Mount Rainier National Park in Washington State is open year-round, including during winter. Snow changes the character and landscape of this national park. It’s quiet and there’s a solitude you won’t find during the rest of the year. Lower elevations receive snow and ice, but generally are wet and rainy, instead. The higher elevations on the way to Paradise are where you’ll really see the fluffy white stuff flocking the trees and blanketing the ground. Once the snow appears in enough quantities - and Mount Rainier can get over 700 inches (1,778 cm/58 ft/17.68 m) of snow - there’s winter fun to be had.

Trails in the snow with "The Mountain" in view, Mount Rainier National Park / Rebecca Latson

What can you do at Mount Rainier in the winter? Plenty! But first, there are a few things you should know prior to visiting the park.

Most of the roads into and through the park are closed. The Nisqually Entrance to Longmire is the only open road and it may close from time to time due to winter weather. The Paradise Road past Longmire is open four days a week (Friday–Monday, weather permitting), with the gates opening at 9 a.m., the uphill gate closing at 4 p.m., and the downhill gate closing at 5 p.m.

November 1–May 1, it’s mandatory you carry tire chains in your car, regardless whether you ultimately use them. This goes for AWD/4WD vehicles, as well. Sudden weather changes may occur, and what might have been a sunny day with bare, wet surfaces can become a very snowy day with ice buildup on the twisting road up to Paradise. This might put a crimp in your plans if you fly in to Washington state and want to visit the park, since rental agencies do not allow tire chains to be attached to their cars, and thus do not provide them.

Once inside park boundaries, there are all sorts of snow-centric activities to fill your day.

• Join a park ranger Saturday or Sunday for a guided snowshoe walk. These guided walks at Paradise are limited to 25 people, first-come, first-served and start around 11 a.m., meeting inside the Jackson Visitor Center near the Information Desk. Most walks run a little under 2 miles (3.22 km) and last 2 hours. During your snowshoe, you will learn how plants and wildlife prepare for and survive the cold winter months.
  
  If you don’t have snowshoes, the park will provide a pair for you while attending the ranger-guided snowshoe walks, and only for the duration of the walk. An optional $5.00 donation from each snowshoe walk participant helps the park offer snowshoe walks and repair and replace snowshoes. Additionally, the park concessioner rents snowshoes to anyone wishing to snowshoe in the park; check at the Longmire General Store for availability and rental rates.
  
  
• Snowshoe on your own in the park. If you don’t have snowshoes, you can check into renting them at the Longmire General Store. The Paradise area is a great place to snowshoe, but so is just about anywhere else in the park with sufficient snow cover.
  
  

  Snowshoeing up at Paradise, Mount Rainier National Park / Rebecca Latson

• Bring your skis and do a little cross-country excursion. Downhill skiing and snowboarding are options too, but the park advises doing this on a minimum of 5 feet of snow to avoid damage to exposed vegetation.
  
  

  I spy with my little eye: a downhill skier on the slope, Mount Rainier National Park / Rebecca Latson

• While sledding sounds like fun and is a great winter activity, the Paradise sledding area is closed for the 2024/2025 season.

If you feel like snowmobiling the landscape, here is advice from park staff:

In the southwest corner of the park, snowmobiles are permitted for 6.5 miles along the Westside Road from its junction with the main park road as far as Round Pass. Beyond Round Pass, the Westside Road is closed to snowmobile use. Snowmobiles are also permitted on all the road loops of Cougar Rock Campground. The campground is closed to overnight use during winter and the roadway is left unplowed. Contact a park ranger at the Longmire Museum or the Carbon River Ranger Station for maps and additional snowmobile information in the park.

The US Forest Service District Office in Enumclaw provides information and maps for White River, Carbon River, and Mowich Lake areas. For more information, call the USFS District Office in Enumclaw at (360) 825-6585. State Route 410 is closed near its junction with Crystal Mountain Ski Area Road, at the north park boundary. Visitors must park in the Silver Springs Campground SNO-park located off SR410 on the road going to Crystal Mountain. All vehicles must have the State SNO-park pass or be subject to a fine. No vehicles are allowed to park at the park entrance or block the entrance gate.

Snowmobiles are permitted on the 12-mile section of unplowed road from the north park boundary on SR410 to the White River Campground. Snowmobiles may not continue on SR410 south of the White River Road turnoff. They are also prohibited from proceeding beyond the closure at the White River Campground Road junction towards Sunrise. Snowmobiles must stay on the road corridor; they are not allowed to proceed beyond the campground towards Glacier Basin. Be aware of avalanche danger and the weather forecast.

Wilderness permits, required for all backcountry camping, and climbing registration cards are available at the north boundary arch on SR410 or by self-registration at the Ohanapecosh Ranger Station.

Winter Camping And Lodging

If you really feel like getting out there for extended winter fun, you can winter camp just about anywhere on the snow in the park as long as you have a wilderness permit and the snow depth is sufficient (usually in January). The park offers a winter camping brochure for those wishing to camp at Paradise. Click here for more information on winter camping, including disposing of human waste, bringing pets, and food storage.

If winter camping is not on your bucket list but you still want to spend a night or two in the park, check for availability at the National Park Inn, which is open year around. Other lodgings outside park boundaries may be open during winter, too.

Remember to pack a blanket, plenty of water and snacks, maybe a thermos of hot chocolate or coffee, as well as a full tank/charge for your winter visit. Designate a contact person and let them know your itinerary, and take a moment to learn more about winter safey.

Always check the road status before heading to the park. Current status of the Longmire gate for the road to Paradise is updated daily on the Alerts page in winter.

Bundle up and have fun in the snow!