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Contact: Tracy Swartout, Deputy Superintendent, 360-569-6502
Mount Rainier Superintendent Randy King advises that the park is making good progress on its annual spring opening process, and is pleased to announce many popular roads will be open tomorrow, just in time for the Memorial Day weekend. Roads and facility updates: Work will continue in 2016 on a multi-year road and utility construction project between Longmire and Paradise. This project involves rehabilitation of the driving surface for improved visitor safety and driving experience. Visitors should expect delays of up to 30 minutes Mondays through Fridays from Longmire to Paradise. No planned road work will occur on holidays/weekends, but unexpected situations may arise. Ricksecker Point Loop will be open to public access through Memorial Day weekend, after which it will close for the season to provide staging for road construction materials. The following areas and facilities will open for the season on Friday, May 27:
Trail Updates: Snow has begun melting out along lower elevation trails, but still covers tails at higher elevations. As a result of winter storms, crews are finding than an exceptional number of trail bridges and footlogs have been washed away, making river crossings challenging or impossible. Additionally, storms have blown down a high number of trees over trails park-wide, with many root ends blocking entire trail widths. In some cases, the trail tread has been extensively damages and safe passage is difficult or impossible. Conditions will improve as crews work to restore trails and bridges, but it will require considerable time due to the extent of the winter's damage. Visitors are cautioned to use good judgement in determining whether their planned route is safe under existing conditions. Rocks, dirt, and debris may move as you work your way around them. Always be prepared to turn back. NOTE: Due to winter damage the Grove of the Patriarchs trail footbridge is unsafe for passage. Repairs will be completed in the next few weeks. Fee Updates: The phased increase of entrance fees in 2015 and 2016 was approved during 2015 based on public input and general support for the increases. Beginning Friday may 27, the park's single entrance fee will rise from $20 to $25. This fee provides entry for all occupants in a single vehicle for seven consecutive days. Other park fees are noted in the table below. Walk-up fees will not change from 2015. Camping fees also remain unchanged ($20/night for single sites and $60/night for group sites). Recreation fee revenue is an important component of Mount Rainier National Park funding; entrance fees support over $3 million in projects each year that have a direct benefit to the visitor experience. Planned projects include rehabilitation of infrastructure such as restrooms, trails, campsites, and accessibility.
Park information, announcements, and the webcams are posted on the park website.
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Last updated: May 27, 2016