Mt. Rainier Summer Opening Update

A note from Mt. Rainier National Park on June 13, 2014:

Photo: Alta Crystal Resort

With summer and the July 4^th holiday rapidly approaching, Mount Rainier National Park Superintendent Randy King advises that additional park areas will soon be opening.  Park staff has been working for months to prepare the park for summer visitors.  Without the effort to remove snow from roads and parking lots, the higher elevation areas of the park would not melt out and be accessible to vehicles until mid-July under normal conditions.  In a normal year Mount Rainier spends over $1 million dollars moving snow to provide public access.

To promote safety and health, ensure a good visitor experience and protect resources, some conditions need to be met before areas of the park are opened to public vehicle access:

• No safety conflicts with snow removal or opening operations
• A clear road and shoulders, parking available
• Regulatory road signs in place
• Functioning toilets and accessible trash cans
• Staff presence in the area, including emergency response capability.  

The Sunrise area is located at 6,400’ elevation and is off the power grid.  Since May 27, the park’s road crew has been working to remove snow, rock and other material from the Sunrise Road.  This week the crew reached the Sunrise parking lot.  Next week, park utility and grounds crews will begin their work, and signs will be re-installed along the road.   If facilities have not been damaged over winter, it will take the crews two weeks – until June 27 - to dig out, test and activate the power, water and septic systems, and prepare buildings for summer use.  Once potable water is available, employees will move in and prepare the lodge and visitor center to welcome our visitors.  

Photo:  Alta Crystal Resort

Public vehicle access will be provided to Sunrise on June 20-22, barring a storm or other unforeseen event.  However, flushing toilets, running water or other visitor services will not be available.  The road will be closed to public access June 23-26 to enable the road crew to safely remove remaining rock and other material from the roadside.  The road will reopen to public access on June 27 for the season.  Water and flushing toilets should be available by that date.  Full visitor services, including the Sunrise Day Lodge and Sunrise Visitor Center , will be open and staffed by July 4.   Visitors should come prepared for snow on the ground that persists into July at Sunrise. 

Westside Road near the park’s southwestern Nisqually Entrance will be reopened to the Dry Creek area tomorrow June 14.  This area was closed temporarily after several large boulders fell onto the parking area at the trailhead and destroyed a visitor’s vehicle.  A temporary barricade will be in place until the parking area is permanently relocated to better protect visitors from rock fall.

 

The Ohanapecosh Visitor Center , closed all of last summer due to budget constraints, will open on June 28 for a limited schedule through September 7.

Photo:  Janelle Walker

• June 28-29 (Sat.-Sun.) the visitor center will be open from Noon until 4:00 p.m.
• July 2 through August 3 the visitor center will be open Wednesday through Sunday from Noon to 4:00 p.m.  Morning Junior Ranger programs will occur Wednesday through Sunday.  Evening campground programs will occur Wednesday through Saturday.
• August 7 through September 7 the visitor center will be open Thursday through Sunday from Noon to 4:00 p.m.  Morning Junior Ranger programs will be presented on Friday and Saturday; evening Junior Ranger programs on Sundays and Thursdays.  Evening campground programs will be presented Thursday through Saturday.
• Additional programs for youth and families will be offered at various times.  Check at the visitor center desk for details.

As of June 7, the Mowich Lake area of the park still had about five feet of snow on the ground, with nearly three feet of snow on the last two miles of roadway.  The targeted opening of this road is in early July, following additional snow removal activities at Paradise. 

All other areas of the park accessible by vehicles are open for the season.

For more information on all there is to see and do at Mt. Rainier and its surrounding communities go to www.visitrainier.com.

Visit Rainier is a not-for-profit, non-membership destination marketing organization that promotes tourism in the gateway communities around Mt. Rainier. 

Wildflower Watch 2014 Begins!

Mt. Rainier, WA.- As the excitement of the Copper River salmon run wanes, it’s time to get excited about another season…..Wildflowers!  The Mt. Rainier area was voted “Best Wildflower Spot in The United States” and VisitRainier.com is making it as easy as possible for folks to enjoy them, by offering a wildflower identification guide, wildflower reports and a photo sharing contest.  In addition Visit Rainier will be tweeting (#wildflowerwatch), and providing Facebook and blog updates on what’s blooming and where.

“Wildflower season usually starts mid-July as the snow melt disappears,” said Mary Kay Nelson, Executive Director of Visit Rainier.  “Part of what makes wildflower season so exciting is different flowers bloom at different elevations around the mountain at different times.  Because of the high elevation and the resulting short growing season, wildflowers are on the fast track, quickly emerging from the ground, blooming and then go to seed, all in just a few short weeks. A person could make several trips throughout the season from July till snow falls again October and see something new every time.”

To maximize visitor's experience the Wildflower and Wildlife section on Visit Rainier's website provides links to wildflower status reports, telling folks what is blooming and hwere; it provides a list of the Top 10 Wildflower hikes around the mountain; it offers an online wildflower identification guide, and it links to 12 webcams around the mountain.

