Though Mount Rainier National Park announced earlier this fall that it was closing the road to Paradise and Jackson Visitor Center midweek each week to optimize park resources, that road is now open daily through the New Year - weather permitting.
From December 21 through January 1 the road to Paradise and the Jackson Visitor Center is open daily, a park update this week said. The National Park Inn at Longmire is open daily year round offering overnight accommodations, dining, a gift shop and winter equipment rentals.
With the heavy snowfall in the mountains this week and still continuing, Mount Rainier's road crew personnel had been focused on keeping the snow removed from park roads from the Nisqually Entrance, Longmire and Paradise areas. With all crews committed to snow removal, grooming of the Paradise snowplay area had been delayed but crews were hopeful the area would be ready for little ones by the weekend.
Weather and snow conditions permitting, snowshoe walks will run through March 31, 2013. The walks are offered on weekends, holidays, and daily from December 21 through January 1. Walks start at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. and meet inside the Jackson Visitor Center (near the information desk) in Paradise.
For more information about snowshoe walks and other park accommodations, visit their website by clicking here.
