Community Corner

Sunrise Area at Mount Rainier Opens Friday

The recent warm spring weather in the Northwest has assisted with the snowmelt and allowed the park staff to open earlier than scheduled.

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Areas of Sunrise at Mount Rainier National Park will be opening beginning Friday, June 28, just as the National Weather Service reports a clear and sunny forecast for Friday (with highs in the low 80s)

Superintendent Randy King announced in a press release this week that Sunrise Road and Sunrise Lodge will open Friday while Sunrise Visitor Center will open Wednesday, July 3.

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The recent warm spring weather in the Northwest has assisted with the snowmelt and allowed the park staff to open earlier than scheduled.

Sunrise sits at 6,400 feet on the eastern flanks of Mount Rainier. It is the highest point in the park that can be reached by vehicle and is closed from late October until early July due to snow.  

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Paradise, on the southern side of Mount Rainier sits at 5,400 feet and has recorded 744 inches of snowfall during the measurement period so far this year.  The snowfall measurement period is from July 1 – June 30. Approximately 3-4 feet of snow is on the ground in the Sunrise area.

Other openings include: 

  • Cougar Rock Campground: Thursday, June 27
  • White River Campground: Friday, June 28        
  • Mowich Lake Road: Opening Wednesday, July 3 - parking lot clear; approximately 3 feet of snow remains - lake is still frozen, but melting out; trail route finding necessary
  • Narada Falls Trail: Open – may close intermittently for construction zone safety

Other areas in the park that are open include Ohanapecosh, Paradise, Longmire and Carbon River.  Numerous businesses in the gateway communities surrounding the park are open for business and ready for the summer visitor season. 

For information on these gateway businesses visit the following websites: www.visitrainier.comwww.mt-rainier.com,www.staycrystal.com,  www.destinationpackwood.com,  www.minerallake.com, or www.mtrainierguestservices.com

For park information or current updates visit the Mount Rainier web page at www.nps.gov/mora or follow us on Twitter.  Recorded park information is available by calling 360-569-2211.

With information from Mount Rainier National Park


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