Mount Rainier National Park posts winter hours

Snow play and winter camping areas remain closed due to insufficient snow.

“Winter is a magical time of year at Mount Rainier. In winter, blue sky days alternate with those that are reminiscent of the inside of a snow globe. Whatever the weather, we hope you will explore Mount Rainier National Park in this quiet, peaceful season,” said Superintendent Chip Jenkins.

"Winter is a magical time of year at Mount Rainier. In winter, blue sky days alternate with those that are reminiscent of the inside of a snow globe. Whatever the weather, we hope you will explore Mount Rainier National Park in this quiet, peaceful season," said Superintendent Chip Jenkins.

Recent storms have set the stage for winter recreation at Mount Rainier National Park with enough snow at Paradise for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowboarding. However, the Paradise snow play area and winter camping remains closed due to insufficient snow depth. A sufficient snowpack is needed throughout the area to create the run and the containment berm, and to prevent resource damage from the grooming equipment and sledding activity. The Paradise snow play area is the only location in the park where visitors are allowed to use soft-sided sliding devices, such as 100% plastic sleds, saucers, or disks.

The Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center at Paradise is open throughout the winter on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, from 10 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

The Longmire area is open seven days a week, unless major storm events require closure. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. the Longmire Museum provides general park information, winter activity guidance, backcountry permits, and is also open daily and provides lodging, food, gifts and snowshoe/ ski rentals. For reservations, call 360-569-2275 or visit mtrainierguestservices.com.

The main gate at the southwest entrance to the park near Ashford will remain open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week unless conditions require a temporary closure. The higher elevation gate, located on the road between Longmire and Paradise is closed nightly to ensure visitor and staff safety, with uphill access closing at 4 p.m. to allow for visitors and staff to exit safely.

Webcam viewers should note that a clear parking lot at Paradise doesn't mean road conditions between Longmire and Paradise are safe. Standard open hours of this road are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with daily road opening and closing updates posted to Twitter.