Mount Rainier National Park is a mountain wonderland famous for its dense forests, dazzling wildflower meadows, tremendous snowfields, and rugged glaciers. As an active volcano, Mount Rainier stands as a reminder of the beauty and power of nature.

Mount Rainier National Park preserves very fragile ecosystems. In 1988 about 96 percent of the Park was designated as the Mount Rainier Wilderness. Each year more than two million people visit the park.

In 2001, 11,678 people attempted to climb 14,410 foot Mount Rainier, but only 5,171 were successful. The peak of Mount Rainier is encased in 35 square miles of snow and ice.

See the Park Newspaper, News, and News Releases for current information.

• Jackson Memorial Visitor Center—Paradise: Phone: 360-569-6036. Hours: May and September to Early October, daily, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; June to August, daily, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; mid-October to May, weekends and holidays, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Longmire Museum: Phone: 360-569-2211. Hours: Daily, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with extended summer hours.
• Ohanapecosh Visitor Center: Phone: 360-569-6046. Hours: Late may to October, daily, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• Sunrise Visitor Center: Phone: 360-663-2425. Hours: July to late September, daily, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• Wilkerson Wilderness Information Center: Phone: 360-569-6046.

Four visitor centers, museum, trails, tour roads, gift shops, picnic areas, restrooms, and drinking water.

For lodging reservations in the park, call Mount Rainier Guest Services at 360-569-2275. Gasoline, lodging, dining, recreation equipment rentals, and other services are available in local communities. A list of these services is available at Park Visitor Centers and on the Park's Web site. Gas is not available in the Park.

• Mount Rainier National Park is in west central Washington. The Nisqually entrance, in the southwest corner of the Park, is open year-round. Travelers from east of the Cascades may enter the park directly in summer, but eastern mountain passes are closed in winter.
• To reach the Carbon River area, take Washington Highway 165 from Buckley. Shortly after passing through Wilkerson, the road forks, with the Carbon River Entrance and Ipsut Creek to the left, and Mowich Lake to the right.
• For specific directions, visit the Directions page of the Park's Web site.
• Get directions from Google Maps.
• Get directions from MapQuest.
• NPS Directions.
• Road Conditions.

• Snow closes roads for short periods. Chains may be required for winter driving.
• NPS Weather Conditions.
• See area weather chart.
• See Canyon Country Weather for more information.
• WebCam: View from Paradise.
• Sunrise/Sunset

• Fishing requires no license or permit, but certain waters are closed, or open to fly fishing only.
• Use pullouts to allow vehicles to pass if traveling under 30 m.p.h.
• Never pass another vehicle while in the park.
• See National Park Service Restrictions and Regulations.
• See American Antiquities Act of 1906.
• See Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979.
• See Pets in the Parks and Backcountry.
• See Encountering Wild Animals.

Northwest Forest Pass

The Northwest Forest Pass is a vehicle pass required at all designated recreation sites in Washington and Oregon. For more information, visit our Northwest Forest Pass page.

• See US Forest Service Restrictions and Regulations.
• See US Forest Service Recreation Reservations.

• Volcanic Hazards: Hazards include unpredictable mudflows and glacier-generated floods. Be alert in river valleys. If you hear a loud rumbling or notice a rapid rise in water levels, move to higher ground—fast! Do not run downstream. Longmire and all campgrounds are in potential flood zones.
• Plan For Traffic Delays: Long snowy winters mean that most of Mount Rainier's road work must be done during the busy summer and fall seasons. Allow extra time in your schedule to accommodate construction delays.
• Bring rain gear.
• See Backcountry Considerations.
• See Backcountry Emergencies.
• NPS News Updates.