Trails and Backcountry Camp Conditions RETURN TO THE WILDERNESS CAMPING AND HIKING HOMEPAGE The Trail Crew clearing a large tree from the Wonderland Trail Mount Rainier can receive 700 or more inches of snow each winter. When spring comes to the mountains it is a very busy time for Park Rangers. The previous fall usually brings the rainy season which causes damage to trails and camps by raging waters, high winds and falling trees. All this damage gets covered by 10-20 feet of snow, and there it sits until melt-out which often does not occur in earnest until late June or early July. The snow usually starts melting in high volumes, causing more damage to trails and camps. The Trail Crew may have to clear hundreds of trees from the trails each year. Replacing footlogs and bridges is also a major project. Footlogs are also prone to being washed out anytime there is a prolonged period of rain regardless of the season. Wilderness Rangers and Trail Crew members are out and about early in the season trying to assess the damage. Given the vastness of the trail system and the volumes of snow, this is a large task. As we get reliable information on the status of a trail, a section of trail or a backcountry camp, that information will be posted here on the website. BACKCOUNTRY TRAILS AND CAMP REPORTS A wilderness camping permit is required year around for camping or climbing in the park. Car camping does not require a wilderness permit. General Conditions Update: Trails park-wide are under snow. There will be no major changes to this page until closer to melt-out in mid-May to early June, 2011. March 15, 2011: Always check with rangers and know the local forecast for mountain weather before setting out on any trail. Be prepared... mountain weather is good one minute, daunting the next. Always check with rangers before heading into the back country. Please Note: Do not leave valuables in your car. While break-ins are infrequent they do occur.

Trails in the Carbon River Area The Carbon River Road to Ipsut Creek Campground is CLOSED at the park entrance because of 2006 flood damage. It is now a five mile hike into Ipsut Creek Campground. Bikes are permitted ONLY as far as Ipsut Creek Campground. All backcountry camping requires a permit.  Obtain backcountry camping permits at the Carbon River Ranger Station. Park Facility Hours of Operation and Road Status Trail Name % Snow Cover Trail Conditions Update Summary NOTE: The Mowich Lake road is CLOSED Ipsut Creek Campground is being managed as a backcountry camp. A wilderness permit will be required to camp at Ipsut Creek. Fires are not permitted and pets are not permitted beyond the point where public vehicles can legally park at the park entrance. 3/14/11 Carbon Glacier Trail Chenuis Falll Green Lake Ipsut Falls Northern Loop : Carbon River - Windy Gap Paul Peak Trail Rain Forest Loop Spray Park Seattle Park Tolmie Peak Trails in the Longmire Area The main road to Longmire is OPEN year round.  All backcountry camping requires a permit. Obtain backcountry camping permit daily at the Longmire Wilderness Information Center or the Paradise Visitor Center.  Park Facility Hours of Operation and Road Status Trail Name % Snow Cover Trail Conditions Update Summary The Westside Road is CLOSED 3/14/11 Carter Falls (from Cougar Rock Campground) Comet Falls Trail (Van Trump Park Trail) Denman Falls Trail Eagle Peak Trail Goat Lake Trail Kautz Creek Trail Lake George & Gobblers Knob Trail Mildred Point Trail Mirror Lakes Trail Narada Falls Trail (Paradise to viewpoint below Narada Falls) North Puyallup River Trail Rampart Ridge Trail  Rampart Ridge Trail (Upper section from Wonderland Trail to Van Trump Park and Comet Falls) Round Pass Trail Saint Andrews Creek Trail South Puyallup River Trail Trail of the Shadows Twin Firs Trail Trails in the Ohanapecosh Area All backcountry camping requires a permit.  Obtain permits at the Ohanapecosh Visitor Center. Park Facility Hours of Operation and Road Status Trail Name % Snow Cover Trail Conditions Update Summary   Cowlitz Divide Trail (Olallie Creek Trail) East Side Trail Grove of the Patriarchs Trail Laughingwater Creek Trail Pacific Crest Trail Shriner Peak Trail Silver Falls Trail Trails in the Paradise Area The main road to Longmire is OPEN year round. All backcountry camping requires a permit. Obtain backcountry camping permit daily at the Longmire Museum, or the Paradise Visitor Center. Park Facility Hours of Operation and Road Status Trail Name % Snow Cover Trail Conditions Update Summary Alta Vista Trail Dead Horse Creek Trail Fourth Crossing Trail Glacier Vista Trail Golden Gate Trail High Lakes Trail Lakes Trail (Mazama Ridge) Moraine Trail Nisqually Vista Trail Paradise Glacier Trail Pebble Creek Trail (to base of Muir Snowfield) Pinnacle Peak Trail Skyline Trail   Snow Lake/Bench Lake Trail Stevens Creek Trail Trails in the White River Area All backcountry camping requires a permit.  