Article

Ohanapecosh Campground in Mount Rainier National Park to be Rehabilitated through GAOA Funding

A white truck sits atop a paved road covered in a small flood of water
Water on road at Ohanapecosh Campground

NPS Photo

Mount Rainier National Park, with funding through the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), will rehabilitate the Ohanapecosh campground, comfort stations, and sewage collection lines to better serve park visitors.

The Ohanapecosh area of the park, though closed in winter, boasts many attractions and opportunities for recreation. This old growth forest is named with respect to a Taidnapam (Upper Cowlitz) Indian habitation site along the Ohanapecosh River. This forest is host to Douglas-firs, western red cedars, and western hemlocks. With a rich history of camping in the area, it was natural that a campground and visitor center were built at the Ohanapecosh site.

Project at a Glance: This $2.886 million project will rehabilitate three of the eight loops of the Ohanapecosh campground, two comfort stations, and sewage collection lines to better serve park visitors and protect the Ohanapechosh River from pollution.

What are the Benefits: The Ohanapecosh campground is the largest in the park, hosting over 180 campsites. Rehabilitating the area provides a safer and more robust experience for over 100,000 yearly visitors get the chance to experience the beauty and complexity of the campground’s old growth forest. This project will renovate the campground’s sewage system to provide better amenities to visitors and help to protect the Ohanapechosh River.

Project Purpose and Goals

  • Rehabilitate the campground loop roads and campsites to enhance visitor satisfaction and protect the investment in the largest campground in the park
  • Replace five campsites lost to flooding
  • Restore campground drainage
  • Upgrade 10 campsites to meet accessibility standards
  • Replace a severely degraded sewage system
  • Eliminate road potholes and cracks and place a two-inch lift of asphalt on campground loop roads
  • Regrade 145 campsites
  • Realign 23 parking pads
  • Repair or replace 94 damaged picnic tables and fire grates
  • Install 78 bear-proof food storage lockers
  • Replant trees and shrubs to restore bare campsites
  • Convert two water stations and remodel one comfort station to meet accessibility standards
  • Repair and rebuild 224 feet of walkways and stairways
  • Protect Ohanapecosh River waters from sewage pollution
  • Eliminate nearly $2.67 million of deferred maintenance and repairs

Current Status

Design for this project is currently underway.

Tags

Mount Rainier National Park

Last updated: September 8, 2022