[X] Sunrise and White River are closed
Sunrise Road and White River Road are closed from 13 August 2026 until further notice because of the Grand Park 2 Fire. Trails that start from those roads, and trails in the Grand Park area, are also closed.
FIELD GUIDE / SUMMER 2026
Mount Rainier National Park
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Conditions change. Follow signs and ranger orders.
Current conditions
Sunrise Road, White River Road, and associated trails are closed due to the Grand Park 2 Fire. Carbon River and Mowich Lake lack public access from State Route 165 due to the closed Fairfax Bridge.
[ROAD] No public road to Carbon River or Mowich
There is no public access to Carbon River or Mowich Lake from SR 165. The Fairfax Bridge is closed to walkers, bicycles, and vehicles. There is no public alternate route.
[CAMP] Ohanapecosh is closed for 2026
Ohanapecosh Campground, visitor center, picnic area, and bathrooms are closed through November 2026 for construction.
[X] Grove of the Patriarchs is closed
The Grove of the Patriarchs is closed. The 2021 flood damaged the only safe bridge. The parking lot, restrooms, Eastside Trail, and Silver Falls Trail stay open in season.
[PARK] No timed entry in 2026
A timed entry reservation is not required in 2026. You still need an entrance pass. On busy summer days, Nisqually and White River waits can exceed one hour and Paradise parking can fill by late morning.
NPS conditions (large page)
Services by place
Major places list all five services. Seasonal services may be closed.
- Ashford / Nisqually Entrance
Food: Yes Water: Yes Toilets: Yes Fuel: Yes Signal: Strong - Longmire
Food: Yes Water: Yes Toilets: Yes Fuel: No Signal: Limited - Paradise
Food: Seasonal Water: Yes Toilets: Yes Fuel: No Signal: Limited - Ohanapecosh
Food: No Water: No Toilets: No Fuel: No Signal: Unreliable - Sunrise / White River
Food: Seasonal Water: Limited Toilets: Seasonal Fuel: No Signal: Unknown
Ashford / Nisqually Entrance ↑
Do this: Buy fuel, food, and water in nearby towns before you enter. The park has no gas.
- Food: Yes in nearby communities. None at the entrance.
- Water: Yes in nearby communities.
- Toilets: Yes in nearby communities. Elbe has a public rest area.
- Fuel: Yes in nearby communities. No fuel in the park.
- Signal: Usually available in town. Weak or none inside the park.
Use 39000 State Route 706 E, Ashford, WA 98304 for GPS to the Nisqually Entrance. The headquarters address does not go to the gate.
Longmire ↑
Do this: Use Longmire for year-round information, food, and toilets. Fill water before you drive to Paradise.
- Food: Yes. National Park Inn dining and a general store, usually year-round.
- Water: Yes at developed facilities.
- Toilets: Yes. The Longmire Plaza comfort station is open daily.
- Signal: Limited. Do not depend on it.
Longmire is 6.5 miles east of the Nisqually Entrance. The museum is usually open all year. The wilderness desk is seasonal.
Paradise ↑
Do this: Arrive early or late. Carry water and layers. Parking often fills by late morning on summer weekends.
- Food: Seasonal cafeteria, cafe, and inn dining when open.
- Water: Yes at the visitor center when open.
- Toilets: Yes at the visitor center. Picnic-area restrooms are temporarily closed.
- Signal: Limited or unreliable.
Paradise is at 5,400 feet. Snow can stay on trails into June or July. Overflow parking is at the picnic area and along Paradise Valley Road.
Ohanapecosh ↑
Do this: Do not plan to camp, get water, or use bathrooms here in 2026. Use Packwood for supplies.
- Food: No dependable food.
- Water: No. Campground water is closed with the campground.
- Toilets: No at the campground in 2026. Silver Falls and Eastside trailheads have limited facilities.
- Signal: Unreliable.
The visitor center, campground, picnic area, and bathrooms are closed through November 2026.
Sunrise / White River ↑
Do this: Do not drive here while the fire closure is in effect. Bring all water and food if the roads reopen.
- Food: Seasonal day-lodge food when the area is open. Closed during the fire closure.
- Water: Limited when open. Bring water.
- Toilets: Seasonal when open. Closed during the fire closure.
