Ashford to Longmire ~ Longmire to Paradise ~ Paradise Loop

Parking in the Paradise Area
If you do drive your own vehicle to Paradise, be prepared for heavy traffic, busy parking lots, and pedestrians on the roadway. Due to the popularity of the Paradise area, visitors are asked to park their vehicles in certain lots depending on the intent of their visit. Please drive courteously and help improve traffic flow by following these guidelines:

• Parking in the upper Paradise lot, adjacent to the Jackson Visitor Center, is intended for short-term visitors and is limited to two hours. This lot is generally full by 11:00 a.m. Disabled visitors with a valid disabled parking permit may park in the upper lot with no time restriction; disabled-accessible trailheads are available near the visitor center and the Paradise Inn. Guests staying overnight at the Paradise Inn may also park in the upper lot during their stay.
• Parking in the lower Paradise lot is intended for visitors staying longer than two hours, and for backcountry campers and climbers with a valid backcountry permit. When the upper Paradise lot is full, short-term visitors may also use the lower lot.
• Additional parking for all-day and overnight visitors is available along the one-way Paradise Valley Road, east of the upper Paradise lot.
  

NPS Photo

Shuttle bus awaits riders at the historic Longmire gas station.

Ride the FREE Weekend Shuttle to Paradise 

From June 24 through September 4, 2011, you can ride the weekend shuttle to Paradise, with an option to begin outside the park in Ashford, Washington or inside the park at Longmire and Cougar Rock. This is the third year that the park has coordinated with the community of Ashford to offer this service to park visitors.

With the arrival of summer in the busy Paradise area, parking is limited and traffic may be slow. By riding the shuttle you will avoid the hassle of finding a parking place and help to reduce traffic congestion along the historic two-lane road to Paradise. You will also help Mount Rainier reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and consequently aide in protecting the park's natural and cultural resources.

View a map of the shuttle routes from Ashford to Paradise.

Ashford to Longmire
Park visitors can park their cars in Ashford and ride a shuttle to Longmire. In Ashford, park at Whittaker Mountaineering and board the shuttle at the adjacent information kiosk. The service is available Saturdays and Sundays beginning at 9:15 a.m. with the last shuttle leaving Longmire at 7:50 p.m.

Longmire to Paradise
Visitors riding the Ashford to Longmire shuttle can transfer at Longmire to another shuttle that will take them to Paradise. The Longmire to Paradise shuttle will provide service every 45 minutes on Fridays and every 15-25 minutes on Saturdays and Sundays beginning at 10:00 a.m. The shuttle will stop at Narada Falls on the uphill run and at Comet Falls trailhead on the downhill run. Leave your car at Ashford or Longmire, ride the shuttle, take a hike and enjoy the sights and sounds.

Paradise Loop via the Valley Road

A single shuttle will run approximately every 30 minutes from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm on Saturdays & Sundays along the Paradise Valley Road. During times of peak visitation, a second shuttle may be added so that a shuttle will be available approximately every 15 minutes.

A downloadable and printable version of the 2011 Shuttle Schedule:
2011 Shuttle Schedule