Backpacking the Northwest

NPS Map of Mount Rainier National Park showing areas of significant damage caused by the November 2006 flood. The numbers refer to descriptions at right and below. RECOVERY EFFORTS Recovery work began on November 8, the day after the flood, as park road crews began rebuilding the section of road washed out at Sunshine Point. Reconstruction has continued steadily ever since. Our press releases and newsletters provide a timeline of our progress toward reopening the park. Use the map to the left and the information below to get an overview of flood recovery efforts throughout the park (updated February 8, 2007). A larger version of the map is available here. 1) Sunshine Point Mount Rainier National Park’s road crews have rebuilt the road at Sunshine Point and restored the park’s buried utility line. More than 10,000 tons of rock were used to reconstruct the road and protect it from the Nisqually River. The future of Sunshine Point Campground remains unclear; it may eventually reopen as a smaller campground or picnic area. 2) The Westside Road The Westside Road has been repaired as far as Dry Creek and is now open to that point. The road has washed out repeatedly beyond this point in recent years, and has been closed to vehicle traffic since 1986. 3) Kautz Creek Park maintenance crews have installed three 30-inch culverts and two twelve-foot culverts to accommodate the new creek channel. Temporary overhead power lines were installed to restore power to Longmire and Paradise. 4) Nisqually Road Park road crews have rebuilt the road embankment along this road. The road is open all the way to Paradise. 5) Longmire Park utility crews restored power, sewer, and water services at Longmire and rebuilt the protective levees. The Emergency Operations Center was stabilized, and the washouts leading to the park’s service entrance were repaired. The National Park Inn and Longmire Museum are now open daily. Park employees based at Longmire have returned to their regular offices as well. 6) Paradise Despite ten feet of snow on the ground at Paradise, maintenance crews were able to dig out the flooded Edith Creek water reservoir. Contractors have continued the ongoing renovation of the Paradise Inn, scheduled for completion in spring of 2008. 7) Stevens Canyon If all goes well, the Stevens Canyon Road may be completely passable by early August, though repairs on Backbone Ridge could take longer. Work is tentatively scheduled to begin in early June. Sections of the road may opened as construction is completed. Ohanapecosh Storm cleanup should proceed quickly at Ohanapecosh this spring. Except for the damaged portions of loop C, the campground should open on May 25. 9) The Grove of the Patriarchs Crews have started to rebuild the damaged suspension bridge and repair the boardwalk. 10) Highway 123 North Hwy 123: (North of Stevens Canyon Road Junction) Like the Stevens Canyon Road, the timeline for repairs on North Highway 123 will depend on a more complete survey of the damage after the winter snow melts. Repairs should begin in early June, with some road access by October. South Hwy 123: (South of Stevens Canyon Road Junction) This stretch of of Highway 123 past Ohanapecosh is in good condition and is scheduled to open on May 18th. 11) Highway 410 No repairs are necessary on Highway 410. Highway 410 through the park and over Chinook Pass is expected to open by May 24. 12)White River Road and Campground Damage to the White River Road and Campground was relatively minor. These facilities should be accessible by early June as usual, and the road to Sunrise should open in late June when snow plowing is completed. 13) Mt. Fremont and Gobbler’s Knob Fire Lookouts Work crews will likely rebuild the damaged fire lookouts this summer. 14) Carbon River The Carbon River Road will be rebuilt, at a cost of just under $1 million, to restore access to the Ipsut Creek Campground and the Carbon Glacier Trail. Work will be suspended from March 15 through August 6th to protect the endangered Northern Spotted Owl, Marbled Murrelet, and Bull Trout, which nest or spawn in the area during the summer. Meanwhile, trail crews have opened the roadway for hikers and bikers all the way to Ipsut Creek Campground. Ipsut Creek Campground is open for walk-in camping and a backcountry permit is required. 15) Trails Reconstruction of the park’s trail system will begin as soon as weather and snow melt permit, probably in April. The Student Conservation Association (SCA) and Washington Trails Association will help Mount Rainier National Park coordinate a massive trail-building effort with the assistance of volunteers. For details on how to help out, visit SCA’s website at www.theSCA.org. Find current trail conditions here.

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PUBLIC ACCESS
Many of the roads in Mount Rainier National Park are closed due to winter snow, as is typical for the months of November to April. Other roads are closed due to flood damage or road construction. The following is a summary of your options for accessing each area of the park. The Recovery Efforts section provides a narrative of our reconstruction activities. Visit the Operating Hours & Seasons and the Road Status pages for schedules of opening dates. This section was updated on May 7, 2007.

