"Mount Rainier" by NPS/Emily Brouwer Photo , public domain
![]() | Mount Rainier GuideSpring 2021 |
Spring Visitor Guide for Mount Rainier National Park in Washington. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).
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Mount Rainier National Park
Visitor Update|Spring 2021
What You Need to Know
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Masks are required in all buildings,
including restrooms, and outdoors
when social distancing cannot be
maintained.
Pets are not permitted on trails.
Service animals are allowed.
Visitor centers, wilderness
information centers, and ranger
stations are closed at this time.
Rangers are staffng information
tables outside of visitor centers and
wilderness information centers.
Get the new NPS App!
The new NPS App is here! Use it to learn
about trails, visitor centers, campgrounds,
directions, fees and passes, and weather
alerts. Download the app today to learn
more about Mount Rainier National Park
and to plan your visits to over 420 national
parks. Search “National Park Service” in
the iOS App Store and Google Play Store to
download the app.
Acting Superintendent
Tracy Swartout
Lost and Found
MORA_Lost@nps.gov
Connect with @MountRainierNPS at
www,nps.gov/mora, and on Facebook, Twitter,
Instagram, Tumblr, and YouTube
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Longmire to Paradise: Day Trip
For snow-free hiking in late
spring, consider the Longmire and
Ohanapecosh areas. Snowshoe
rentals are available at the
Longmire General Store.
Resort. Trail of the Shadows begins
across the main park road from the
Longmire Museum. For your safety,
do not drink the water from the
springs!
Whether you are visiting for a few
hours or the entire day, there is plenty
to do at Longmire and Paradise.
Take a hike, enjoy the views, hunt
for the elusive forest wildfowers in
the lowlands, or enjoy the snowy
landscape at Paradise. Choose your
favorites to easily fll your day:
Drive the 30 minutes up to Paradise.
Make a few stops along the way:
• Christine Falls- 4 miles
from Longmire. Park at the
designated pull outs and follow
the short path down to the
viewpoint of the waterfall.
• Ricksecker Point- 6 miles from
Longmire. Take the slight turn
towards Ricksecker Point where
you will fnd a magnifcent view
of Mount Rainier!
• Narada Falls- 8 miles from
Longmire. Turn into the
parking area for Narada Falls. A
quick but steep trail will bring
you down to the base of the
waterfall. If snow is present it is
not recommended to walk on
this trail.
• Stop at any other pull out if
there is a view you want to enjoy.
Enter through the Nisqually Entrance
via Ashford, WA. Enjoy the beautiful
drive along the windy road through
old-growth forest. It will be about 15
minutes before you reach Longmire.
Longmire
Visit Longmire to walk in the
footsteps of those who frst founded
the area and learn about the history of
the park. Enjoy trails leading through
meadows, old-growth forest, and
for the more adventurous, amazing
views. The Longmire Museum and
Wilderness Information Center are
currently closed.
Walk the Trail of Shadows. 0.7 miles
round-trip. Average hiking time: 30
minutes. A self-guiding loop around
Longmire Meadow explores the
early history of the Longmire Springs
Paradise
Expect snow-covered trails well into
June. This area receives many feet
of snow in winter and it lingers well
into spring. The Paradise Jackson
Visitor Center is currently closed.
Look for trail information and
rangers in the visitor center plaza.
Pledge to Preserve and Protect Mount Rainier!
Mount Rainier National Park was
created to protect and preserve
unimpaired iconic Mount Rainier,
along with its natural and cultural
resources, values, and dynamic
processes.
The park provides opportunities for
people to experience, understand,
and care for the park environment,
and provides for wilderness
experiences and sustains wilderness
values.
Be a Mount Rainier Champion by
learning more about park resources
and supporting park efforts by
sharing #RainierPledge!
I Pledge To:
“Protect Mount Rainier’s meadows and lakes by
staying on trails in meadows and around lakes.
One step onto a meadow damages an average of 17
plants that will take years to recover!
Leave No Trace of my visit. Planning ahead and being
prepared, disposing of waste properly, and leaving
what you fnd, are just a few ways you can Leave No
Trace.
Never take my pets on trails or meadows. Pets are
not permitted on trails. They are only permitted in
campgrounds, parking lots, and on roads open for
travel and must be on leashes no longer than six feet.
Keep Wildlife Wild by not feeding or approaching
animals. Feeding wildlife can be as direct as offering
a bit of your lunch, or as indirect as leaving your food
or garbage for animals to fnd.
Respect the land and all that is connected to it
as the original stewards of this land did and their
descendants continue do today.
Stay safe during my visit by keeping safety in mind.
Watch for changes in weather and conditions. Know
your limits when exploring Mount Rainier’s trails and
backcountry.”
Welcome all people I encounter during my visit
regardless of their identities or abilities.
Emergency: Dial 911 from any phone located in the park
Hazards of the Season
The National Park Service conducts thousands of search and rescues
servicewide each year, many of which could be avoided with visitors planning
and making responsible decisions. During the ongoing health crisis, it’s
critical that we make wise choices to keep our national park rangers and frst
responders out of harm’s way. Please follow these tips to safely spend time
outside.