• Wildflower overview and status reports
• Top 10 Wildflower Hikes
• Mt. Rainier Wildflower Identification Guide

While many think of mesmerizing images on trails such as the Skyline Trail at Paradise or Summerland on the route to Sunrise, there are also several spots folks can experience acres of wildflowers without even having to leave the car.  The meadows around Tipsoo Lake at the top of Chinook Pass are easy to view from the road, as are the meadows surrounding the Sunrise and Paradise areas on Mt. Rainier.  Crystal Mountain Resort's Mt. Rainier gondola can whisk visitors up to 6,872 feet and put them in the heart of wildflower meadows.  Any of these sites are a good option for folks of all ages, and physical abilities.  

For more information on all there is to see and do at Mt. Rainier and its surrounding communities go to www.visitrainier.com.

Visit Rainier is a not-for-profit, non-membership destination marketing organization that promotes tourism in the gateway communities around Mt. Rainier. 

Find Father's Day Fun Around Mt. Rainier

Mt. Rainier, WA-Roads are open, snow is melting, and Mt. Rainier is transitioning into its summer splendor.  Come check it out with dad this coming Father's Day weekend.  Try a weekend in the woods, fishing in a mountain stream, brunch at Washington State's highest restaurant, or a leisurely steam train ride to a lakeside barbecue. 

EAT

Father's Day Eats at Washington's Highest Fine Dining Restaurant

Take Dad for a scenic ten minute ride up the Mt. Rainier Gondola at Crystal Mountain Resort to The Summit House.  Beautiful views from any seat!  Perched at 6,872 feet, this restaurant is the highest dining experience in Washington State and the meals are simply superb. The menu includes delectable choices including, Buffalo-style Rock Shrimp, truffle fries, beer battered halibut and chips, and more.  Open 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.  Starting June 28, the Mt. Rainier Gondola and Summit House restaurant are open for lunch daily through September 21.  Make reservations today for Dad and the whole family.  For more information, visit www.crystalmountainresort.com.

RIDE

Feed Wildlife on Northwest Trek's Keeper Tour

On the two-hour Keeper Tour, stare into the eyes of a moose, or get within a few feet of a bison during a morning ride on the wild side!  Hope into the back of a keeper truck and experiences the thrill of seeing these incredible animals up close as the keeper makes his/her feeding rounds.  Rides are $60 ad include admission into the park, a naturalist-guided tram ride, and a $5 food voucher.  Keeper Tours area for folks 5 years of age and older.  For more information, visit www.nwtrek.org.

Father's Day Barbecue Train Ride on the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad

Bring Dad, granddad, uncles and friends out for a day on the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad in Elbe. Treat him to a good ole' fashion barbecue at Mineral Lake.  Dad gets his own train engineer hat too!  Excursions depart from the Elbe Depot for a 45-minute trip out to pristine Mineral Lake. There guests will be served a barbecue ribs, chicken, cowboy beans, coleslaw, a scrumptious dessert and a beverage.  There is also a beer garden, so bring ID.  Enjoy the peaceful lake area, walking trail or a game of horseshoes, then, re-board the train for a leisurely 45-minute return trip to Elbe.  The total excursion lasts two to two-and-a-half hours.  Ride times are 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.mrsr.com.

RELAX
Find Privacy in the Forest

A weekend in the woods is a nice way to spend Father's Day. Crystal Carriage House is tucked away on two acres is located less than 20 minutes to the Sunrise side of Mt. Rainier National Park. The special is $275 for the weekend and includes a welcoming bottle of wine, or non-alcoholic alternative, and a breakfast basket with huckleberry pancake mix and syrup for easy preparation in the full kitchen. For more information, visit www.crystalcarriagehouse.com.

Father's Day Weekend at Alta Crystal Resort-Man Style

Take Dad for and adventurous mountainside stay at Alta Crystal Resort.  Hike, bike, explore Rainier, ski, snowshoe, and then when he is all tuckered out, enjoy the pool, hot tub, or simply relax.

Father's Day weekend guests can enjoy games and dessert.  Try a hand at horseshoes or a round of foosball.  The Wilderness Survival Quest scavenger hunt is a fun way to bond with Dad.  Saturday night treat Dad to a campfire barbecue complete with grilled burgers, salon burgers, brats, gourmet mac and cheese, Cesar salad and mudslide brownies.  Dinner is $14.50 for adults, $7.50 for children 10 and under.  The Mt. Rainier Gondola at Crystal Mountain Resort will be open for scenic rides gondola rides that weekend, meaning Dad can have a special lunch at the Summit House, served with an incredible view of Mt. Rainier.

Discounted rates start at just $199.99 plus tax, per night, for the weekend.  Available June 13-15.  Call 1-800-277-6475 or visit www.altacrystalresort.com.

Fishing Around the Mountain

Does dad like to catch his own dinner?  Check out where to fish around the mountain and when.  Whether it is a mountainside stream, raging river, or peaceful lake, all sorts of locations can be found here.

For information on visiting Mt. Rainier, its surrounding communities, and to see which properties are currently offering lodging specials, visit www.visitrainier.com. 

Visit Rainier is a not-for-profit, non-membership destination marketing organization that promotes tourism in the gateway communities around Mt. Rainier.