Park Notices

Marijuana on Federal Lands
Posted: April 26, 2013
Contact: Chief Ranger's Office - 360-569-6612

Mount Rainier National Park would like to provide clarification regarding the use of possession of marijuana on Federal lands. The recently passed Washington State law, which allows for limited recreational marijuana use under certain conditions, has no bearing on Federal laws which continue to identify marijuana as a Schedule I illegal drug, and prohibit its use.

Possession of marijuana or use of any amount of marijuana is still prohibited in Mount Rainier National Park, its facilities, concessions, and campgrounds, and in the surrounding National Forest Lands. Violations are punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000.00 for an individual or $10,000.00 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both (16 U.S.C. 551, 18 U.S.C. 3559 and 3571).

 

Summer Road Construction
Posted: May 21, 2013

Stevens Canyon Road

This summer will be the final season of a three season effort to rehabilitate two 5-mile sections of Stevens Canyon Road, from its intersection with the Nisqually Road at the Canyon Wye to the Stevens Creek Bridge, and from its intersection with SR 123 to just east of Backbone Ridge. Visitors can expect up to 20-minute delays at each construction zone until the end of the project, currently scheduled for September 17, 2013, with possible closures during the week days for the first two weeks in September, beginning September 3rd.

In addition, road striping as well as ditch reconditioning is tentatively scheduled to take place in August, 2013 in the middle 9-mile section of Stevens Canyon Road, from Stevens Creek Bridge to just east of Backbone Ridge under a separate contract. Visitors can expect very short delays.

State Route 123
Ditch reconditioning is also tentatively scheduled to take place in August, 2013 on two sections of SR 123, from park's southeast entrance arch to intersection with Stevens Canyon Road (East Entrance) and between Panther Creek and Deer Creek. Visitors can expect very short delays.

Nisqually Road

Road striping on the 17.6 mile long Nisqually Road as well as pavement marking in the Paradise, Narada Falls, and Comet Falls parking areas is tentatively scheduled to take place in August or early September, 2013. Visitors can expect very short delays.

For future planning, rehabilitation work on the busy Nisqually Road is scheduled to begin in April/May 2014 with completion in September 2017. Phase 1- Nisqually Entrance to Longmire - is tentatively scheduled to begin April/May 2014 and be completed by September 2015. Phase 2 -Longmire to Paradise- is tentatively scheduled for May 2016 and be completed by September 2017. Rehabilitation work will also include the Ricksecker Point Scenic Loop Road and the Paradise Valley Road.

Due to the nature of the work, narrowness of the roadway, and traffic volumes during peak season, the park will permit nighttime closures, generally from 10pm to 5am Sundays through Thursdays, starting June 15th each year, in order to accomplish significant subsurface stabilization work. During daytime work activities, visitors can expect 20 to 30 minute delays.

Alternative access to the Paradise area during Nisqually Road construction by Stevens Canyon Road from the north via SR 410 / SR 123 or from the south via US 12 / SR 123.