Mount Rainier National Park

Mount Rainier National Park The Official Mount Rainier National Park page. In addition to keeping it family friendly, we ask that you follow our posting guidelines here.

Page Expectations & Guidelines:
We hope our social media pages will become places where fans feel comfortable sharing information and experiences about Mount Rainier National Park with one another. While this is an open forum, it is also a family friendly one, so please keep your comments and wall posts clean. If you don't comply, your message will be removed.

- We do not allow graphic, obscene,

explicit or racist comments or submissions, nor do we allow comments that are abusive, hateful or intended to defame anyone or any organization.
- We do not allow solicitations or advertisements. This includes promotion or endorsement of any financial, commercial or non-governmental agency. Similarly, we do not allow attempts to defame or defraud any financial, commercial or non-governmental agency.
- We do not allow comments that suggest or encourage illegal activity. Second violation of these guidelines will result in user being banned from the page.
- You participate at your own risk, taking personal responsibility for your comments, your username and any information provided. Posting of external links on this site that are intended as advertising (or to drive traffic to pages unrelated to Mount Rainier National Park), or do not contribute to dialog and discussions about Mount Rainier National Park may be deleted. People who continue to post such links may be subject to page participation restrictions and/or removal from the page. External links do not constitute official endorsement on behalf of the U.S. National Park Service or the U.S. Department of Interior.

06/12/2026

What’s the coziest animal?

The snowshoe hare keeps bundled in winter under an alabaster coat, molting in spring to cinnamon brown. Hares begin to change color as their bodies respond to environmental cues like temperature change and snow depth. In warmer winters, scientists studying hares in the Yukon have observed that their coat color can have less alignment with the seasonal change, leaving them brown in a snowy landscape, and vulnerable to predators.

This hare is on its way toward alignment with the landscape here in Longmire. Its fabled feet will remain white, with a layer of fur under toe keeping them dry and toasty in forest dews. You may remember a certain fictional penguin’s refrain “it is silly to be chilly”; the hare silently agrees.

Be like the hare and wear appropriate shoes and socks while hiking (or lounging) at Mount Rainier National Park.

NPS video: A snowshoe hare sits on a layer of moss underneath a tree, slowly grooming itself.

Be prepared to hike on snow and to navigate around downed trees, winter debris, and missing trail bridges.We are in the ...
06/11/2026

Be prepared to hike on snow and to navigate around downed trees, winter debris, and missing trail bridges.

We are in the “shoulder season” between spring and summer when trails are still melting out and fallen trees, winter debris, and missing trail bridges can create obstacles and navigational issues on any trail. The trail crew is actively working to repair winter’s damage, and the wilderness rangers have been reporting issues as they find them. Check the park website for the latest trail reports and use these snow-free maps to prepare for any hikes you may be planning in the next few weeks nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/trails-and-backcountry-camp-conditions.htm

Watch for post-holing, snow bridges, and missing foot-logs. More Spring (May-June) hiking tips at nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/spring-hiking-safety.htm.

Use caution around rivers and streams that are running high with snowmelt. If you hear "booming" noises as boulders or large rocks move around in the river, it means the water is STRONG and FAST. In addition to the current knocking you over, you could be hit by rocks moving in the river. Be cautious when deciding where to cross rivers, or if it's necessary to cross at all. If conditions do not look safe or are above your skill level, do not try to cross.

Photos from wilderness patrols:

Photo 1: NPS/IBellows, Summerland switchbacks shoveled out ,6/9/2026
Photo 2: NPS/TGroves, Stevens Creek Bridge logjam, 6/10/2026
Photo 3: NPS/TGroves, Wonderland Trail between Stevens Creek bridge and Maple Creek Camp, 6/10/2026
Photo 4: NPS/SSanford, High Lakes Trail snow-covered stream, 6/10/2026

This Sunday, June 14, is a fee free day! All entrance fees are waived at National Park Service sites across the country,...
06/10/2026

This Sunday, June 14, is a fee free day! All entrance fees are waived at National Park Service sites across the country, including Mount Rainier National Park. Plan ahead to have a safe and enjoyable visit:

- Summer weekends are busy! To avoid congestion, plan to arrive early or late in the day at trailheads and busy areas such as Paradise. Have a backup plan in case parking is full at your destination.

