Mt Rainier NP Visitor Location Information
MPG V2.7, July 2010

Guide to Map
August 1, 2010

Advisories about Google map display and about the Carbon River Road.

Information

August is the month of seasonal summer operations, see access and conditions Web page. The weather is less dynamic and extreme and August is consistently cool to warmer temperatures with little rain. All the roads and the facilities are open with the one exception that the Sunrise visitors center is closed for the season for renovation, but you can get information, food and stuff at the rangers station. You can get the complete information about visitor information or the NPS Newsletter.

The NP is using the Pavement Maintenance Program (PMP) to resurface sections of the highways in the NP, specifically Highway 123 from the southeastern border to Cayuse Pass, Surnise Road from the White River campground to the Sunrise (Yakima Park) visitors center, and roads in the visitors areas in the NP.

This means you should still plan, get the most recent information, be prepared for quick and severe changes in the weather and conditions and be flexible with your plans and schedules. This includes the roads and trails where the NPS closes them, issues advisories or implements emergency rules.

Location Guide

Locations are catagorized as:

   Visitors Center, for information, restaurants, museums, and other tourist interests;

   Park Entrance, highway access to the different areas of the National Park;

   Campground, established campground for camping, campers and recreational vehicles;

   Highway, state highways through the National Park.

Access

The following is a summary of access to Mt. Rainier National Park from their Web page of the current conditions in the National Park. It summarizes the basic information in a simplier form, and you can go to the NPS Web page for more and detailed information. The locations are listed by their respective name on the above map.

Nisqually Entrance, is open to Paradise. The Paradise Valley Road is open. Sunshine Point Campground is permanently closed and the Cougar Rock campground is open. The Paradise Inn is open. The Jackson Visitors Center is open daily (10 am to 5 pm). The Mountain Guide Center is open.

Carbon River Entrance, is open at the NP Boundary only to hikers and bikers to the Ipsut Campground. A backcountry permit is required for all overnight stays.

Mowich Lake Entrance, The road is open. The campground is open although there still may be snow in the higher elevations.

Ohanapecosh Entrance, Highway 123 is open. The Stevens Canyon Road between Paradise and the junction with highway 123 is open. The Ohanopecosh visitors center and campground is open.

White River Entrance, Highway 410 is open to the summit at Cayuse pass and over Chinook Pass to eastern Washington. The White River road is open. The road to Sunrise and the Sunrise facilities are open but the visitors center is undergoing renovation and won't reopen this season. Food services and items are available at the ranger station. The White River campground is open. The trails above Sunrise may stil have some late snowpack on north-facing slopes and in shaded areas.

Advisories

Advisory about Guns.-- Beginning February 22nd, openly carrying guns in the NP is legal and concealed with a legal permit. However, there are a number of conditions, which you can find here with links to additional information.

It is illegal to carry a gun indoors and it is illegal to use or fire a gun anywhere in the NP.

This is especially important in the visitors areas, the campgrounds, on the trails, and in the backcountry. You can only carry a gun and nothing else. In addition the NPS has now trained and instructed the park and backcountry rangers to treat all visitors as if they are carrying a gun. This applies to everyone unless it is clear the visitor does not have or is not carrying a gun.

It is still my personal opinion and recommendation that you leave any guns at home. They are unnecesary while visiting the NP and they are unnecessary hiking in the backcountry. There has not been a serious injury or death in the backcountry related to incidents with wildlife, and there are other measures better taken to protect yourself and others in the backcountry.

In addition, openly carrying a gun only endangers everyone else and indicates to them that you are insensitive and inconsiderate of others to understand guns are not necessary to enchance the visitor experience. There are park and backcountry rangers, some with firearms, who are trained and experienced in protecting visitors. They don't need or want your help, especially with your gun.

Resources

Additional information available from the NPS Website.

Please use the contact link to send e-mail.