Many early season hikers are not
prepared for challenges encountered
by changing conditions and a
snowpack that lingers late on the
mountain.
Route-Finding Challenges
Trails may be snow-free at lower
elevations but anticipate and prepare
for snow at higher elevations.
Conditions change rapidly during
the day and footprints in the snow
quickly disappear. This has left
many day hikers disoriented upon
their return trip, expecting to simply
follow their own tracks back to
the snow-free trail. This results in
many lost individuals, injuries, and
fatalities. When route-fnding, note
important landmarks. If the trail
becomes difcult to follow, stop
and fnd where you are on the map
before continuing.
Be Prepared
If at any point you feel
uncomfortable or unprepared, turn
around. If you plan on retracing your
route back to the trailhead consider
using wands on snow-covered
trails. Always carry a good map and
compass, and actively use them on
snow-covered trails. Also consider
supplementing your map and
compass with an external antenna
GPS for best coverage beneath a
forest canopy.
Consider the steep snow slopes,
melt holes, thinning snow bridges,
and other early season hazards
that you may encounter, and be
honest with yourself in assessing
your skills and experience. Watch
for streams fowing underneath
snow.
Avalanches are Common in Spring
The greatest danger is an avalanche
that you trigger by skiing,
snowboarding, snowshoeing, or
climbing. Be prepared for travel
in avalanche terrain. Carry a
transceiver, probe, and shovel and
know how to use them. Determine
if the location you are traveling is
avalanche prone. If in doubt, ask
questions or don’t go. Unstable snow
may slide at any time . . . not just in
winter! Even small avalanches can be
deadly.
Mountain Weather Changes
Rapidly
A pleasant outing can quickly
transform into a survival ordeal.
Proper gear (adequate boots, ice
axe, the ten essentials, etc.) is a
must. Navigation in spring storms
can be extremely difcult. If you’re
ascending and clouds or fog start
rolling in, turn around and head
back to the trailhead. If that’s not
possible, stop, dig in, and wait for
better weather.
Cross Streams Safely
Many hikers underestimate the
power of moving water and some
consider their former successful
stream crossings as a ticket to the
other side. This may not be true.
Use these pointers in making wise
decisions when crossing streams.
• Attending training in safe stream
crossings is recommended.
• Early morning when river levels
are generally at their lowest is
the best time to cross.
• Look for an area with a smooth
bottom and slow moving water
below knee height.
• Before crossing, scout
downstream for log jams,
waterfalls and other hazards that
could trap you. Locate a point
where you can exit if you fall in.
• Use a sturdy stick to maintain two
points of contact with the ground at
all times.
• Unfasten the belt of your pack
so you can easily discard it if
necessary.
• Staring down at moving water
can make you dizzy. Look
forward as much as possible.
Plan Ahead, Be Prepared
• Protect yourself by wearing
appropriate outdoor clothing
including footwear.
• Carry the ten essentials even on
a short sightseeing hike.
• Always tell someone of your
travel plans.
• Do not travel alone.
• If visibility is poor, do not travel
at all.
• Most importantly, plan your
route ahead of time and have a
backup plan.
Hike only on maintained
trails or thick patches of
snow to protect fragile
vegetation.
Enjoy Your Visit, Protect Your Park
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Stay on designated trails to protect
vegetation.
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Do not feed, approach, or disturb wildlife.
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Leashed pets are permitted only in picnic
areas, campgrounds, and parking lots and
along roads open to public vehicles.
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People who can legally possess frearms
under federal, Washington State, and local
laws may possess them (but federal law
prohibits discharging them) in the park.
However, federal law prohibits frearms in
certain facilities in this park; those places
have signs at public entrances.
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Launching, landing, or operating an
unmanned aircraft (drone) within the
boundaries of Mount Rainier National Park
is prohibited.
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While limited recreational use of marijuana
is legal in Washington State, possession of
any amount of marijuana or other illegal
drugs remains illegal in Mount Rainier
National Park and all federal lands.
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Fires are not permitted in the backcountry.
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Frontcountry camping is currently closed.
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Bicycle only on roads, not on trails.
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Carry the 10 Essentials and know how to
use them: map and compass; sunglasses,
sunscreen, and hat; extra clothing
(warm!) and rain gear; fashlight or head
lamp (extra batteries); frst aid supplies;
waterproof matches or lighter; repair kit
and tools (for gear), extra food and water;
emergency shelter.
Recreate Responsibly
A visit to a national park is a great way to
enjoy life during the pandemic. Clear air and
solitude, just what we all need right now!
However, it is critical to remain vigilant in spite
of the feeling of distancing ourselves from
its spread. Here are some ways you can stay
healthy and help stop the spread of COVID:
Avoid crowded areas. Seek another location
to recreate.
Practice physical distancing. Keep six feet
between you and anyone who doesn’t live
with you.
Wear a mask and practice good hygiene.
Masks are required in all park buildings and
when social distancing cannot be maintained.
Wash or sanitize your hands and avoid
touching any high-traffc surfaces.
Leave no trace. Always pack out what you
pack in, including gloves and masks.
Know your limits. Postpone challenging
hikes or trying new activities while frst
responders, parks, and communities continue
to concentrate on responding to the pandemic.
v.5/4/2021