Summary
3/4
Entrances open
$30
7-day fee
8 live
Cameras
Historic Crowd Data
Avg. monthly visitors, 2015–2024 · National Park Service
Light
Moderate
Busy
Very Busy
Peak season is July–August, when around 48% of annual visitors arrive. For lighter crowds, aim for November–May.
Plan Your Visit
Volcanic Lahar Hazard SafetyActive hazard zone▾
Park Entrances & Fees3/4 open · $30▾
Nisqually Entrance
Open Year-Round
SW · via SR-706, through Longmire & on to Paradise
The park's only entrance open year-round, and the busiest — leads directly to Longmire and Paradise, the main visitor hub.
💡 Arrive before 9 AM on summer weekends — Paradise parking fills fast and the entrance line can back up.
NPS directions ↗
White River Entrance
Seasonal
NE · via SR-410, to Sunrise
Leads to Sunrise, the highest point in the park reachable by vehicle. Typically open only in summer/early fall depending on snowpack.
💡 Sunrise Rd is usually the last to open (often early July) and first to close for the season.
NPS directions ↗
Ohanapecosh / Stevens Canyon
Seasonal
SE · via SR-123 & Stevens Canyon Rd
Connects the southeast corner of the park near Ohanapecosh to Paradise via Stevens Canyon Road — a scenic cross-park route, weather-dependent.
💡 Stevens Canyon Rd usually closes seasonally with the first heavy snow — check current road status before relying on this route.
NPS directions ↗
Carbon River / Mowich Lake
Vehicle-Inaccessible
NW · normally via SR-165
This entrance is currently inaccessible by any vehicle due to the permanent closure of the Fairfax Bridge (SR-165) after its April 2025 structural failure.
⚠️ WSDOT is in a roughly 24-month planning phase (replace vs. remove the bridge) as of early 2026. Only reachable via the Wonderland Trail on foot currently.
NPS directions ↗
🧗 Planning to summit? Climbing above Camp Muir / the high routes requires a separate climbing permit — a ~$82/person annual climbing fee via Recreation.gov — distinct from regular park entrance and camping fees.
River Conditions2 gauges▾
Nisqually River near National, WA
⏳
USGS 12082500 · near Longmire
-- cfs·-- ft·--°F
White River near Buckley (downstream)
⏳
USGS 12097850 · not directly in-park
-- cfs·-- ft
Campground Availability4 areas▾
Cougar Rock Reservation Only ▾
Sites179
Season~May 22 – Oct 12
Booking6-month rolling window
NotesNear Longmire, closest large campground to Paradise
Book on Recreation.gov ↗
Ohanapecosh Closed for 2026 ▾
StatusClosed all of 2026
ReasonMajor rehabilitation project
NotesDo not plan a visit here this season — check NPS for reopening updates
Campground details ↗
White River First-Come, First-Served ▾
Sites88
BookingScan-and-Pay via Recreation.gov
NotesNear Sunrise, no advance reservations — first-come only
Campground details ↗
Mowich Lake Free · First-Come ▾
SitesWalk-in, free
AccessVehicle-inaccessible
NotesFairfax Bridge closure — reachable only via the Wonderland Trail on foot
Campground details ↗
Landmarks & Areas6 areas▾
Paradise3 stops▾
Skyline Trail~3-4 hrs
Moderate-strenuous · 5.5 mi loop, iconic views of the summit
Paradise MeadowsVaries
Famous subalpine wildflower meadows, peak bloom late July–Aug
Jackson Visitor CenterDaily
Main south-side visitor center, ~5,400 ft
Sunrise1 stop▾
Sunrise Visitor AreaSummer only
Highest point in the park reachable by vehicle, ~6,400 ft · NE side
Longmire3 stops▾
Longmire Historic DistrictDaily
Original park headquarters area, National Register district
Longmire MuseumDaily
Park history & natural history exhibits
National Park InnYear-round
Only in-park lodging open year-round
Carbon River / Mowich (vehicle-inaccessible)1 stop▾
Carbon River RainforestTrail access only
Temperate rainforest zone, NW side · only reachable via Wonderland Trail on foot
Ohanapecosh / Grove of the Patriarchs2 stops▾
Grove of the Patriarchs TrailClosed
Closed since Nov 2021 flood damage to its suspension bridge — not expected before summer 2027
Eastside Trail / Silver FallsOpen
Parking lot & restrooms remain open in this area
Wonderland Trail1 stop▾
Wonderland TrailPermit req.
