MountMount Rainier Rainier National National Park Park Visitor Guide 2020 John Chao photo Expect limited services and facilities due to COVID-19 impacts. Check locally or at nps.gov/mora for facility status. Welcome to Mount Rainier National Park! The mission of the National Park Service is to preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and 2020 SEASON ALERTS values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, Backcountry Camping Permits education, and inspiration of this and future generations. We proudly hold parks in trust for the American people and, even more proudly, welcome All permits must be obtained in visitors from all communities back into Mount Rainier advance of your visit. A wilderness National Park as coronavirus pandemic restrictions permit is required for all overnight begin to ease. camping in the wilderness of Mount Rainier National Park. Walk-up permits It is also our mission to keep everyone at Mount Rainier will not be issued until it is safe and Stay Healthy: healthy, including our staf and all who visit. To that practical to do so. For permits and end, Mount Rainier is modifying visitor services to Recreate Responsibly information visit https://www.nps.gov/ help prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Some mora/planyourvisit/wilderness-permit.htm. facilities and programs will be closed or cancelled. Avoid crowded areas. Seek another location to recreate. Disappointment Cleaver Please check locally and on the park website for current information and continue to follow CDC guidelines. As Climbing Route Changes circumstances continue to change and we modify our Practice physical distancing. operations as necessary, we thank you for your patience Keep six feet between you and Climbers will fnd very different and cooperation. anyone who doesn’t live with you. conditions on this route this season. For an indefnite period this summer, it Mount Rainier is a beacon to many, attracting a diversity Wear a mask and practice good will no longer be a novice climbing route. of people to its slopes. We welcome all who come and hygiene. Keep your hands clean For more information visit https://www. encourage everyone to make this a safe place for all to and avoid touching any high- nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/climbing.htm. enjoy. traffc surfaces. Wear a mask when you must be in close contact with Plan Ahead for Limited Services We urge you to recreate responsibly by parking only others. in designated areas, packing out everything you bring Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many with you, visiting at times other than busiest of the Leave no trace. Always pack out visitor centers, ranger stations, and day, maintaining social distance from others and if what you pack in, including gloves hospitality services will be closed or you encounter a crowded trailhead or overlook, seek and masks. providing limited services this year. another location to recreate. For current information on services check Don’t take unnecessary risks. locally or the park website https://www. We hope you will fnd the fresh air, beauty, and solitude Be extra vigilant and avoid injury nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/covid-19- of this mountain to be restorative. While returning to visitor-guide.htm nature may seem safe, it is critical to remain vigilant and the need for Search and despite the feeling of distancing ourselves from the Rescue (SAR). Each mission poses spread of coronavirus. potential exposure of SAR teams to coronavirus. What's Inside? Keep in Touch! Explore Mount Rainier ............. 2-3 Exploring Paradise .................... 6-7 Mount Rainier National Park www.nps.gov/mora Campgrounds ........................... 3 Ohanapecosh ............................ 8 Carbon River and Mowich ....... 4 Sunrise and White River ........... 9 Visiting Longmire ..................... 5 Safety and Hiking ...................... 10-11 @MountRainierNPS Carbon River near Chenuis Falls JD Hascup photo Explore Mount Rainier National Park Mount Rainier is the At 14,410 feet high, Mount Rainier is the tallest Parking can be difcult to fnd on sunny peak in the Cascade Range and an icon of summer weekends at Paradise, Sunrise, Grove traditional land of the the Pacific Northwest. While the mountain's of the Patriarchs, and at trailheads between Cowlitz, Muckleshoot, well-known profile is visible for many miles in Longmire and Paradise. To avoid congestion, Nisqually, Puyallup, every direction, its alpine, glacier-clad slopes visit these areas on weekdays, arrive early, and occupy only a third of Mount Rainier National carpool. Squaxin Island, and Park. There are as many different sides of the Yakama tribes. Indigenous park as there are views of Mount Rainier. Take Park roads are winding, road traditional practices are the time to explore the other two-thirds of the shoulders are narrow, and