Nisqually Entrance
The Nisqually Entrance, east of Ashford on State Route 706, is now open daily.

Longmire
The Nisqually road to Longmire is now open daily. The National Park Inn and the Longmire Museum are also open daily.

Paradise
The road to Paradise from Longmire is now open daily.

Stevens Canyon Road
The Stevens Canyon Road is closed due to winter snow. Though it typically reopens around May, storm damage will prevent vehicle access to most sections of the road until later in the summer. Portions of Stevens Canyon Road may open as construction is completed. Check with a Ranger, or the Road Status section of this site for current information.

Ohanapecosh and Highway 123
The Ohanapecosh Campground and Highway 123 are closed due to winter snow. The highway typically opens in late April or early May. The section of Highway 123 north of Stevens Canyon Road will be closed for most of the summer due to storm damage and road repairs. Highway 123 south of Stevens Canyon Road is expected to open on May 18th. Until road construction begins, visitors may walk or ski on Highway 123, as is usual during the winter months.

Highway 410
As is typical for this time of year, Highway 410 is closed due to winter snow. Visitors may walk or ski past the closed gate at the park entrance. Highway 410 through the park and over Chinook pass is expected to open by May 24.

Carbon River Road
The road between the Carbon River Entrance and Ipsut Creek Campground was heavily damaged by the November 2006 flood and is currently closed to all vehicle access. However, a rough trail has been cut and flagged through the damaged areas and is open to the public for walking or bicycling, a distance of 4 miles each way. Due to the presence of three endangered species sensitive to disturbance during their nesting or spawning seasons, reconstruction of the road will not begin until August. A Wilderness Permit is required for camping at Ipsut Creek Campground. The permit can be obtained at the Carbon River ranger station.

Mowich Lake Road
As is typical for this time of year, the Mowich Lake Road is open as far as the Paul Peak Trailhead, one mile inside the park boundary. Visitors may hike or ski beyond this point. Depending on conditions, four-wheel-drive or tire chains may be required on the Mowich Lake Road.

Trails and Climbing Routes
While Mount Rainier’s trails and climbing routes are not closed to the public, access to them is limited by winter snow pack, storm damage, and road construction. Trailheads along the Nisqually River are inaccessible due to the road closure. Trails on the east side of the park are snow covered, but accessible by ski or snowshoe as usual. Trailheads in the Carbon River area may be accessed by hiking in from the park entrance on the Carbon River Road. For the latest information on access to climbing routes, visit the Mount Rainier Climbing Blog, maintained by employees of Mount Rainier National Park.

Here is an update on the camps

CAMPS ALONG THE WONDERLAND TRAIL

Currently five camps on the WT are closed because of flood damage. Additionally, because the Carbon River Road is closed at to vehicular access at the entrance, Ipsut Creek Campground will be managed as a wilderness camp which means a wilderness permit will be required to camp here and no fires are permitted.

The Wonderland Trail has seventeen trailside wilderness camps and four non-wilderness camps. Hiking from Longmire in a clockwise direction, they are:

• Pyramid Creek- 3,765 feet CLOSED
• Devil’s Dream- 5,060 feet
• South Puyallup River- 4,000 feet
• Klapatche Park- 5,515 feet
• North Puyallup River- 3,750 feet
• Golden Lakes- 5,130 feet
• South Mowich River- 2,605 feet CLOSED
• *Mowich Lake Campground- 4,929 feet
• *Ipsut Creek Campground- 2,330 feet (managed as a wilderness campsite, summer 2007)
• Carbon River- 3,195 feet CLOSED
• Dick Creek- 4,185 feet
• Mystic Camp- 5,570 feet
• Granite Creek- 5,765
• Sunrise Camp- 6,245
• *White River Campground- 4,280 feet
• Summerland- 5,940 feet
• Indian Bar- 5,120 feet
• Nickel Creek- 3,385 feet CLOSED
• Maple Creek- 2,815 feet CLOSED
• Paradise River- 3,805 feet
• *Cougar Rock Campground- 3,180 feet

* denotes non-wilderness campground

There are two wilderness camps on the Alternate Route of the Wonderland Trail through Spray Park. They are:

• Eagle’s Roost- 4,885 feet
• Cataract Valley- 4,620 feet