Park Construction

 

Mount Rainier National Park is actively improving roads, buildings, and campgrounds through a series of construction projects aimed at enhancing safety, accessibility, and overall visitor experience. Due to heavy winter snowfall, most of this essential work is limited to the short summer season.

Construction can shift day-to-day on park roads and parking lots and is especially weather dependent. Please expect major traffic disruptions during this time.

• Some roads may experience one-lane closures with up to 30-minute delays, 7 am to 7 pm, Mondays to Fridays, only.
• Some parking areas may be limited down to 30% of normal capacity.
• Some roads may close entirely.

We appreciate visitors' patience as we work to make improvements to park infrastructure. These efforts will improve safety, accessibility, and the overall visitor experience. Please examine the schedule below to plan ahead.

Last Updated: Friday, September 5, 2025

 

Road Status Map

For the best viewing experience, click on the "View full screen" link in the lower left corner of the map. Click on any section of road or notification symbol for more information.

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Pavement Preservation Project

Pavement preservation work will include patching, resurfacing, and striping all roads, pullouts, and parking areas on the west side of Mount Rainier National Park.

Dates	Pavement Preservation Work	Impact
Monday, May 5 - Monday, September 22, 2025 Expect work from 7 am to 7 pm, Monday - Friday (no work on weekends). Schedule is subject to change due to weather.	The bulk of construction work has nearly completed, with several isolated locations requiring additional attention like paving repairs, restriping, or otherwise for the following areas: Nisqually-Paradise Road Longmire Area Cougar Rock Campground Paradise Area, including parking lots & picnic area Paradise Valley Road Stevens Canyon Road to Stevens Canyon Entrance	One lane closures with cumulative delays of no more than 30 minutes. Visitors may experience heavy congestion, parking delays, and detours. Make a backup plan in case trailheads, pullouts, or parking areas are not readily available to vehicles. Follow all road signs and instructions. Do not move construction cones to accomodate parking; vehicles found violating signs may be towed and fined. Please observe posted speed limits and drive mindfully; hikers may be on park roads and blind curves may make it difficult to see traffic building up in advance. Give construction crews plenty of space to work.
September 4 - 11	Striping will impact the following locations: Paradise Upper Parking Lot September 4, 9, 11 Paradise Picnic Area September 8 Paradise Lower Parking Lot September 5, 10	Parking in certain areas may be reduced to 30% of normal capacity for a short period of time. Visitors may experience congestion, parking delays, and detours. Do not move construction cones to accomodate parking; vehicles found violating signs may be towed and/or fined if found in areas with active construction. Make a backup plan in case trailheads, pullouts, or parking areas are not readily available to vehicles.

 

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State Route 123 (SR 123) Rehabilitation

SR 123 travels north-south along the east side of the park from the southeast entrance near Packwood, WA, to the junction with SR 410 at Cayuse Pass. The rehabilitation project will work on a 2.8 mile section of SR 123 from Laughingwater Creek Bridge (milepost 2.5) to Panther Creek Bridge (milepost 5.2). The project will replace substrate to level the road, rehabilitate ditches, and replace/upsize 18 culverts.

• Project Dates: September 2024 - October 2025
• News Release: Mount Rainier National Park announces State Route 123 construction closure starting September 2, 2025, 8/27/2025
• SR 123 Closure: Suggested Detour Map
• Park Construction Frequently Asked Questions
• Wildcat Fire Update as of September 5, 2025
  • A section of SR 123 from Cayuse Pass to Deer Creek Bridge had previously allowed limited access for small vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians to reach nearby trailheads during construction. Due to the vicinity of the Wildcat Fire burning outside of the park to the east in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, all access on SR 123 between Cayuse Pass and Stevens Canyon Road is now temporarily prohibited to protect public health and safety.
  • The following are now temporarily closed to all vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians:
    • SR 123 between Cayuse Pass and Stevens Canyon Road
    • Deer Creek / Eastside Trail / Owyhigh Lakes Trailhead (south terminus)
    • Shriner Peak Trailhead
    • Naches Peak, including Pacific Crest Trail south to Laughingwater Creek / Three Lakes Trail
  • The following remain open:
    • Eastside Trail (access from Grove of the Patriarchs Trailhead and Tipsoo Lake Trailhead)
    • Owyhigh Lakes Trailhead (northern access via White River Road)
    • Deer Creek Camp (access via Owyhigh Lakes Trail from the north or via Eastside Trail)
  • For the latest udpates on road or trail access, check the web alerts here.

