Visitors to Mount Rainier National Park will need a reservation to enter the park through the Nisqually, Stevens Canyon and the Sunrise/White River entrance stations during peak hours this summer.
In a press release Wednesday, the National Park Service (NPS) said the park has seen increased popularity in recent years, which is concentrated in short periods. According to NPS, visitation to the park has grown from 1.1 million people in 2013 to about 1.6 million people in 2022.
The most popular months to visit the park are July and August, and the most popular times are between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.
“In recent years, it’s been too common for visitors to sit in idling cars for a couple of hours at the entrance stations and then make laps through the parking lots hoping for an empty parking space,” Superintendent Greg Dudgeon said. “We are testing a system that will spread visitation out throughout the day and season to reduce crowding.”
Under the new system, a reservation will be needed to:
• Enter the Paradise Corridor from either the Nisqually entrance via state Route 706 or Stevens Canyon entrance via state Route 123 May 24 through Sept. 2 between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.
• Enter the Sunrise Corridor at the White River entrance via state Route 410 July 3 through Sept. 2 between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m.
• Reservations will cost $2 and can be made using Recreation.gov or by calling 877-444-6777. A reservation is valid for one vehicle. Reservations allow for entry during a two-hour block of time, and there is no required departure time.
Visitors with in-park reservations for lodging or camping in one of the two entrances will not require an additional reservation.
The new system is not expected to reduce visitation to the park, but rather reduce crowding by spreading out visits over a longer period.
