Management

Partners - Learn more about the organizations and partner groups that work with and help support Mount Rainier National Park.
Park Planning - Management documents, environmental assessments, and commercial services information is available on the Park Planning page.
Laws and Policies - Additional information about how certain laws and policies apply to Mount Rainier National Park, specifically the use of firearms, marijuana, or drones.
Social Media Policy - Information on social media policies and acceptable use.
Work with Us - Information about employment and volunteer opportunities at Mount Rainier National Park.
Sustainability - Learn about sustainable park practices.
Resources for Those Who Assist Visitors - Interpretive themes, techniques, and information to help concession employees, tour operators, and visitor centers tell accurate and compelling stories about Mount Rainier National Park.
Foundation Document - Provides guidance for planning and management decisions, including special mandates and administrative commitments.


 

Designations

  • National Park - March 2, 1899
  • Wilderness - November 16, 1988
  • Butter Creek Research Natural Area - 1942
  • National Historic Landmark District - March 1997

Park Regulations

The 2023 Compendium details rules and regulations specific to Mount Rainier National Park.

The Code of Federal Regulations lists rules and regulations common to all National Park Service sites. Additional information about how certain laws and policies apply to Mount Rainier National Park, specifically the use of firearms, marijuana, or drones, is posted on the Laws & Policies page.

Visitor Statistics

Visitor Use Statistics are available from 1967. Data available include the number of vehicles, number of visitors and year-to-year change. Additional Mount Rainier National Park statistics reports on the National Park Statistics website.

Mountain climbing is a very popular activity in Mount Rainier National Park. Statistics indicate that in each of the last several years approximately 10,000 people have attempted climbing Mount Rainier. Over the last five years about 56.8% have been successful. Climbing Statistics are available from 1852 to 1897 and from 1950 to the most recent year. Data available include the number of climbers and the number of climbers successful. Annual Mountaineering reports and search-and-rescue (SAR) reports are available on the Mountaineering Reports and Statistics page.

Visitor Survey Results

Visitor surveys are conducted in order to learn more about park visitors, their reasons for visiting, the activities they participated in and their opinions about a variety of issues. Visitor survey results assist the park in making management decisions based on visitor trends. Results for Mount Rainier National Park are summarized in the 2000 Visitor Study Brochure or view the complete 2012 Visitor Study.

2006 Flood Report: 2007 and 2008 Updates

The 2006 Flood Report is a summary of flood repairs, volunteer efforts, recovery funding and remaining repairs one year and two years after the flood.

Early Park Management

General Management Plan

The Record of Decision for the Final Environmental Impact Statement and General Management Plan (FEIS/GMP) for Mount Rainier National Park has been approved. Under the new General Management Plan, park managers will improve stewardship of park resources while continuing to provide a range of high-quality visitor experiences. Most of the park (97%) is designated wilderness and will continue to be managed according to the provisions of the Wilderness Act. Most of the structures within the park are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and will be preserved for public use and enjoyment in their historical character. The primary goals of the new General Management Plan are to better manage peak-period visitation so that it does not adversely affect park resources and visitor experiences.

Key elements of the plan include the following: Establish a visitor carrying capacity framework and use it to ensure the preservation of park resources and the quality of the visitor experience. Phase in shuttle services in coordination with elimination of overflow parking to reduce traffic congestion and ensure effective visitor transportation within the park; provide shuttle service to various locations in the park, such as Longmire/Paradise, Westside Road, Sunrise, Mowich Lake, and Carbon River. Provide additional opportunities for visitors to use the park in the summer and winter, including: providing shuttles on the Westside Road, providing new picnic sites, improving interpretive facilities, and establishing or improving snow-parks for winter visitors. Replace the Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center at Paradise with a smaller, more efficient visitor center and reconfigure the parking area for shuttles. Improve the visitor information program internally and externally; use welcome centers outside the park to provide visitors information for planning their visits to the park and region. To reduce the amount of sediments and pollutants entering Mowich Lake, close the road to vehicles 0.5 mile from the lake and convert it to a trail. After completion of the boundary adjustment and development of the new facilities, close the Carbon River Road to private vehicles when there is a major washout of the road and convert the Ipsut Creek Campground to a walk-in/bike-in camping area. Recommend a boundary adjustment west of the Carbon River Entrance, including about 1,063 acres to provide for a new campground, picnic area, and administrative facilities, and to protect the river corridor. (Congressional action would be required for this action.)

Copies of the Record of Decision are available from the Superintendent:

Mount Rainier National Park
Attn: Superintendent
55210 238th Avenue East
Ashford, Washington 98304-9751
(360)-569-6501 or e-mail us

The final EIS/GMP is also available in its entirety on the NPS Planning, Environment & Public Comment (PEPC) website: Mount Rainier General Management Plan.

 

Foundation Document

Every unit of the national park system will have a foundational document to provide basic guidance for planning and management decisions—a foundation for planning and management. The core components of a foundation document include a brief description of the park as well as the park’s purpose, significance, fundamental resources and values, other important resources and values, and interpretive themes. The foundation document also includes special mandates and administrative commitments, an assessment of planning and data needs that identifies planning issues, planning products to be developed, and the associated studies and data required for park planning. Along with the core components, the assessment provides a focus for park planning activities and establishes a baseline from which planning documents are developed.

Mount Rainier National Park Foundation Document
Foundation Document Overview

 

Additional Management Documents

Last updated: March 7, 2023

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

55210 238th Avenue East
Ashford, WA 98304

Phone:

360 569-2211

Contact Us