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Because of very strong solar storms, the Aurora Borealis was showing up in national parks further south than usually seen, such as at Mount Rainier National Park in Washington State. The human eye cannot always detect an aurora in dim light and a camera with a very slow shutter speed and a wide aperture often captures what the naked eye does not see.
This first month of the 2025 New Year is all about throwback in the National Park System, with a little added trivia.
Did you know that when Paradise Inn opened for business in 1917 up at Mount Rainier National Park in Washington State, there were tent cabins there, too? According to Mount Rainier Guest Service's history page for the Paradise Inn:
Located about 1/4 mile (0.4 km) past the Chinook Pass Entrance Arch on Washington SR 410, you will pass a long paved parking area to your right for the overlook to Tipsoo Lake, a subalpine lake set in a glacier-carved basin. That will be your first glimpse of Mount Rainier ("The Mountain," as locals like to call it) in Mount Rainier National Park as you continue driving into the park. There is a large parking area further down the road where you can park your car and hike around Tipsoo Lake.
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Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs.
Our app is packed with RVing- specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 national parks.
You’ll also find stories about RVing in the parks, tips helpful if you’ve just recently become an RVer, and useful planning suggestions.
