Mount Rainier National Park - Winter Recreation (U.S. National Park Service)

A line of skiers, carrying their skis, makes their way through the snow to Camp Muir.

NPS Photo

Skiers make their way to Camp Muir.

Mount Rainier National Park is a popular place to enjoy winter activities. The mountain receives abundant snowfall and the scenery is spectacular. With the arrival of snow in late October, Mount Rainier's beauty changes and so do its challenges. Visitors planning to travel to the park in winter should familiarize themselves with winter travel tips, road status, and be prepared for potential winter hazards.

Mount Rainier National Park is open all year although in winter, only two park entrances are open: the Nisqually Entrance, in the southwest corner of the park, and the Carbon River Entrance, in the northwest corner of the park. In winter, recreational opportunities are numerous. A winter visit to Mount Rainier can include ranger-guided snowshoe walks, Paradise snowplay, camping, snowboarding and skiing. Some areas of the park are also open to snowmobiling.

More information on winter recreation is available in the Winter Tahoma newspaper. The Winter Recreation publication includes a winter recreation map of Paradise with marked trails and other useful winter recreation information.

Snowplay - Sledding and Sliding
Sledding and sliding are permitted only in the designated snow play area at Paradise. Trees, tree wells, and cliffs make other areas dangerous. For everyone’s safety, use "soft" sliding devices—flexible sleds, inner tubes, and saucers. No hard toboggans or runner sleds.

Due to construction in the upper parking lot the marked trail to the snowplay area from the visitor center should be used on weekdays.

Ranger Guided Snowshoe Walks
Join a Park Ranger to learn the art of snowshoeing and discover how the plants and animals of Mount Rainier adapt to the world record snowfalls.

When: Snowshoe walks begin in mid-December and run through March. Between mid-December and early January, walks are offered daily. After early January, walks are only offered on weekend. Walks start at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m..

Distance & Time: Snowshoe walks cover approximately 1.2 miles in 2 hours.

Group size: Snowshoe walks are limited to 25 people, eight years old or older, on a first-come, first-served basis. A sign-up sheet is available at the Jackson Visitor Center information desk one hour before each walk.

Organized Groups: Snowshoe walks are available to organized groups of up to 25 people by reservation only. Group snowshoe walks begin at 10:30 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. For more information call (360) 569-2211, ext. 3314 or visit the Longmire Museum or Jackson Visitor Center.

Equipment: For an enjoyable snowshoe walk, you will need

snowshoes: Snowshoes can be borrowed from the park for a $1.00 per pair donation (donations defray the cost of snowshoe maintenance and replacement) or you may use your own snowshoes.

hat

mittens

suitable boots (you will sink into the snow even wearing snowshoes)

sunscreen

sunglasses

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Skiing and Snowboarding
A minimum of 5’ of snow is advised for skiing and snowboarding. Avoid damaging exposed vegetation. Obtain further information at the Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise (weekends and holidays) and the Longmire Museum (daily).

Ski touring lessons are available through Guest Services Incorporated at Longmire.

Visitors enjoy a hike in the snow on a sunny winter day.

NPS Photo

Being prepared for Mount Rainier's winter conditions ensures a more enjoyable time at the park.

Winter Travel Tips
Make sure you're properly equipped for winter weather and travel before leaving home:

Carry tire chains and practice putting them on at home. State law requires all vehicles to carry tire chains in the mountains in winter.

Travel with a full tank of gas and bring extra food and fuel for your car in case you have to stay out an extra night.

Pack trash bags for trash and wet clothing.

Wear clothing and footwear that provides warmth, even when wet.

Designate a contact person who knows when to expect you back home.

Carry the Ten Essentials and know how to use them.

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Winter Safety

Weather
Be aware that mountain weather changes rapidly - a pleasant outing can quickly be transformed into a survival ordeal. Navigation in harsh winter conditions can be extremely difficult. It is usually better to camp and wait for clearing weather than to continue and risk becoming lost.

Avalanches
Avalanches are most common during or immediately after a storm. Never travel or camp in an avalanche zones. Stop at the Longmire Museum or Jackson Visitor Center for weather and avalanche hazard forecasts, maps of areas to avoid, and general avalanche information. Learn more about avalanche safety.

Hypothermia
When exposed to cold temperatures, the body begins to lose heat faster than it can be produced. The result is hypothermia, or abnormally low body temperature. A combination of cold weather, wet snow, and wind can easily rob a person of essential body heat. If left untreated, hypothermia can lead to unconsciousness and death.

To prevent hypothermia:
*wear appropriate clothing including wool or synthetics like polypropylene (never cotton!) to help retain body heat when clothing gets wet
*wear adequate wind and rain protection
*wear waterproof boots
*eat frequently
*avoid exhaustion
*seek shelter

Shelters
Snow caves, tents, and igloos can provide shelter from the elements, but be sure your shelter has adequate ventilation to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Maintain good ventilation while cooking, as cooking in a shelter will consume oxygen rapidly. To maintain adequate ventilation during snowy, windy conditions, you will need to go outside to dig out your tent or clear igloo vents. Collapse igloos and snow caves after use.

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Snowmobiling

In the southwest corner of the park, snowmobiles are permitted for 6.5 miles along the Westside Road from its junction with the main park road as far as Round Pass. Beyond Round Pass, the Westside Road is closed to snowmobile use. Snowmobiles are also permitted on all the road loops of Cougar Rock Campground. The campground is closed to overnight use during winter and the roadway is left unplowed. Contact a park ranger at the Longmire Museum for maps and additional snowmobile information.

On the north side of the park, no ranger station is open in the winter. The US Forest Service District Office in Enumclaw provides information, maps and permits for White River, Carbon River, and Mowich Lake areas. For more information, call the USFS District Office in Enumclaw at (360)825-6585. Highway 410 is closed near its junction with Crystal Mountain Ski Area road, at the North Park Boundary.

Snowmobiles are permitted on the 12-mile section of unplowed road from the North Park Boundary on Highway 410 to the White River Campground. Snowmobiles may not continue on Hwy 410 south of the White River Road turnoff. They are also prohibited from proceeding beyond the closure at the White River Campground road junction towards Sunrise. Snowmobiles must stay on the road corridor; they are not allowed to proceed beyond the campground towards Glacier Basin. Be aware of avalanche danger and the Mount Rainier weather forecast.

In the southeast corner of the park snowmobiling is allowed on the Stevens Canyon Road from the Stevens Canyon Entrance to the road tunnel at Box Canyon.

Wilderness permits, required for all backcountry camping, and climbing registration cards are available at the north boundary arch on Highway 410 and the US Forest Service office in Enumclaw or by self registration at the Ohanapecosh Ranger Station.

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