from the significant rain event in November 2021 caused substantial damage to the pedestrian suspension bridge on the Grove of the Patriarchs Trail; that trail will remain closed at the junction with the Eastside Trail. The park’s highest elevation developed areas, including Sunrise, the White River Campground, and Mowich Lake will reopen later in the season.
Listed below are status updates on popular areas within Mount Rainier National Park:
Paradise Inn – Open
National Park Inn at Longmire – Open
Jackson Visitor Center (Paradise) – Open Thursday-Monday, Closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Daily operations start Saturday, June 4.
Stevens Canyon Road – Open to Bench/Snow Lake Trailhead. Closed to all traffic, including bicycles, between Bench Lake and the Grove of the Patriarchs (this closure includes Box Canyon).
Cougar Rock Campground – Loops D and E open for first-come, first-served campers on Saturday, May 28. F Loop/Group Loop is reservation only. All campers are required to check in with a ranger to obtain a campsite. Vehicles are limited to 35-foot or smaller RVs, and 27-foot or smaller travel trailers.
Ohanapecosh Campground – Loops A, B, and C open for first-come, first-served campers on Saturday, May 28. Group sites are reservation only. All campers are required to check in with a ranger to obtain a campsite. Vehicles are limited to 32-foot or smaller RVs, and 27-foot or smaller travel trailers.
White River Road to White River Entrance – Open Friday, May 27
Box Canyon Picnic Area & Restrooms – Closed; inaccessible
Grove of the Patriarchs Trail – Closed
Grove of the Patriarchs Parking Area – Open
Wilderness Information Centers at Longmire and Paradise – Open Friday, May 27
Carbon River – Open with limited parking
White River Road – Open from State Route 410 to White River Picnic Area parking lot on Friday, May 27 (no access to Sunrise or White River Campground)
Sunrise – Closed, opens later in the season
White River Campground – Closed, opens later in the season
Mowich Lake – Closed, opens later in the season
State Route 123 (within park boundaries) – Open Friday, May 27
Chinook Pass – Closed, reopening mid- to late-June
Tipsoo Lake – Closed, reopening mid- to late-June
Mount Rainier National Park Lodging
For accommodations at Paradise Inn and the National Park Inn go to www.mtrainierguestservices.com or call 1-855-755-2275.
State Route 410 east over Chinook Pass Info
Please refer to mountain pass information from the Washington state Department of Transportation (WSDOT).
For updates on current conditions
Check the park’s website, Facebook page or Twitter feed or call 360-569-2211.
For more information on Mount Rainier National Park, please visit www.nps.gov/mora.
May 26, 2022