Obtain permits at the White River Ranger Staion, located at the entrance. Park Facility Hours of Operation and Road Status Trail Name % Snow Cover Trail Conditions Update Summary The road to Sunrise is CLOSED. 3/14/11 Burroughs Mountain Trail Burroughs Mountain to Glacier Basin Trail Crystal Lakes Trail Emmons Moraine Trail Glacier Basin Trail Grand Park Trail (Northern Loop Trail) Huckleberry Creek Trail Lake Eleanor Trail Mt. Fremont Trail Naches Peak Trail Northern Loop Trail: Berkeley Park to Windy Gap Owyhigh Lakes Trail (from White River Road) Pacific Crest Trail Palisades Lakes Trail Silver Forest Trail Sourdough Ridge Trail Sunrise Rim Trail Tipsoo Lake Trail Wonderland Trail All backcountry camping requires a permit. Park Facility Hours of Operation and Road Status Trail Name % Snow Cover Trail Conditions Update Summary Longmire to Indian Henrys Indian Henrys to South Puyallup River South Puyallup River to Klapatche Park Klapatche Park to North Puyallup River North Puyallup River to Golden Lakes Golden Lakes to South Mowich River South Mowich River to Mowich Lake Mowich Lake to Ipsut Creek Campground Ipsut Creek Campground to Carbon Glacier . Carbon Glacier to Mystic Lake Mystic Lake to Sunrise Sunrise to White River Campground White River Campground to Summerland Summerland to Indian Bar Indian Bar to Box Canyon Box Canyon To Reflection Lakes Reflection Lakes to Narada Falls Narada Falls to Longmire Carbon River Area Backcountry Camps The road into Ipsut Creek Campground is closed at the park entrance, secondary to flood damage.  All backcountry camping requires a permit. Obtain Wilderness Camping Permits at Carbon River just inside the entrance to the park. Park Facility Hours of Operation and Road Status CampName # of Individual and Group sites are shown as #I/G (elevation) % Snow Cover Camp Conditions Use the food storage poles found at each camp to keep food away from bears, rodents and other animals. Update Summary The road into Ipsut Creek Campground is closed at the park entrance, secondary to flood damage in 2006. The hike is 5 miles from the Carbon River Entrance to Ipsut Creek Campground, which is now managed as a wilderness camp and requires a wilderness permit. Carbon River Camp #4/1 (3195’) Cataract Valley Camp #6/1 (4620’) Dick Creek Camp #2/0 (4185’) Eagle's Roost Camp #7/0 (4885’) Granite Creek Camp #2/1 (5765’) Ipsut Creek #12/1(2400’) Mowich Lake Walk-in Camp (4900') Fires are not permitted at this camp, nor at any wilderness camps. Mystic Camp #7/1 (5570’) South Mowich River Camp #3/1 (2605’)   Longmire/Paradise Area Backcountry Camps All backcountry camping requires a permit.  Obtain Wilderness Camping Permits daily at the Longmire Wilderness Information Center, the Longmire Museum (open year-round) or the Paradise Visitor Center. Park Facility Hours of Operation and Road Status Camp Name # of Individual and Group sites are shown as #I/G (elevation) % Snow Cover Camp Conditions Use the food storage poles found at each camp to keep food away from bears, rodents and other animals. Update Summary   Devil's Dream Camp #7/1 (5060') Golden Lakes Camp #5/1 (5130') Klapatche Park Camp #4/0 (5515') Lake George Camp #5/1 (4320')   Maple Creek Camp #4/1 (2815') Paradise River Camp #3/1 (3805') Pyramid Creek Camp #2/0 (3765') North Puyallup River Camp #3/1 (3750') Snow Lake Camp #2/0 (4690') South Puyallup River Camp #4/1 (4000') Eastside Backcountry Camps All backcountry camping requires a permit. Park Facility Hours of Operation and Road Status Camp Name # of Individual and Group sites are shown as #I/G (elevation) % Snow Cover CampConditions Use the food storage poles found at each camp to keep food away from bears, rodents and other animals. Update Summary Berkeley Park Camp #2/1 (5375') Deer Creek Camp #2/0 (2950') Dick’s Lake Camp #1/0 (5675') Fire Creek Camp #3/1 (4300') Forest Lake Camp #1/0 (5660') Glacier Basin Camp #5/1 (5965') Indian Bar Camp #3/1 (5120') James Camp #3/1 (Formerly the Redstone Camp) (4620') Lake Eleanor Camp #3/1 (5000') Lower Crystal Lake Camp      #2/0 (5450') Nickel Creek Camp #3/1 (3385') Olallie Creek Camp #2/1 (3940') Shriner Peak Camp #2/0 (5355') Summerland Camp #5/1 (5940')   Sunrise Walk-In Camp #8/2 (6245') Tamanos Creek Camp #4/1 (5270') Three Lakes Camp #2/1 (4680') Upper Crystal Lake Camp #2/0 (5825') Upper Palisades Lake Camp #2/0 (5835') White River Walk-in Camp #3/1 (4300') Yellowstone Cliffs Camp #2/0 (5180')