Free weekend at park

Admission to Mount Rainier National Park will be free for three days beginning this Satuday GÇô and bring your tire chains. Park superintendent Randy King said entrance fees will be waived for all visitors from Saturday through next Monday in recognition of the Veterans Day holiday Nov. 11, which honors U.S. military veterans and current members of the armed forces.-á It's also the second weekend since the park began requiring all motorists to carry tire chains in their vehicles if they plan to drive to Paradise. The rule went into effect Nov. 1 and is scheduled to remain in effect until May 1 next year. It applies to all vehicles (including four-wheel drive), regardless of tire type or weather conditions.-áWeather in the mountains can change rapidly at this time of year, and visitors should be prepared for possible snow storms, King said. He said roads may close at any time due to weather changes, and law enforcement rangers may prohibit any vehicles from driving above the Nisqually entrance (State Route 706) for safety reasons. Based on weather and road conditions, the road between Longmire and Paradise will close nightly for visitor safety, reopening each morning after the road has been cleared of snow or ice. Stevens Canyon Road, connecting the west and east sides of the park, is closed for the season, as is White River/Sunrise Road at its junction with State Route 410.-áOn the east side of the park, State Routes 123 and 410 remain open, weather permitting.-á Recorded information on park roads and weather conditions is available at 360-569-2211.

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