Dates	SR 123 Closures	Impact
May 23, 2025 - September 1, 2025	One lane closure when crews are working, typically Tuesday - Thursday. One lane open for intermittent traffic.	Expect work from 7 to 7 pm, typically Tuesday - Thursday. Expect delays of up to 30 minutes. Expect gravel road for the northern half of the construction zone. Reduced speed limit of 25 mph in construction zone.
	Pullouts along the road, including Laughingwater Creek (Three Lakes) Trailhead, closed for staging equipment and materials.	Hikers must park and walk to the Laughingwater Creek Trail from Stevens Canyon Entrance. Equestrian access loading and unloading is allowed in designated coned-off area ONLY. Parking of horse trailers on SR 123 is not allowed.
September 2 - September 30, 2025	Two large box culverts will be installed to increase the amount of water than can safely flow underneath the roadway. Flooding risks and the chance of road washouts will be reduced, and habitat for amphibians and fish will be improved. Northern Closure at Cayuse Pass The northern closure point has moved to Cayuse Pass from the previous Deer Creek Bridge pullout/parking area closure on SR 123. All Vehicles, Bicyclists, and Pedestrians All southbound traffic is temporarily prohibited on SR 123 south of Cayuse Pass. Large Vehicles All southbound large vehicles, including RVs, campers, and any vehicles towing trailers, will be prohibited south of Cayuse Pass on SR 123. There will be no safe turn-around beyond this point. Drivers with large vehicles who fail to turn around will be forced to back up as far as 3.5 miles. Small Vehicles & Bicyclists Small vehicles and bicyclists will be permitted south of Cayuse Pass down to Deer Creek Bridge. All vehicles and bicyclists must turn around at Deer Creek Bridge. No through traffic will be available to Stevens Canyon Entrance / Stevens Canyon Road. Southern Closure at Stevens Canyon Road All Vehicles, Bicyclists, and Pedestrians All northbound traffic will be prohibited beyond the intersection up on SR 123. Stevens Canyon Entrance will remain open and accessible via SR 123 from the south except for a 6-hour period on Wednesday, September 24 (weather dependent). See more below.	Safety Reminder: Shared Roadway Use Drivers heading to / from Deer Creek Bridge must drive slowly and stay alert for pedestrians on the road. Traffic Restrictions Expect major traffic disruptions during this time. No through traffic is permitted on SR 123 between Cayuse Pass and Stevens Canyon Road. All southbound traffic beyond Cayuse Pass on SR 123 is prohibited. All northbound traffic beyond the intersection of SR 123 and Stevens Canyon Road is prohibited. Entrance Access Stevens Canyon Entrance will remain open and accessible via SR 123 from the south or Stevens Canyon Road from the north. White River Entrance, White River Campground, and the Sunrise area will remain open and accessible via SR 410. Detours Detours between White River Entrance and Stevens Canyon Entrance or Nisqually Entrance may take up to 4 hours and up to 115 miles. Be cautious if using GPS during this time as directions may not be accurate and road closures may not be reflected on the map. For a map of suggested detours, download map here. Wildcat Fire Update as of September 5, 2025 A section of SR 123 from Cayuse Pass to Deer Creek Bridge had previously allowed limited access for small vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians to reach nearby trailheads during construction. Due to the vicinity of the Wildcat Fire burning outside of the park to the east in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, all access on SR 123 between Cayuse Pass and Stevens Canyon Road is now temporarily prohibited to protect public health and safety. The following are now temporarily closed to all vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians: SR 123 between Cayuse Pass and Stevens Canyon Road Deer Creek / Eastside Trail / Owyhigh Lakes Trailhead (south terminus) Shriner Peak Trailhead Naches Peak, including Pacific Crest Trail south to Laughingwater Creek / Three Lakes Trail The following remain open: Eastside Trail (access from Grove of the Patriarchs Trailhead and Tipsoo Lake Trailhead) Owyhigh Lakes Trailhead (northern access via White River Road) Deer Creek Camp (access via Owyhigh Lakes Trail from the north or via Eastside Trail) For the latest udpates on road or trail access, check the web alerts here.
Wednesday, September 24* *Date subject to change for the following days pending weather conditions	Stevens Canyon Entrance will be fully closed for a period of 6 hours between 8 am and 4 pm prohibiting all through traffic. Through traffic will be permitted prior to 8 am and after 4 pm.	Expect major traffic disruptions during this time. Southbound traffic beyond the Grove of the Patriarchs parking lot will be prohibited. Continue to expect a detour of 3-4 hours if travelling from either end of the closure at Stevens Canyon Entrance to White River Entrance. For questions about trail access or detours, find answers to frequently asked questions here.
October 1, 2025 - Winter Closure	One lane closure. One lane open for intermittent traffic.	Expect delays of up to 30 minutes.

 

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Ohanapecosh Campground Construction Project

Ohanapecosh is a developed area in the southeast corner of Mount Rainier National Park. Work will include the rehabilitation of 185 campsites and nine restroom buildings, replacing the wastewater collection system, upgrading electrical and water systems, road repairs, and accessibility improvements.

• Project dates: February 2025 - End of 2025
• Ohanapecosh Construction FAQs

Dates	Ohanapecosh Closures	Impact
February - End of 2025	The entire Ohanapecosh Developed Area is CLOSED for the duration of the construction project, including all campsites, group camping sites, Cowlitz Indian Tribe Designated Use Area, visitor center, restrooms, auditorium, Ohanapecosh river access, picnic area and parking facilities.	No vehicle access. No pedestrian access, including with pets, to any part of Ohanapecosh, including roads, trails, visitor center, auditorium, day use areas, & campground. No recreational access, including bicycling and camping. No visitor center services, including permits. No public WiFi. No restrooms. No water fountains/potable water.
	The Silver Falls Trailhead located in the Ohanapecosh Campground is closed.	No access to the Silver Falls Trail from the Ohanapecosh Campground. Silver Falls can be accessed from the Grove of the Patriarchs parking lot via the Eastside Trail. There is additional parking and access to Silver Falls from the Cowlitz Divide Trailhead along Stevens Canyon Road. NOTE: The portion of the trail connecting to the Ohanapecosh Campground is closed and the Silver Falls Trail cannot be hiked as a loop. The two sides of the trail on either bank of the Ohanapecosh River can be hiked as out-and-back routes only.