Mount Rainier National Park is a United States national park situated in Pierce and Lewis counties in Washington state’s southeast region. It is about 369.3 square miles of land were set aside as part of the park on March 2, 1899, including the whole 14,411-foot Mount Rainier stratovolcano. In the park, the mountain reaches heights ranging from 1,600 feet to nearly 14,000 feet above sea level. An old-growth forest of 91,000 acres encircles Mount Rainier, the mountain at the top of the Cascade Range. Many glaciers descend the volcano’s sides, which are frequently obscured by clouds that pour a lot of rain and snow. Mount Rainier, the highest point in the state of Washington, rises to a height of 14,410 feet above sea level. Mount Rainier, an active volcano in the contiguous United States, is the source of five major rivers. Mount Rainier’s freezing volcano is surrounded by subalpine wildflower meadows, while the lower slopes are covered in an old forest. The ecosystems of the park are teeming with wildlife. There is a lifetime of knowledge to be gained.
Entrances of the Mount Rainier National Park
Located in the state of Washington, Mount Rainier National Park is a popular tourist destination. In addition to Seattle and Tacoma, the park is just 200 miles from Portland in Oregon.
Before heading to the park, always check the park’s road status website to see if there are any delays. Due to Mount Rainier’s dynamic nature, unexpected road closures may occur at any moment.
Avoid Congestion in the Summer
Expect long lines and full parking lots on peak summer weekends. Summer traffic might be avoided if you follow these recommendations.
Traveling and traffic advice
The roads in the park are twisting and narrow, with a 35mph speed restriction in most parts. Make sure you have enough time to go about while you’re there.
Traveling in the Summer
On a beautiful summer weekend, parking at Paradise, Sunrise, Grove of the Patriarchs, and the trailheads between Longmire and Paradise might be very difficult or impossible to locate. Visit these regions on weekdays throughout the week, come early in the day to escape the traffic, and carpool to the park. Parking at the road’s edge is prohibited.
Traveling in the winter
In the winter, several of the park’s roads are closed. During the winter months, the route to Paradise shuts at night, and the roads are typically covered with snow and ice. All vehicles must be equipped with tire chains at all times. You may find out more about winter travel, including information on gate closure and tire chain FAQs, by visiting the website.
How to reach the Mount Rainier National Park?
By Car
- Southwest Entrance– SR 706 to the Nisqually Entrance in the southwest section of the park provides year-round access to the park. Longmire’s entry road is accessible all year round, save in severe weather conditions. From November 1 until winter, the route from Longmire to Paradise is closed at night. It reopens the next day if the snow has been cleared away by then. While roads will remain open, certain amenities may be unavailable. Visitors are increasingly relying on GPS devices to assist them to find their way about the city. A street address that goes to Ashford, Washington, rather than the Mount Rainier National Park’s Nisqually gate is 55210 238th Avenue East. Use the location 39000 State Route 706 E, Ashford, WA 98304 to locate the Nisqually entry using GPS. To get to the Nisqually Entrance, follow SR 706 east through the park headquarters. When traveling to the park, tourists are advised to consult road maps in addition to their GPS devices.
The Southwest side of the park can be reached by following these directions from Seattle, Tacoma, Yakima, or Portland:
- I-5 south from Seattle to SR 512 (exit 127). SR 512 east to SR 7. In the Elbe, take SR 7 south to SR 706. To get to the Nisqually Entrance, take SR 706 east through Ashford.
- Take SR 512 east from Tacoma to SR 7. In the Elbe, take SR 7 south to SR 706. To get to the Nisqually Entrance, take SR 706 east through Ashford.
- Yakima, Washington: In the summer, take US 12 west to SR 123. To the Stevens Canyon Entrance, travel north on SR 123. To get to Paradise and Longmire, use Stevens Canyon Road west. In the winter, travel west on US 12 to Morton’s SR 7. SR 7 north to the Elbe. Through Ashford, east on SR 706 to the Nisqually Entrance and Lo.
