News Release

Winter Storms Continue to Impact Park Operations

Conditions on Nisqually Road, January 17, 2020.

NPS Photo

News Release Date: January 17, 2020

Contact: Mount Rainier Media Line, 360-569-6510

Winter weather and the resulting heavy snow load on trees continues to create hazardous driving and working conditions at Mount Rainier National Park. As a result, the Nisqually Entrance near Ashford is expected to remain closed throughout the holiday weekend. 

Mount Rainier road crews have made significant progress clearing and plowing the Longmire area and have started work clearing the road to Paradise and the upper parking lot. However, the 7-mile stretch of road between the Nisqually Entrance and Longmire continues to be extremely hazardous with heavy snow loading and trees bending over the roadway, preventing park staff from safely clearing that section of road. Road crews continue to cut and clear downed trees minimally along the route in order to allow work to be accomplished at higher elevations.

The park’s first goal is to re-establish safe administrative access to Longmire. Additional tree fall would delay that work. Once conditions have improved and staff can work safely in the area, crews will begin clearing the road from Nisqually Entrance to Longmire to a width appropriate for safe public travel. Visitors are encouraged to plan ahead and enjoy winter weather recreation in alternate locations.

For daily updates on the park’s winter road status visit @MountRainierNPS on Twitter (account not required). Check the park web cameras to view current conditions.

www.nps.gov/mora