- There is still snow! Many trails may start snow-free at lower elevations but will climb into snow-covered areas. Check in at a ranger station for current conditions and be prepared to hike on snow: https://go.nps.gov/SpringHikingSafety

- Most roads are open for the summer season, except Sunrise Road which remains closed until early July. Check road status at https://go.nps.gov/MORAroads

- The Jackson Visitor Center and Paradise Inn are open at Paradise. The Longmire Museum and National Park Inn are open at Longmire. Wilderness information centers are open in Longmire, Paradise, and White River. Check hours of operation at https://go.nps.gov/MORAhours

- The Ohanapecosh Campground Area, including day parking, picnic areas, visitor center, restrooms, parking lots, trails, & amphitheater, remains closed for construction this summer. The Silver Falls Trail is open starting from the Grove of the Patriarchs parking lot as an out-and-back hike only. The Silver Falls trailhead in the Ohanapecosh Campground is closed. Learn more about Park Construction impacts at https://go.nps.gov/MountRainierConstruction

- There continues to be no public access to Carbon River & Mowich Lake from State Route 165 due to the closure of the SR165/Fairfax Bridge. Carbon River & Mowich Lake can still be reached with long-distance hiking via the Wonderland Trail inside the park.

NPS Photo of Martha Falls from Stevens Canyon Road, which is open for the summer season.

Wildflowers in the forests of Mount Rainier are not flashy compared to the subalpine wildflower meadows. Often forest wi...
06/09/2026

Wildflowers in the forests of Mount Rainier are not flashy compared to the subalpine wildflower meadows. Often forest wildflowers are smaller, grow alone or in small clusters, and at first glance may seem drab. Look closer! There are a variety of colors, patterns, and unique structures to be found in forest wildflowers. Wildflowers observed blooming in the past couple weeks include the tiny, blue-striped flowers of thyme-leaf speedwell, the lace-like green flowers of leafy mitrewort, the magenta-dotted petals of spotted coralroot, and the aptly named starflower.

What wildflowers are you finding in Mount Rainier National Park?

Remember, please stay on trails to avoid trampling wildflowers just starting to grow!

For updates on what’s blooming where visit https://go.nps.gov/RainierWildflower

Unfamiliar with Mount Rainier’s wildflower species? Check out the wildflower guide at https://go.nps.gov/RainierWildflowerGuide

NPS Photos of spotted coralroot, starflower, leafy mitrewort, and thyme-leaf speedwell, May-June 2026.

06/08/2026

The grouse knows: it's spring!

The sooty grouse shown in the video stopped traffic as it chased another grouse across a busy roadway, eliciting encouraging yells from at least one car. Take care to drive cautiously on park roads, especially while rounding curves, as it is similarly easy for us to become distracted with our new springtime activities.

NPS video of a male sooty grouse running toward a female grouse near a busy roadway (this video has no sound).

National Trails Day falls on a time of the year when snow is still melting from Mount Rainier’s subalpine meadows. The m...
06/06/2026

National Trails Day falls on a time of the year when snow is still melting from Mount Rainier’s subalpine meadows. The meadows may look muddy and bare, but soon they will be bursting with wildflowers. It's extremely important to stay on maintained trails when they are visible, walk on snow when necessary, and cross streams at appropriate locations to avoid damaging young meadow plants just starting to grow.

It takes very few people walking off-trail in the same area to compact soil enough that flowers and other plants will not grow. Because of the short growing season, some areas may not recover without intensive restoration.

Look for snow-free trails around Longmire, White River, and Westside Road, but remember if you follow trails to higher elevations, you may encounter snow.

During your visit, please pay close attention to where you travel, stay on trails, and respectfully encourage others to do the same.

Learn more at https://go.nps.gov/MeadowPreservation.

NPS Photos of snowy trails and the Paradise Meadows on 6/4/26.

Use caution when hiking on snow-covered trails! Trails are still mostly snow-covered at Paradise and throughout the park...
06/04/2026

Use caution when hiking on snow-covered trails! Trails are still mostly snow-covered at Paradise and throughout the park's backcountry.

These maps show the extent of snow coverage on the trails as of the afternoon of June 4. Areas highlighted in pink are currently snow-free. Areas highlighted in yellow are not recommended.

Many trails are hard packed snow, which can be slippery. In the early morning, patches of exposed pavement may have a layer of black ice. Steps built of snow become less stable as temperatures rise throughout the day.