the park and discover what lies within the shadow intrinsic with the land and speed limit is 35 mph in most of this great mountain that local American areas. Watch for pedestrians, continue to this day. Indians call "Tahoma." sightseers, bicyclists, and wildlife. Please be courteous and use Whether you are looking for wilderness pullouts to allow faster drivers to solitude or historical architecture, spectacular pass you safely. drives or challenging hikes, Mount Rainier Gas is not National Park has something for you. This available inside Visitor Guide includes information that will If you are in the park on a busy day, you may the park. Gas help you plan your activities and have a safe want to explore less–visited areas to escape and enjoyable visit. the biggest crowds. In taking the extra time to stations are seek out these special places, you can immerse located in local There are five major visitor areas in the park: yourself in an old-growth forest, reflect next to communities. • Longmire (southwest) a cascading waterfall, hike in virtual solitude, • Paradise (south side) or just relax, take in the view, and reconnect Cellular service • Ohanapecosh (southeast) with nature. No matter where you go in the is not available • Sunrise/White River (northeast) park you will find spectacular scenery and a in most of the • Carbon River/Mowich Lake multitude of recreational opportunities! (northwest) park. At Paradise, cell service is available at lower Get the Most Out of Your Visit elevations. Visiting for a few hours or a day? Here's some tips to help you get the most out of your visit: Half Day in the Park? One Day in the Park? How Far Is It? One Way • Drive to Sunrise for a picnic, a short hike to • Hike into the Tatoosh Range for excellent views Driving Times Emmons Vista, and outstanding mountain and of the mountain. Hardy hikers can try the Eagle & Distances glacier views. Download and listen to the free Peak or Pinnacle Peak trails. Sunrise Road Geology Audio tour along the • Visit Refection Lakes for amazing views of Road Distance Time way https://go.usa.gov/xwXt2. Stop at White the mountain that will may be refecting in River for the best data service to download. the lake's surface. Then hike up to Bench and Longmire to Paradise 12 miles 25 min • Visit Chinook Pass and Tipsoo Lake for a Snow lakes for a moderate hike. hike around the lake through lush subalpine • Take a geology tour along the southside of the Paradise to Ohanapecosh 23 miles 45 min meadows. park. Stops include (west to east) Westside via Stevens Canyon Rd • Hike two miles round-trip along the Road, Kautz Creek, Glacier Bridge, Ricksecker **Ohanapecosh to White Ohanapecosh River from the Ohanapecosh Point, Inspiration Point, Box Canyon, and 18 miles 30 min Campground to view Silver Falls. viewpoints along the way. River Entrance • Explore Longmire's historic district and hike • Spend the day hiking through subalpine White River Entrance to meadows at Sunrise or Paradise. 13 miles 45 min the Trail of the Shadows. Sunrise • Hike Nisqually Vista or Myrtle Falls trails at • Hike a section of the 93-mile Wonderland Paradise and enjoy a picnic with a view! Trail that encircles the mountain. Many people White River Entrance • Hike the Grove of the Patriarchs loop trail to hike this trail in sections. Try hiking from Lake to Carbon River via 61 miles 2 hrs explore an ancient old-growth forest. Louise to Box Canyon in Stevens Canyon or Enumclaw • Take a drive through the park stopping at Sunrise to White River, Longmire to Narada Longmire to Carbon River overlooks of mountain views, waterfalls, and Falls or Refection Lakes. All require a vehicle 80 miles 2.5 hrs via Eatonville/Orting geologic features. at each trailhead. • Some great hikes for young families are Trail • Take a drive up the dirt road to Mowich Lake Longmire to Mowich Lake 89 miles 3 hrs of the Shadows at Longmire, Nisqually Vista to see the park's deepest lake surrounded by via Eatonville/Orting at Paradise, Box Canyon loop trail in Stevens wildfowers in summer, followed by a hike to Canyon, Hot Springs trail at Ohanapecosh, Spray Park for mountain views. **Expect delays when traveling Sunrise Rim at Sunrise, and Grove of the • Hike to a historic fre lookout for great views of Stevens Canyon Road. Patriarchs near Stevens Canyon Entrance. the mountain and surrounding area. 2 | Mount Rainier National Park | Summer-Fall 2020 What You Need to Know Mount Rainier National Park was No Drone Zone! Protect the meadows: Stay on trails. Permits established in 1899 to preserve the Launching, landing, Leave all wildfowers for everyone to Permits are required for all overnight enjoy. natural and cultural resources in this or operating an stays in the backcountry, and for area and to provide for public beneft unmanned aircraft traveling on glaciers and above Climbing and enjoyment. This information will (drone) within 10,000 feet in elevation.