WINTER ROADS & DRIVING

Most of Mount Rainier's roads are closed for winter. The road from Nisqually Entrance to Longmire is open year-round, but may close during extreme weather. The road between Longmire and Paradise closes nightly in winter and reopens in the morning once the road has been plowed. The road may close early or remain closed during the entire day due to poor road conditions or severe weather. While you're waiting for the road to open, please park in the parking lot, not in a traffic lane. Drive only on plowed roads in the park. The Carbon River Road to Ipsut Creek Campground is open until closed by snow or flooding.

Beware of poor visibility and reduced traction. Drive with your lights on for safety. Shady areas and bridge surfaces can be treacherously icy even when other sections of roadway are not. Stay alert, use caution, anticipate hazards, and slow down!

WINTER DRIVING SAFETY TIPS

FOLLOW TRACTION REQUIREMENTS

As road and weather conditions change throughout the day, traction requirements may also change. State law requires that you carry tire chains at all times when in the mountains. Obey the posted traction requirement.

The road ahead has patches of snow and/or ice covering the surface. Your vehicle should have approved all-season tires, snow tires, or chains on the drive wheels. Approved traction tires are designated by "M-S", "M/S", "*-*", or "All Season" on the sidewall of the tires.

The road ahead is snow-packed or icy and drivers can expect some difficulty. Your vehicle must have tire chains (link, cable, or plastic) on the drive wheels. AWD and 4WD vehicles may proceed without chains if they have snow tires on all four wheels, are in four wheel drive, and carry one set of chains in the vehicle for later installation if needed.

All vehicles must have chains on the drive wheels including AWD and 4WD.

CAR CAMPING

Two campgrounds are open for car camping in winter. Sunshine Point, located 0.25 mile east of the Nisqually Entrance (SW corner of the park), $10 per night/per site. Ipsut Creek, located 5 miles east of Carbon River Entrance (NW corner, unpaved road/subject to snow and washout closures), $8 per night/per site. No potable water. Camping in vehicles in parking lots or along roadways is not allowed.

"Nature Coasting," has been a popular activity at Paradise since the turn of the century.

CLIMBING & BACKPACKING

Over 10,000 people attempt to climb Mount Rainier each year. About half actually make it to the summit. Climbing information is available at ranger stations and on the park's website at www.nps.gov/mora/climb/climb.htm. For prerecorded route conditions, call (360) 569-2211 ext. 2314. Climbers pay a Cost Recovery Fee of $30 per person, per calendar year. Climbing Passes are available via fax or mail. For more information go to the above website. Be aware that winter camping and climbing are much more demanding and hazardous than in summer.

Permits are required for all overnight stays in the Wilderness and for travel above 10,000' and/or on glaciers. Rangers issue permits from the Longmire Museum daily and at Paradise on weekends. Self registration is available at the Carbon River Ranger Station, and at the winter closure of SR410 near Crystal Mountain. Self-registration for climbers is available at the Paradise Ranger Station in the upper parking lot.

Rainier Mountaineering, Inc. (360) 569-2227 (RMI) conducts guided climbs and related seminars. Guides for the Emmons Glacier Route include Alpine Ascents International (206) 378-1927, American Alpine Institute (360) 671-1505, Cascade Alpine Guides (800) 981-0381, and Mount Rainier Alpine Guides (360) 569-2889.

SNOW CAMPING

Snow camping requires a permit and sufficient snow depth to prevent resource damage. Camp in designated areas well away from buildings, marked trails, and parking lots. When you finish camping, collapse igloos and snowcaves to keep others from falling in. Fires are not permitted. Free permits are available at the Longmire Museum daily, and at Paradise on weekends only.

Groups of 13 or more and organized groups of any size, such as church and scout groups, are advised to pre-register at least two weeks in advance due to limited space by calling (360) 569-6003. Groups of 13 or more may camp in a designated group site only in the immediate Paradise area where there is access to 24 hour restrooms. Others should use "blue bags" to remove human waste from the park and/or deposit blue bags in a special barrel provided. The blue bag barrel is located in the tunnel to the Paradise upper parking lot restroom. Do NOT throw blue bags in trash cans!

To prevent getting plowed in, park in designated overnight parking areas only. Do not set the parking brake on your vehicle; it may freeze. Stay clear of parking lots and roads until morning plowing activities are complete. Before driving downhill, check with a ranger to be sure the road is open and that your vehicle meets the traction requirement.

ACCESSIBILITY

Most comfort stations, visitor centers, picnic areas, and designated campsites are accessible or accessible with help for wheelchair users. Accessible lodging is available inside the park and in local communities. In the Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise, written information, exhibits, and scripts for uncaptioned audiovisual programs are available. TDD: (360) 569-2177

RANGER-LED SNOWSHOE WALKS

Join a park ranger or volunteer for an exciting introduction to the art of snowshoeing and find out how plants and animals adapt to winter at Paradise. Snowshoe walks are offered daily December 17 - January 2, February 18-26, and on weekends and holidays only through April 2.

Public snowshoe walks are offered at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., traverse 1.2 miles, and last for about 2 hours. Walks are limited to 25 people, eight years old or older, on a first-come, first-served basis. A sign-up sheet is available at the Jackson Visitor Center information desk one hour before each walk.

Organized groups (up to 25 people) may reserve snowshoe walks. These walks begin at 10:30 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. For more information, inquire at the Longmire Museum or Jackson Visitor Center information desk, or call (360) 569-2211 ext. 3314. The park also offers snowshoe walks to school groups by reservation only. Call (360) 569-2211 ext. 3319 for reservations.

Snowshoes are available for ranger-led snowshoe walks for a $1.00 donation (per pair). Don't forget sunscreen, sunglasses, layers of warm clothes, hats, mittens, and suitable boots (you will sink into the snow even with snowshoes on).

SNOWPLAY AREA

Sliding and sledding is permitted only in the designated snowplay area, located immediately north of the upper parking lot at Paradise. Runs are constructed when there's sufficient snow depth to prevent resource damage — at least five feet. The snowplay area may remain open into mid-March, depending on snow. Because of the high potential for personal injury and frequency of accidents, no other area of the park is open to sliding (except skiing and snowboarding). Serious injuries and fatalities have occurred elsewhere when people have mistakenly slid over waterfalls, into trees, down steep slopes, or broken through thin snow into stream gorges.

Use only inner tubes, plastic sleds, saucers, or other soft sliding devices. No wooden toboggans, runner sleds with metal edges, or other hard devices are permitted. Compressed air is available on weekends and holidays during snowplay hours at the upper parking lot restroom. Be sure the run is clear before starting your slide. Collisions may cause serious injury.

Dress warmly and in layers with a wicking fabric such as wool or polypropylene next to the skin and a waterproof outer layer, not in jeans or T-shirts. Wear a hat, gloves, and snow-sealed boots. Take a warm-up break at the Jackson Visitor Center (open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekends & holidays).

The snowplay area normally closes at 4:30 p.m.

SKIING, SNOWSHOEING, & SNOWBOARDING

Before starting out for the day, check the weather forecast and determine the avalanche hazard. Avalanche information, a weather forecast, and winter maps that show marked trails and popular unmarked routes are available from visitor centers and ranger stations.

In early winter or in years of low snowfall, trees and other plants are damaged by skiers and snowboarders when snow depth is not sufficient to protect vegetation. Ski and snowboard only in those areas where the snow is deep enough to cover and protect vegetation. There should be at least 5' of snow before building jumps.