Mt Rainier Last week of May

I’ll be traveling to Portland next week and I wanted to do a day trip and hike and explore Mt Rainier for a day. I’ll be going next Wednesday, May 29th. What’s the best course of action to spend the day and how is the snow situation at this time of year? Would the best approach be to go towards Paradise? Thanks

in PNWhikingby Strt6255

58%

13d

luckystrike_bh

13d

Please be advised, "Timed entry reservations for Mount Rainier National Park's Paradise Corridor start on May 24, 2024, and for the Sunrise Corridor on July 4, 2024. Reservations are valid from 7 AM–3 PM, and are required to enter these popular areas between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend."

The days of the casual visitor being able to explore and enjoy the park are long gone. Unless you are willing to wake up at zero dark thirty in the middle of the night or drive down a 20 mile rutted dirt road to Tolmie Peak.

serfinng84

13d

The Mowich Lake road, the only route to Tolmie Peak trailhead, isn’t even predicted to open until July 12: https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/road-status.htm?fbclid=IwAR3P7Ebo_5FpwFrwYJEwkFomhq6BUB89QHQbOrMIZnbKC45spghwNrsbCic

Edit: fixed typo in Tolmie

luckystrike_bh

13d

I hate that road so much. I thought I was driving a responsibly safe speed and shortly thereafter I had a $2000 repair bill on my vehicle.

CascadeCowboy195

13d

Are the potholes that bad??

luckystrike_bh

13d

When I did it felt like you were driving across a washboard. A constant vibration that was bad. Throw in some potholes and embedded rocks that made you swerve all over the road.

CascadeCowboy195

13d

A little too late now but if you're ever in that situation again then make sure to carry a good air compressor with you and air down your tires. The ride will be smoother for you and your suspension. And when you're back on the road air back up.

FishScrumptious

13d

What’s your experience in snow? Paradise is still all snow, from the parking lot up. Lots of boots to follow, and lots to explore around there, but snow. (Forecast is for 33F and rain/snow over the weekend as well, so don’t forget your rain gear.)

Longmire and various trailheads along the road are open and snow free (at least at lower elevations - below ~4000ft).

Theoretically, the road to White River will be open by the 24th, though I haven’t checked on that in a week. There’s a few nice hikes out of there too.

Strt6255

13d

I would be open to snow, but my girlfriend wouldn’t be as open to a ton of snow. If you wouldn’t mind, what are some of the best hikes you mentioned along with longmire that would be snow free and have the best views?

FishScrumptious

13d

I’m less familiar with Longmire, but either Rampart Ridge (heading west from Longmire) or part of the Wonderland (heading east from Longmire) are probably the best for being snow free.

Take a look at the map at nps.gov/mora and plan from there. Views of the mountain itself will be harder to get there, and highly weather dependent as the mountain can stay socked in even if you aren’t in a cloud, but it won’t be lots of snow.

Edit: advice below is incorrect - 410 won’t open until late June, so White River wont be open until then. Unusual, but happens.

I’m personally a big fan of the hike to Glacier Basin out of White River, but I don’t know snow status since the road is still closed. Which reminds me, if the road to Sunrise is open, that means 410 will be open, so there will be lower trailheads off 410 that will be accessible too.

When you look at the map, look for the trailheads that are on the road to Paradise or 410/White River but below 4000 feet.

wpnw

13d

Sunrise Road won't open until July, but it should open to the White River Campground this weekend. Highway 410 is usually open by Memorial Day weekend, however WSDOT has reported they found washouts within the seasonal closure area that they need to repair before it will open, so there's a chance it won't be open until June this year.

FishScrumptious

13d

Yes! Typo. I meant if the road to White River is open, then 410 will be open.

If they still plan to open White River this weekend, what’s the access path for that? The road east from Paradise is still covered in snow.

wpnw

13d

They'll open 410 from the north to the turnoff to Sunrise, and keep it closed it beyond that point - there's no gate but they put chains and barriers across the road.

FishScrumptious

13d

That’ll still open up a lot of stuff, so that’s still nice.

FishScrumptious

13d

Well, that (https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm) answers that - White River not open until late June. Cougar Rock will be open on the 24th, though.

wpnw

13d

Yeah, they usually open the road for trailhead access before the campgrounds are fully up and running for the season.

uncommon2u

12d

Rampart ridge was awesome a week or so ago when we had that good weather (northern lights and all)

Strt6255

13d

Thanks. I appreciate the info.

goddamnpancakes

13d

Consider St. Helens. it's closer to portland, lower elevation, less crowded, still has staggering views and recent natural history. Hummocks Trailhead hike up to Johnston Ridge is gonna be snow free, just pack in all your water since there's only beaver ponds to filter.

Consider views like this

KSera82

13d

Another recommendation for White River Campground trails - road is slated to open 5/24. No timed entry yet. The Emmons Moraime Trail is amazing!

bauhausinista

13d

If there are no reservations available for the 29th right now you can check again at 7:01 pm on the 28th for the next day.

I would recommend driving to the east side, hiking around ohanapecosh, tipsoo, or white river, then drive stevens canyon (if you can get a reservation) and exit the park from the west side.

satellite779

13d

Or arrive before 7am to the gate.

Faris531

13d

We were there through memorial weekend last year. Is the timed access new? Or we just got there early…? The day we hiked was memeorial day and we were up early like 7am at the gage and 9am hiking paradise. We did hike from paradise up the snow with yak tracks and poles and made it to glacier vista. Beautiful. Worth it. Sunscreen every inch of exposed skin. We stripped down to our short sleeves underlayer at the top.

Talk to rangers at Longmire for other hike ideas. We drove Stevens Canyon Rd to Box Canyon and walked a little do that trail. At Ranger recommendation we drove up west side road as far as allowed and then hiked the well maintained trail below Mt Wow (waterfalls and Mtn Goats!) and Tahoma Creek. Posted up along creek for a beautiful sunset reflected of Rainier.

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