Mt. Rainier Itineraries

If you're like most people, you will probably be eager to get out of the car and start exploring the park by the time you drive in the entrance gates. To make the most of your visit, read "What You Need to Know" and then check out the suggestions below.

The Southwest Entrance

You'll enter via the Nisqually gate. The arch of giant cedar logs, first erected in 1911, and the 1908 Oscar Brown cabin, south of the road, are examples of the rustic style of park architecture that became popular at Mount Rainier and other national parks. The Nisqually Entrance serves as the primary park entrance in winter. Three Bears Lodge is 100 yards from the park entrance. Sunshine Point Campground and Picnic Area are located near the park entrance.

The Westside Road, 1 mile from the park entrance, open summer only. Several hikes begin at the road closure at Dry Creek, 3 miles up the road. At the closure, view dramatic results of flooding and rockfall. 

The Longmire Historic District, 6.5 miles from the park entrance, was the site of James Longmire's homestead, lodging, and mineral springs resort. The first park headquarters was established here in 1916. Services at Longmire include:

• Longmire Museum--open daily year-round. Exhibits, information, books sales. Issues climbing and wilderness permits in winter.

• Wilderness Information Center--open daily late May to early October, closed in winter. Wilderness permits and hiking/backcountry camping information.

• National Park Inn--open daily year-round. Food, lodging, gift shop.

The road between Longmire and Paradise is winding and steep, and was designed for scenery rather than speed. En route, consider stopping at:

• Cougar Rock Campground and picnic area. 2 miles past Longmire. Open late May to early October. Campground reservations required. Call 1-800-365-CAMP or visit reservations.nps.gov.

• Christine Falls, 4 miles from Longmire. A short walk from the pullout provides a classic view of the falls below the rustic stone bridge. Parking is limited. For your safety do not stop your car or walk on the bridge!

• The Glacier Bridge, 5 miles from Longmire, is worth a stop for the view, but do not stop your car on the bridge! Park in a paved pullout at either end of the bridge and use the walkway. The lower end of the Nisqually Glacier is just around the rocky cliff on the left side as you look up the valley.

• Ricksecker Point Road (open in summer only). 6 miles east of Longmire. Take this one-way road for fantastic views of Mount Rainier, Nisqually Valley and the Tatoosh Range.

• Narada Falls, 8 miles from Longmire. Walk the steep but short trail for the best view of this spectacular waterfall. Parking is limited.

Paradise, 11 miles from Longmire, is the most popular destination in the park and is famous for its wildflower meadows in summer and world record snowfall in winter. Services at Paradise include:

• Jackson Memorial Visitor Center--open daily May to early October, weekends and holidays only the rest of the year. Exhibits, films, guided interpretive programs, book store, food service, gift shop, and restrooms.

• Paradise Inn-- closed for historic building rehabilitation this summer. Open daily late May to early October, closed in winter. Lodging, dining room, gift shop, restrooms.

• Guide House-- The Guide House is the home of the Paradise Wilderness Information Center.

• Paradise Ranger Station--open in summer, closed in winter. Climbing and wilderness permits and climbing information.

If you plan to hike, remember that Paradise is located 5,400' elevation and most trails are hilly. Please stay on the trails: the meadows are very fragile and heavily visited. These trails are usually snow-covered from October through June.

A number of additional hikes and scenic points are located on the road between Paradise and Ohanapecosh. Ask for information at a ranger station or visitor center.

The Southeast Entrance

Our first stop will be Ohanapecosh. The east side of the park is somewhat drier and sunnier than the west side, making it a good destination when Paradise and Longmire are wet and foggy. Hwy. 123/410 closed in winter. Check current status. Services include:

• Ohanapecosh Visitor Center--open June to early October. Exhibits, guided interpretive programs, book sales, maps, restrooms.

• Ohanapecosh Campground and picnic area. Open late May to early October. Campground reservations required. Call 1-800-365-CAMP or visit reservations.nps.gov.

