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Established in 1899. 235,625 acres (97% is designated Wilderness). Includes Mount Rainier (14,410'), an active volcano encased in over 35 square miles of snow and ice. The park contains outstanding examples of old growth forests and subalpine meadows. Designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1997 as a showcase for the "NPS Rustic" style architecture of the 1920s and 1930s.
Whether hiking on its flanks, climbing its summit, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing on its slopes, camping along its glacier-fed rivers, photographing wildflower displays in subalpine meadows, or just admiring the view, nearly two million people come to enjoy the grandeur and beauty of Mount Rainier each year.
Operating Hours & Seasons
Mount Rainier National Park is open all year, but access is limited in winter. Facilities at Longmire are open daily year-round. Facilities at Paradise and Ohanapecosh are open daily from late-May to mid-October. Facilities at Sunrise are open July to early-October.
In winter, access is by the Nisqually Entrance in the southwest corner of the park only. The Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise is open weekends and holidays in winter.
Most visitors come on sunny summer weekends and holidays. Try to schedule your visit mid-week in summer, if possible, since parking is limited in many areas of the park. |
| Communities Surrounding Mount Rainier National Park |
| Note: The times listed below are approximate driving times to the park. |
Packwood, WA (9 min. ) Randle, WA (28 min. ) Goose Prairie, WA (31 min. ) Longmire, WA (37 min. ) Glenoma, WA (38 min. ) Enumclaw, WA (42 min. ) Pop. 11,116 Buckley, WA (48 min. ) Pop. 4,145 Morton, WA (49 min. ) Pop. 1,045 Black Diamond, WA (52 min. ) Pop. 3,970 Ashford, WA (52 min. ) Pop. 267 Wilkeson, WA (54 min. ) Pop. 395 South Prairie, WA (55 min. ) Pop. 382
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Carbonado, WA (59 min. ) Pop. 621 Ravensdale, WA (1 hr. 1 min. ) Pop. 816 Elbe, WA (1 hr. 1 min. ) Pop. 21 Orting, WA (1 hr. 8 min. ) Pop. 3,760 Eatonville, WA (1 hr. 18 min. ) Pop. 2,012 Kapowsin, WA (1 hr. 20 min. ) South Cle Elum, WA (1 hr. 50 min. ) Pop. 457 Cle Elum, WA (1 hr. 52 min. ) Pop. 1,755 Easton, WA (1 hr. 55 min. ) Pop. 383 Roslyn, WA (1 hr. 58 min. ) Pop. 1,017 Ronald, WA (2 hrs. 1 min. ) Pop. 265
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