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Heavy Visitation Expected Throughout The Summer At Mount Rainier National Park

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With Mount Rainier’s profile staring back up at the actual mountain, it’s easy to see how Reflection Lake got its name / Rebecca Latson

A busy, crowded, summer is predicted for Mount Rainier National Park/Rebecca Latson

With visitation already heavy, Mount Rainier National Park staff are predicting that it will continue throughout the summer and produce long wait times at entrance stations, heavy road traffic and congested parking lots. As a result, the park is encouraging visitors to come on weekdays and arrive in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid long waits at entrances and more easily find a parking spot. They're even suggesting stops outside the park.

The park continues to work on ways to reduce congestion in heavily visited areas, such as testing various approaches to traffic flow at Paradise. Visitors are reminded that overflow parking is available at the Paradise Picnic Area (within walking distance to the Visitor Center, on the right as you approach Paradise) and along Paradise Valley Road.

At Sunrise, when the parking area is filled to capacity, incoming vehicles are held at the White River Entrance Station and allowed to proceed only when parking spots become available by vehicles departing the lot. Visitors are asked to be mindful not to block driveways of neighboring residences and businesses along SR706 in Ashford. Visitors who typically enter via the park’s southwestern entrance near Ashford may also consider the southeastern entrance near Packwood as a shorter-wait alternative on busy weekends during July and August.

As wait times increase to enter the park each summer weekend, visitors are encouraged to break up their trip by visiting the public restroom in Elbe on SR706 at the WSDOT-managed Safety Rest Area. In addition, visitors with children may enjoy letting them stretch their legs at the Ashford County Park located at 29801 SR706 in Ashford. The 80-acre park has walking trails, a playground with a large play structure, balancing elements, infant swings, and regular swings. There is plenty of parking, and public restrooms are located next to the playground.

As of Friday, June 28, most park facilities and roads were open for the summer, including roads to Sunrise and to Mowich Lake. A complete listing of the current park road status and facility hours can be found on the park website. In addition, visitors may access updated road status information on Facebook and Twitter. Starting this week, the park will begin tweeting more frequent wait time information on holidays and during the weekends to assist visitors with trip planning.

“There are incredible experiences throughout the park and the surrounding areas,” said Mount Rainier Superintendent Chip Jenkins. “By planning your trip to avoid peak congestion times, you may find that you spend less time looking for parking and more time enjoying the park.”

Comments

It's funny that I see this article.  I just got back and felt the crowds much lighter than I've grown used to in other parks.


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