Paradise Visitor Guide

Welcome to Paradise! Now that you've arrived, what would like to do? Do you want to go on a hike or tour the historic Paradise Area? Viewing wildflowers is another popular activity, but meadows are covered in snow well into June. Use the links below to learn essential information, download guides, and plan your visit. Make sure to check the hours of operation for Paradise facilities, and please recreate responsibly!

 

Graphic by recreateresponsibly.org

Help protect yourself, protect others, and protect Mount Rainier National Park by recreating responsibly!

• Know Before You Go - Check the status of the place you want to visit. If it's crowded, have a Plan B.
• Plan Ahead - Prepare for facilites to be closed, pack lunch and bring essentials like hand sanitzer and a face covering.
• Practice Physical Distancing - Keep your group size small. Be prepared to cover your nose and mouth and give others space. If you are sick, stay home.
• Play It Safe - Slow down and choose lower-risk activities to reduce your risk of injury. Search and rescue operations and health care resources are both strained.
• Explore Locally - Limit long-distance travel and make use of local parks, trails, and public spaces. Be mindful of your impact on the communities you visit.
• Leave No Trace - Respect public lands and communities and take all of your garbage with you.
• Build an Inclusive Outdoors - Be an active part of making our nation’s parks and public lands safe and welcoming for all identities and abilities.

 

Learn and Explore

Go on a Hike

Paradise provides access to a network of trails suitable for every ability. In spring and early summer, these trails may still be covered in snow. Popular winter recreation includes snowshoeing and skiing. NOTE: The Paradise Snow Play/Sledding area has closed for the year. Make sure to check the trail status map below to see current snow conditions on trails. If you are not prepared to hike on snow, try a lower elevation hike at Longmire or Ohanapecosh. 

Please stay on trails! As snow melts away, it may be tempting to skirt remaining patches of snow that are covering trails. However, by going off trail you are walking on and damaging the wildflowers that you may be coming to see! It is better to stay on the trail even if that means crossing snow, particularly in the high-visitation meadows around Paradise. 

Before Hiking

• Download the Paradise Area Trail Map
• Check the weather!
• Do you have the 10 Essentials?
• Hiking on Snow Safety

 

Paradise Trail Status

Hiking Safety

The interactive map below shows current conditions of trails in the Paradise Area and is updated weekly. Click on any section of trail in the map to see details.

 

View full screen.

 

Other Trails in the Paradise Area

Pinnacle Peak Trail
Bench & Snow Lake Trail

Other Trails at Mount Rainier

Trails of Mount Rainier
Day Hiking

Upper Mountain Recreation

The upper mountain is open for climbing and recreation. Remember, travel above high camps and/or glaciated travel requires a climbing permit. Some temporary restrictions still remain in place. Check the climbing page for details. If you are heading to Camp Muir, make sure to download the Camp Muir with Bearings Map site bulletin.

 

Learn and Explore

Tour the historic Paradise area

Paradise is a National Historic Landmark District. The Paradise Inn, built in 1917, is also a historic landmark. The Paradise Inn is currently closed, but the exterior can be viewed along with other historic buildings in the area. Or, learn more about the Paradise Area. 

Tour Paradise

• Paradise Area General Information
• Download the Paradise Inn Site Bulletin

 

Hours of Operation

Last Updated: September 14, 2020

Following guidance from the CDC and recommendations from state and local public health authorities in consultation with NPS Public Health Service Officers, the following facilities and services are available.

Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center	Restrooms in vestibule open daily from 9:30 am - 5:00 pm. Visitor Center interior remains closed. Paradise Camp Deli - OPEN until October 12 Located inside the Jackson Visitor Center. Gifts and grab & go food options available. 11:00 am - 5:00 pm Thurs - Mon Closed Tues - Wed
Plaza (Slate) Restrooms	OPEN 24 hours a day Located adjacent from visitor center in the upper parking lot plaza.
Paradise Inn & Tatoosh Cafe	CLOSED for the 2020 season. The National Park Inn in Longmire is open with to go food options. For additional information, visit mtrainierguestservices.com or call 360-569-2275 or 855-755-2275.
Paradise Wilderness Information Center	CLOSED This year, permits will only be issued by advance request until further notice. Permits will not be issued at Ranger Stations. You can obtain a permit by following the instructions on the Wilderness Permit page.
Paradise Picnic Area & Restrooms	OPEN

 

Paradise Parking Map

NPS Graphic

Paradise Parking Map

Designated parking at Paradise includes:

1. Accessible Parking - Day Use & Overnight Parking*
   Located along the north side of the upper lot or by the Paradise Inn.
2. Drop Off Zones - Passenger Drop Off only - No Parking
   Located along the Paradise Plaza on the northwest side of the upper lot and in front of Paradise Inn.
3. Paradise Upper Parking Lot - Day Use Only - No Overnight Parking
4. Paradise Lower Parking Lot - Day Use & Overnight Parking*
5. Overflow Parking: Paradise Picnic Area - Day Use & Overnight Parking*; Paradise Valley Road - Overflow Parking or Bus/RV Parking

*Note that overnight parking requires a backcountry camping permit or hotel reservation. No sleeping in vehicles overnight.

 

Learn and Explore

View Wildflowers

Mount Rainer's renowned wildflowers bloom for a limited amount of time every year. The "peak" bloom for wildflowers is heavily dependent on weather and precipitation patterns, but in most years, many flowers will be blooming by mid-July, and by the first of August the meadows should be very impressive.

Please stay on trails! There are plenty of opportunities for the perfect mountain + wildflower photo from the trails. No need to step off trail and crush other flowers in your quest for the perfect shot.

Wildflower Guides

• Download the Subalpine Wildflowers Bulletin
• What's Currently Blooming?

 

Recreate Responsibly