Famous ~93-mile trail encircling the entire mountain, typically 10-14 days
Things to Do8 categories▾
Hiking Trails6 trails▾
Nisqually Vista TrailEasy
Paved, family-friendly loop from the Paradise area with views of Nisqually Glacier
1.2 mi loop · 45 min
Naches Peak LoopEasy
Clockwise loop from Tipsoo Lake along the Pacific Crest Trail near Chinook Pass; subalpine meadows and late-summer huckleberries
3.5 mi loop · 500 ft
Rampart Ridge4.6 mi · 2.5 hrs
Loop above Longmire through old-growth forest to ridge-top views
Comet Falls & Van Trump ParkMod.
Steady climb to the base of a 320-ft waterfall, one of the park's tallest; trailhead parking often full
3.8 mi RT · 900 ft
Skyline TrailMod.–Strenuous
Clockwise loop from Paradise past Panorama Point, the Stevens-Van Trump Memorial & Myrtle Falls; close-up views of Nisqually Glacier
5.5 mi loop · 1,700 ft
Tolmie Peak6.5 mi · 4 hrs
Fire-lookout hike from the Mowich Lake area, reachable only via the Wonderland Trail on foot since the Fairfax Bridge closure
Mountaineering & Summit ClimbingPermit required▾
Disappointment Cleaver–Ingraham Direct14,410 ft · Permit
Most-climbed route to the 14,410-ft summit; over 9,000 ft of elevation gain and 10+ miles round trip, requiring technical glacier-travel rope skills
Other RoutesTechnical
Emmons-Winthrop, Kautz Glacier & Liberty Ridge among 20+ established climbing routes
Climbing Registration (Summer, May 22–Sep 30)$82 + $12/night
Online cost-recovery registration plus nightly wilderness camping fee; walk-up registration available 24 hrs ahead
Climbing Registration (Winter, Sep 15–May 21)$82/person
Self-registration online via Pay.gov, or at the Paradise Old Station kiosk on arrival
Wildflower ViewingSeasonal▾
Paradise MeadowsPeak late Jul–early Aug
Among the most famous subalpine wildflower displays in the Cascades, ringing the historic Paradise Inn
Fall ColorPeaks in September
Huckleberry meadows and subalpine foliage turn red and gold as the bloom fades
Winter Sports3 ways▾
Paradise Snowplay AreaWinter season
The only park location for sledding; plastic/soft-sided sleds & discs only — no wood or metal, and snowshoeing/skiing aren't permitted inside the snowplay zone
Ranger-Guided Snowshoe Walks11 AM & 1:30 PM
Free 2-hour guided walks from Paradise on weekends & holiday periods
Winter Road AccessDaily plowing
Nisqually entrance to Paradise is the only road plowed for winter access; crews aim to open the Longmire–Paradise gate by 9 AM daily
Fishing & Boating3 rules▾
Catch & Release Native TroutNo state license req.
All native fish must be released; non-native kokanee salmon & brook trout may be kept
Mowich LakeKayaks · canoes · rafts
One of the few park waters open to non-motorized boating and fishing
Motorized BoatingNot permitted
Prohibited park-wide on all lakes and rivers
Backpacking & Wilderness Permits3 facts▾
Wonderland Trail PermitLottery in Feb
Wilderness permit with reserved campsites required for the full ~93-mile circuit; demand exceeds capacity most of the season
Wilderness Permit Fees$6 + $12/night
Reservation fee plus a per-person, per-night camping fee, for up to 13 consecutive nights
Walk-Up PermitsSubject to availability
About one-third of campsites are held back for walk-up requests, available up to a day ahead at ranger stations
Stargazing & Night SkyNo DarkSky cert.▾
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Mount Rainier has no official DarkSky International certification, but the park is informally regarded as a strong stargazing location — high elevation, minimal nearby light pollution, and dramatic foreground views of the mountain itself make Paradise and Sunrise popular after-dark destinations. Note that Paradise averages an extreme ~640 inches of snowfall per year historically (the 1971–72 season set a world record at the time), so winter stargazing access is heavily weather- and road-dependent. Best on new-moon nights — bring a red flashlight to preserve night vision and dress for alpine cold even in summer. NPS night sky info ↗
Bird WatchingTop 5 species▾
Golden Eagle
Soars above the alpine meadows
American Dipper
Forages in glacial streams
Steller's Jay
Common in the forested lowlands
Clark's Nutcracker
Seen near Paradise and Sunrise
Gray Jay
Bold camp visitor in the conifers
Concession Information4 locations▾
Rainier Guest Services4 locations▾
Paradise Inn~May 18–Sep 30
121 rooms · historic 1917 lodge
Jackson Visitor Center CaféDaily
Concessions & café at Paradise
National Park InnYear-round
Only in-park lodging open year-round · Longmire
Sunrise Day LodgeSummer only
Snack bar & gift shop
Park Contact Information