The Skate Creek Road (Forest Service Road 52) which travels along the park's southeastern boundary east of Ashford to Packwood remains closed at this time. Current information can be obtained from the Cowlitz Ranger District Office in Randle, Washington - 360-497-1100.
If you are looking for a good location to hike or bike, the Carbon River area is currently snow free to Ipsut Creek Campground and provides a great opportunity for hikers and bicyclists.
You can connect to Mount Rainier National Park through our social media pages. Join the Mount Rainier community on Facebook, find out breaking news and road status updates through Mount Rainier's Twitter feed, explore the park and behind-the-scenes operations with our videos on YouTube, and share you own photos of Mount Rainier with other visitors in the Mount Rainier Flickr group.
For recorded park information on roads and current conditions call 360-569-2211 and follow the menu. Road and weather conditions are updated as conditions change. Information is also available on the Mount Rainier web page - www.nps.gov/mora. Web cams showing current conditions at Paradise can be accessed from the web page - scroll down to Paradise web cameras.
SPRING SAFETY TIPS: Recreating during the transition between winter and summer offers challenges and hazards unique to this time of year. The following information will help you prepare for conditions that may be encountered:
* Storms can occur any month of the year at the mountain. Spring and early summer are notorious for unpredictable and rapidly changing weather.Be prepared for winter-like conditions even into June.
* Before starting your hike, check with the Wilderness Information Center or visitor center for current weather, avalanche and trail conditions or visit the park's website at www.nps.gov/mora
* Hypothermia and frostbite are cold weather hazards which can lead to serious injury or death.If you are spending time outside dress sensibly, drink lots of fluids, and take warm-up breaks indoors.
* A reliable map and compass skills, along with use of a GPS, may be needed in many areas of the park because snow-covered trails can be difficult to follow.
* Avoid crossing steep, snow-covered slopes where a fall or avalanche could be disastrous. Turn around instead.
* Falling through thin snow bridges is a hazard anywhere streams remain snow-covered.Stay alert for muffled sounds of running water.
* Falling into snow moats, or tree wells around trees and adjacent to logs and rocks, can cause injury or even death. Avoid getting too close and make sure you have firm footing before proceeding.
* Avoid stepping on wet, slippery rocks, especially near rivers and waterfalls. Be mindful that ice may be covering these areas.
* Avoid stepping onto snow cornices. They may collapse under your weight.
* Observe for avalanche conditions and take precautions to prevent being caught in an avalanche.
-NPS-
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
