Mount Rainier National Park has expanded winter access to the park, allowing visitors to explore the beauty of Rainier in a unique environment, free from crowds of visitors. 

This winter, Mount Rainier National Park will be offering expanded access to Paradise, a popular location in the park. Starting on Nov. 15, the road to Paradise will be open from Thursday to Monday, with camping available from Thursday to Sunday, if conditions permit. 

Paradise is located on the southern slope of the mountain at roughly 5,400 feet, and offers close up views of Mount Rainier unavailable anywhere else. According to the park’s website, select trails and activities will remain open for the winter season, however the sledding runs will be closed as staff focus on maintaining road conditions. 

Two entrances to the park remain open during winter: the Nisqually entrance located in the Southwest corner of the park and the Carbon River Entrance in the Northwest. The road from Nisqually to Longmire will remain open for the season, with a connecting road between Nisqually and Paradise.

Although Paradise will be closed on Tuesday and Wednesdays, other sections of the park will remain open for public use, including vehicle access to the east side of the park, the Carbon River area, Longmire, the National Park Inn, and access to trailheads in these areas. 

 All vehicles traveling anywhere in the park are required to carry tire chains, regardless of road or weather conditions. This rule stays in effect between Nov. 1 and May 1. 

“The mountains are just unspeakably beautiful in the winter. Even when it’s not as much fun, when it feels like work, I just have to pick my head up and look around,” said Mark Eis, with ADK Mountaineering School in an interview with The New York Times regarding the numerous benefits of winter camping. 

Mount Rainier offers winter camping when snowfall levels permit, with varying campsites requiring two feet or five feet respectively. Winter camping will be offered at Paradise and occasionally Cougar Rock campsites, depending on conditions. 

Gates generally open daily at 9 a.m., and close at 5 p.m., although the park recommends leaving Paradise at 4:30 p.m. to exit through the Longmire Gate before closure. Alerts regarding entrance and exit conditions can be found on the National Park website, including closures and expected weather conditions. 

“When the summer crowds thin, it becomes a cozy, quiet destination for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, winter hikes, and relaxing by the fire,” the Seattle Times reports. Winter at Rainier offers a unique experience to explore the park, unavailable in the other seasons. 

A different view of Washington’s most famous mountain, Mount Rainier in the winter is something you don’t want to miss out on.