Conditions often shift rapidly. Stop at a Wilderness Information Center or visitor center for up-to-date trail information.

If you hike snow-covered trails:
- Micro spikes and trekking poles are advised.
- Anticipate cornice failure, avalanche hazards, post-holing, and unexpected weather changes.
-Listen for water running under snow. It can carve out a thin 'snow bridge' that may collapse under your weight, plunging you into an icy tunnel of fast-moving water.
-Areas marked off with orange bamboo poles in the shape of an “X” mean STOP – do not enter these areas for your safety. Follow single orange wands for the best route.
-Hike only on snow or established trails to protect meadows and allow wildflowers to grow.

The park cannot mark all hazards.
You are responsible for your own safety.

More information on hiking in snow at
https://go.nps.gov/SpringHikingSafety

It’s hard to imagine the forests of Mount Rainier without vanilla leaf. Vanilla leaf (Achlys triphylia) carpets the fore...
06/02/2026

It’s hard to imagine the forests of Mount Rainier without vanilla leaf. Vanilla leaf (Achlys triphylia) carpets the forest floor with its green leaves. “Achlys” means mist in Greek, perhaps referring to the way the spikes of vanilla leaf flowers float above their leaves. Look for it blooming throughout the low elevation forests of the park. What spring wildflowers are you finding in Mount Rainier National Park?

Remember, as snow begins to melt, please stay on trails to avoid trampling wildflowers just starting to grow!

For updates on what’s blooming where visit https://go.nps.gov/RainierWildflower

Unfamiliar with Mount Rainier’s wildflower species? Check out the wildflower guide at https://go.nps.gov/RainierWildflowerGuide

NPS Photos of vanilla leaf around Longmire, 5/20/26.

Ranger Advisory – Use caution when hiking on snow-covered trails!Trails are still mostly snow-covered at Paradise and th...
05/28/2026

Ranger Advisory – Use caution when hiking on snow-covered trails!
Trails are still mostly snow-covered at Paradise and throughout the park’s backcountry as illustrated by these high-tech maps created by rangers and Meadow Rovers.

Stop at a Wilderness Information Center and visitor center for up-to-date information. Snow is melting in warm weather, but Paradise is still snow-covered, as are many areas of the park.

Pink highlighted trails are currently snow-free with the rest completely snowed under (although there may be a few snow-free sections we haven’t been able to get to yet.)

Orange highlights on the Paradise map indicates trails in that area that are not recommended currently due to conditions.

Snow melt is creating many hazards throughout the park. If you do hike snow-covered trails:

- Micro spikes and trekking poles are advised.
- Anticipate cornice failure, avalanche hazards, post holing, and unexpected weather changes.
-B e alert for thin snow bridges that could collapse into an ice cold running stream. This could lead to a tragic end to your hike.
-Areas marked off with orange bamboo poles in the shape of an “X” mean STOP – do not enter these areas for your safety. Follow single orange wands for the best route.
-Hike only on snow or established trails to protect the meadows.

Remember, the park cannot mark all hazards. You are responsible for your own safety.

More information on hiking in snow at https://go.nps.gov/SpringHikingSafety.

NPS webcam/CMonroe/TFulton photos

While subalpine areas are still covered in snow, lower elevation forest wildflowers are already in full bloom! Cascade...
05/27/2026

While subalpine areas are still covered in snow, lower elevation forest wildflowers are already in full bloom! Cascade Oregon-grape (Berberis nervosa) is common in areas like Longmire where it lights up the forest with its spikes of bright yellow flowers. The flowers are framed by evergreen leaves with many toothed leaflets. Pollinators include bees and other insects, but also hummingbirds. What spring wildflowers are you finding in Mount Rainier National Park?

Remember, as snow begins to melt, please stay on trails to avoid trampling wildflowers just starting to grow!

For updates on what’s blooming where visit https://go.nps.gov/RainierWildflower

Unfamiliar with Mount Rainier’s wildflower species? Check out the wildflower guide at https://go.nps.gov/RainierWildflowerGuide

NPS Photos of Cascade Oregon-grape along Trail of the Shadows in Longmire, 5/14/26.

Address

55210 238th Avenue East
Ashford, WA
98304

Telephone

+13605692211

Website

,

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Mount Rainier National Park posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Mount Rainier National Park:

Shortcuts

Share

Category