- Northwest Entrance Cars may reach Carbon River in the northwest via SR165, but only to the park’s entrance, which remains accessible year-round. Pedestrians and bikers are permitted to use the Carbon River Road beyond this point. East of the Mowich Lake (SR 165) intersection, 5.5 miles east of the Carbon River Ranger Station is the Carbon River Ranger Station. Mowich Lake, a lake in the northwest, provides another access point. It is only open in the summer and shuts in mid-October or when the first snow falls. At the summit of Chinook Pass, the Chinook Entrance Arch crosses SR 410.
- East Entrances The region in the south There is a direct correlation between the amount of snowfall and its removal from the roads in spring and autumn. SR 123 from Yakima or Packwood is normally accessible from late May to early November via Highway 12 from Ohanapecosh. In the early and late seasons, access to other parts of the park from Ohanapecosh may be blocked, so please verify the road condition before making travel arrangements. Northeast – From Enumclaw, you may reach Sunrise, White River, and southbound SR 123 by using State Route 410. From July 1st through September 1st, the road to Sunrise, the tourist centre, and other amenities are often open. Beginning in late September, the White River Campground route to Sunrise shuts every night. It reopens each day when circumstances allow. In mid-October or earlier, the whole route from SR 410 to Sunrise and White River is closed for the winter. Travelers that come from the east of the Cascades may reach the park through Chinook Pass (SR 410) and Cayuse Pass (SRs 123 & 410) or by I-90 and US 12 during the summer months. SR 123 and SR 410, on the other hand, are closed throughout the winter. Visitors must take I-90 and US 12 to get to the east side of the park in the winter.
From Seattle, Tacoma, Yakima, or Portland, the East Side of the park (Ohanapecosh, Sunrise, and White River) may be reached by following these directions:
- South on I-5 and I-405 to White River, Sunrise, and Ohanapecosh from Seattle (exit 154a). At SR 167, take I-405 to the east. From SR 167, go south to SR 410. SR 410 to the White River Entrance on the east side of the highway. After Stevens Canyon Road, keep going south on the 410 to SR 123. Ohanapecosh may be found by following the signage. This path is only available during the summer.
- From Tacoma, take SR 512 east to SR 167 south to White River/Sunrise. To get to SR 410, use SR 167 north. Drive to Sunrise and the White River Entrance on SR 410. Ohanapecosh may be accessed by driving south on I-5 to Highway 12. (exit 68). Morton, Randle, and Packwood are all within driving distance of SR 123 north on Highway 12. Mount Rainier National Park and the Ohanapecosh region may be reached by driving north on SR 123.
- To get to White River/Sunrise from Yakima, use Highway 12 west to State Route 410. Over Chinook and Cayuse, go west on SR 410. The White River Entrance is reached after passing through this section. Go west on U.S. 12 to the SR 123 interchange, and turn right. To enter Mount Rainier National Park, use SR 123 north. Ohanapecosh is well marked on the map.
- I-5 north from Portland to White River/Sunrise: SR 512 east to Tacoma’s SR 167. Take SR 167 east to SR 410 west. Mount Rainier National Park and the White River/Sunrise region may be reached by taking State Route 410 east. To get to Ohanapecosh, use I-5 north to US 12 west (exit 68). To SR 123, go east on US 12. Mount Rainier National Park and the Ohanapecosh region may be reached by driving north on SR 123.
By Plane
There are three main airports near Mount Rainier, all of which are serviced by major airlines:
- It is situated in Seattle, Washington, near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (STC). From Seattle to Ashford, which is situated immediately beyond the Nisqually entry, is an 85-mile one-way journey.
- Located in Portland, Oregon, Portland International Airport is known as PIE. Ashford, a village beyond the Nisqually entrance in the park’s southwest portion, is 131 miles from Portland in one direction.
- Located near Yakima, Washington, is the Yakima Air Terminal. The one-way journey from Yakima, Washington, to Ashford, which is situated just outside the Nisqually entrance in the southwest portion of the park, is 134 miles.