LONGMIRE, Wash. — Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of the timed entry pilot program for Mount Rainier National Park.
The program is being tested after the park saw an approximate 40% increase in visitation over the past decade, which has led to overcrowding during the summer and damage to ecosystems.
Timed entry reservations are only required to enter the Paradise Corridor May 24 through Sept. 2 and the Sunrise Corridor July 4 through Sept. 2 for the hours of 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Paradise is accessed through the Nisqually Entrance or Stevens Canyon Entrance. Sunrise is entered through the White River Entrance.
Here’s what you need to know about Mount Rainier National Park timed entry.
How to make a reservation
To book an entry reservation visit the Mount Rainier National Park timed entry page at Recreation.gov. Add your desired date and the two-hour time slot when you’d like to enter the park.
Entry windows are for the hours of 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The park is open 24/7 and visitors can enter timed reservation areas before or after those hours without a reservation.
Timed entry reservations are valid for one day and are required for each vehicle entering the park.
Advanced reservations can be made 90 days before your visit date. The park will also release a batch of reservations each night at 7 p.m. for the following day.
What you need to bring to enter the park
Visitors need a timed entry reservation or service reservation to enter the park during the dates noted above. Examples of service reservations are lodging, camping, or a wilderness permit.
Visitors must also pay a park entrance fee or have a valid park pass. The park entrance fee will not be available to purchase online during the timed entry reservation period and must be purchased in person at park entrances.
A standard pass ranges in price from $15-$30.
The park can be accessed using the America the Beautiful Pass or an annual Mount Rainier National Park pass.
Exemptions
You do not need a reservation if you enter the park on a bike or on foot.
Visitors with reservations at the National Park Inn in Longmire, or Paradise Inn or Cougar Rock Campground can use their proof of reservation for entry into the Paradise Corridor after 1 p.m. during timed entry days.
Those who have first-come, first-served permits at White River Campground within the Sunrise Corridor can use their camping permit instead of a timed entry reservation to access Sunrise.
Visitors with permits for activities such as backpacking or climbing do not need to make a reservation in many cases.
Areas that don’t require timed entry reservations
Areas outside of Paradise and Sunrise corridors can be accessed without timed reservations and only require a fee or park pass.
Some of those areas include:
- SR 410 and SR 123 on the east side of the park.
- Ohanapecosh, including the Ohanapecosh Visitor Center and Ohanapecosh Campground, in the southeast corner of the park.
- Tipsoo Lake on the eastern border of the park along SR 410.
- Carbon River, including the Carbon River Ranger Station, at the northwest corner of the park.
- Mowich Lake in the northwest corner of the park along SR 165.