- Signal: White River Campground has no cellular service.
Sunrise is the highest road in the park at 6,400 feet. The road and White River Campground are closed until further notice because of the Grand Park 2 Fire.
Other places
- Box Canyon — Carry water. There is no drinking water and no flush toilets here in 2026. Water: No potable water in 2026. · Toilets: No flush toilets in 2026. · Signal: Unreliable. On Stevens Canyon Road, 12 miles west of Ohanapecosh. The 0.5 mile loop looks into a deep gorge.
- Westside Road — Park south of the Dry Creek barricade. Walk or bicycle beyond that point. Do not linger in the rockfall zone. Water: No treated water. · Toilets: Unknown. Do not depend on facilities. · Signal: Unreliable or none. Starts 1 mile east of the Nisqually Entrance. This is an active geohazard zone.
- Carbon River / Mowich Lake — There is no public road, walk, or bicycle access from SR 165. Reach this area only on a long Wonderland Trail hike with a wilderness permit if you stay overnight. Water: No potable water at Mowich Lake. · Toilets: Vault toilets at Mowich when you can reach it by trail. · Signal: Unreliable or none. The Fairfax Bridge is closed. Mapping apps may show private locked roads that are not open to the public.
Drive times
Summer estimates without long stops. Traffic, wildlife, weather, and road work can cause delays.
Nisqually Entrance to Paradise
Ashford → Nisqually Entrance → Longmire → 12 mi / 25 min → Paradise
This is the year-round road. Buy fuel before you enter. The park has no gas. From 1 November the Longmire-to-Paradise road closes at night.
Paradise to Ohanapecosh
Paradise → Stevens Canyon Road → 23 mi / 45 min → Ohanapecosh
Stevens Canyon Road is open. Tunnel height limit is 12 ft 6 in. Ohanapecosh campground and visitor center are closed in 2026.
Ohanapecosh to Sunrise
Ohanapecosh → 18 mi / 30 min → White River Entrance → 13 mi / 45 min → Sunrise
White River Road and Sunrise Road are closed because of the Grand Park 2 Fire. Do not plan this drive until the official road page says they are open.
Packwood to Stevens Canyon
Packwood → SR 123 → Stevens Canyon Entrance → Paradise
On busy July and August weekends this southeast entrance can have a shorter wait than Nisqually.
Carbon River and Mowich
No public road, walk, or bicycle route from SR 165
The Fairfax Bridge is closed. Long Wonderland Trail approaches remain, and overnight trips need a wilderness permit.
Help
Emergency: call 911. Tell the dispatcher your location, direction of travel, vehicle, and problem.
Park information: 360-569-2211
This independent guide is not the National Park Service and is not an emergency service.
Permits
Entrance pass
Every visitor needs an entrance pass. The park does not take cash at the gate. A private vehicle pass is $30 for seven days. An entrance pass does not reserve a parking space.
Timed entry
Timed entry is not required anywhere in the park in 2026. You still need an entrance pass.
Campgrounds
Reserve Cougar Rock on Recreation.gov. White River is first-come when it is open and is now closed for the fire. Ohanapecosh is closed for all of 2026. Sleeping in a vehicle outside a campsite is not allowed.
Wilderness permit
A wilderness permit is required all year for any overnight stay in the backcountry. Get it in person at a wilderness desk. Peak-season reservations are on Recreation.gov.
Climbing
A climbing permit is required above 10,000 feet or on any glacier. Pay the climbing fee before you arrive. Overnight climbs also need a wilderness permit.
Short hikes
Distances are one way unless marked as a loop. Check trail closures.
- Longmire / Trail of the Shadows: 0.7 mi loop. Easy walk past the Longmire homestead and mineral springs.
- Paradise / Skyline Trail to Myrtle Falls: 1.0 mi. Short meadow walk. Stay on the trail. Snow can last into July.
- Paradise / Nisqually Vista Trail: 1.2 mi. Glacier views. Suitable for families with strollers when snow-free.
- Ohanapecosh / Silver Falls from Stevens Canyon Road: 1.2 mi one way. Use this trailhead in 2026. The campground trailhead is closed. It is not a loop this year.
- Box Canyon / Box Canyon Loop: 0.5 mi loop. Short walk to a deep river gorge. No drinking water in 2026.