Like Yellowstone National Park, with its multiple entrances, Mount Rainier National Park in Washington State has four main entrances plus one other, less-traveled, entrance into park boundaries. Each entryway offers a different landscape perspective around the great centerpiece of 14,410-foot (4,392 m) glacier-flanked Mount Rainier. Two of the entrances lead to the Paradise area, one entrance takes you to the Sunrise area, one entrance is a route to the less-visited Carbon River area and one entrance further down the road from the turnoff to the Carbon River entrance takes you to what is probably the least-visited, least-congested area of the park.
Nisqually Entrance (Southwest)
The Nisqually entrance outside the community of Ashford, Mount Rainier National Park / Rebecca Latson
Open year-round, the Nisqually entrance is the most popular route into this national park’s boundaries. It’s also the more direct entryway into the park from both Sea-Tac and Portland international airports. A straighter course to the Paradise area, the road is also known as the Nisqually-to-Paradise Corridor with direct access to the Longmire Historic District, Cougar Rock Campground, Christine Falls, Narada Falls, and Ricksecker Point. This entrance’s popularity means it will also be one of the most congested during the peak season.
Stevens Canyon Entrance (Southeast)
The view just past the Stevens Canyon entrance, Mount Rainier National Park / Rebecca Latson
Reached via Washington SR 123 from either SR 410 to the north or US 12 from Packwood, Washington, to the south, the Stevens Canyon entrance ( open late May to early October) provides easy access to the Ohanapecosh Campground, Grove of the Patriarchs Trail, Box Canyon, Bench and Snow Lake Trails, and Reflection Lakes areas of the park before turning onto the road up to Paradise. This is another congested entrance during the peak summer season.
White River / Sunrise Entrance (Northeast)
The road to Sunrise via the White River entrance, Mount Rainier National Park / Rebecca Latson
Travel 14 miles from this entrance to the Sunrise area of the park for an in-your-eye angle of Mount Rainier as well as access to Emmons Vista and the popular Dege Peak, Burroughs Mountain, Fremont Lookout, and Berkeley Park trails, to name a few. Typically open July through September, this is the route to White River Campground. Because this is the only road to this very popular area, expect congestion at the entrance.
A long line of cars waiting to drive through the White River/Sunrise entrance, Mount Rainier National Park / Rebecca Latson
Carbon River Entrance (Northwest)
Carbon River ranger station and entrance, Mount Rainier National Park / NPS file
Named for the coal deposits found within the area, the Carbon River is one of the least-visited, least-congested main entrances to Mount Rainier National Park. Open year-round to foot traffic, vehicular access is limited to the park entrance, via SR 165 through Wilkeson.
Mowich Lake Entrance (Northwest)
The Paul Peak trailhead which also serves as the Mowich Lake entrance to Mount Rainier National Park / NPS file
Although not one of the four main entrances, SR 165 past the towns of Wilkeson and Carbonado, turns into Mowich Lake Road to the Paul Peak Trailhead, which doubles as the Mowich Lake entrance (open July through October). There is no entrance booth but there is an entrance fee machine. Here, hikers can access shorter routes to the popular Mowich Lake, Tolmie Peak and Spray Park trails.
