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Carbon River Area Reopens At Mount Rainier National Park

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By Compiled From N... - February 20th, 2022

The Carbon River corner of Mount Rainier National Park has been reopened to the public/NPS file

Mount Rainier National Park has reopened public access to the Carbon River area of the park, reversing an emergency closure issued on November 15, 2021. However, you'll have to walk or bike in and be prepared to navigate around road and trail washouts and expect to encounter normal late winter hazards, including downed trees, snow, and changing weather conditions. 

The Carbon River area in the northwestern corner of Mount Rainier is subject to impacts from heavy precipitation events and the dynamic nature of the Carbon River. The Fairfax Forest Reserve Road has been partially washed out just west of the Carbon River Entrance since February 2020; enough of the road had remained in place to allow safe access to the park until November 2021, when another potent storm further eroded the access route and led to the emergency closure.

Mount Rainier staff members are working in cooperation with area partners to restore stable access to the Carbon River area. Currently, the park trails staff has stabilized a temporary path partially located on the adjacent Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest to provide access to the park entrance. Additional engineering design work is needed to provide a more stable access route into the area following the increased impacts from the November 2021 storm event.  

For now, portable toilets have been set up at the beginning of the road closure area. Bicycling is permitted, though not recommended due to extensive trail washouts and downed trees. All visitors should follow safety guidelines for winter season hiking, the park adds. 

The Rainforest Loop Trail is currently inaccessible due to downed trees and the Ipsut Creek bridge has been washed out due to several high-water events. Log bridges over the Carbon River have also washed out, rendering the Chenuis Falls Trail inaccessible. Visitors can access the Carbon River Trial and the Green Lake Trail by navigating around typical early season hazards. 

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