Spring Opening

Two plows remove snow on partially snow covered road.

NPS/Caroline Meleedy

 

At 14,410 feet, Mount Rainier is the most prominent peak in the Cascade Range. It dominates the landscape of western Washington, standing nearly three miles higher than the lowlands to the west. This majestic glacier-covered volcano has been called “an arctic island in a temperate sea.”

This extreme mountain creates extreme weather with an annual average snowfall of 643 inches at Paradise. Snow closes the majority of park roads and facilities in winter. In spring, park and state road crews begin the work to clear the roads of snow while utilities, campgrounds, visitor centers, and other facilities are prepared for the busy summer season. Detailed park access updates are posted on the Alerts & Conditions webpage.

 

Current Conditions - Spring 2021

Last Updated: 7/9/21

All park roads are open for the 2021 season. Expect limited services throughout the park. Although visitor centers are closed, rangers are staffing outdoor information tables.

Park Facility Seasons & Hours
Check predicted opening dates and current status of park facilities on the Operating Hours & Seasons page.

Spring Road Opening Status
View the following map and text for the road status updates (click on any section of road or notification symbol for more information). Additional information can be found on the Roads Status page.

 

 

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For images of spring opening operations in past years, check out the Spring Opening 2019 album on Flickr.