Take Stevens Canyon Road from Highway 123, going through the Stevens Canyon Entrance. Just past the entrance is the Grove of the Patriarchs. Hike the 1.1 mile nature trail along the Ohanapecosh River through old growth forest.

Between Ohanapecosh and White River, a short detour from Cayuse Pass east on Highway 410 (closed in winter) will take you to Tipsoo Lake, which is surrounded by subalpine wildflower meadows. A short and pleasant trail circles the lake. This area is heavily visited and you'll see signs of damage to the vegetation and soils. Please stay on the trail and leave the flowers for others to enjoy.

The section of road between Chinook Pass and the north park boundary is part of the Mather Memorial Parkway, named for Stephen Mather, the first director of the National Park Service.

The White River/Sunrise area is easy to visit in summer  if you enter from the east side, but requires quite a bit of driving from the southwest entrance. If you are camping, consider eastside campgrounds at Ohanapecosh or White River (open in summer only).

The road to Sunrise passes the White River Entrance Station about 1 mile from the junction with Highway 410. The White River Wilderness Information Center here is open daily in summer for climbing and wilderness permits and hiking information. In winter, self-register at Hwy. 410 and Crystal Mountain Blvd.

Five miles from the junction with Highway 410, you'll pass the one-mile spur which leads to the White River campground and trailhead. Services at White River include:

• White River Ranger Station.
• White River Campground.

Eleven miles from White River, the road reaches Sunrise, also called Yakima Park. At 6,400' elevation, this is the highest point to which you can drive in the park. Summer is short here, but the views and excellent trail system make this the second most visited location in the park. Parking can be a problem on sunny weekends; try to arrive early or visit on weekdays. 

NOTE: The Sunrise Road usually opens in late June or early July and closes in late September to early October. Call park for road open/closing dates. 

Services at Sunrise include:

• Sunrise Visitor Center--open daily early July to early October, closed in winter. Exhibits, guided interpretive programs, book sales, maps, picnic area.
• Sunrise Day Lodge--open early July to late September. Food service, gifts (no overnight lodging).
• Public restrooms and telephones.

The Northwest Entrance

You can visit the Carbon River and Mowich Lake areas. Before entering the park, stop at the Wilderness Information Center in downtown Wilkeson. Here you can pay your entrance fee, obtain hiking and climbing permits, enjoy interpretive exhibits, and purchase maps and hiking books. Check current road conditions before traveling to either Carbon River or Mowich Lake. 

A short trail near the Carbon River entrance station takes you into a fine example of a temperate rain forest. The graveled Carbon River road, recommended for high clearance vehicles only, ends approximately five miles east of the entrance station at Ipsut Creek campground. The road is prone to flooding and may be closed at any time -- use caution. From Ipsut Creek a trail leads 3.6 miles (one way) to the Carbon Glacier, one of the largest and lowest glaciers in the lower 48 states.

A 22-mile drive on SR 165 from Wilkeson will take you to Mowich Lake, the largest and deepest lake in Mount Rainier National Park. The road is unpaved after the first three miles and may be rough. It is generally open mid-July to mid-October.

If you've exhausted this list, stop at any visitor center or ranger station for more ideas.

Mount Rainier National Park is a favorite destination for about two million people each year. We invite you to reconnect with nature and history by hiking, camping, picnicking, taking photographs, and joining guided interpretive programs. Please help protect your park and all of its features for generations to come.

Climate & Recommended Clothing

July and August are generally sunny and mild, with the chance of showers. The rest of the year is usually quite rainy, with heavy snowfall from November through April. Raingear is recommended year round. Trails are steep and well maintained in summer and snow covered and difficult to follow in winter. For current weather conditions, go to the recreational weather forecast page.

Recommended Activities & Park Use

Mount Rainier National Park offers a wide variety of recreational and educational activities, from easy guided walks with park rangers to mountain climbing to car touring. Backpacking and photography are also popular summer activities, while winter offers winter camping, snow sliding, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing opportunities.

Three Bears Lodge can be your base camp for a week or a weekend full of winter activities at Mount Rainier!
Reserve your own private cabin now!