Winter at Paradise, Mount Rainier

Visiting Mount Rainier National Park in the winter is a MUST. It is breath takingly beautiful. There are some things to know before you go and precautions before traveling in the snow.

This post may contain affiliate links. This means I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase through a link in this article.

Mount Rainier National Park
Paradise Area, Longmire Entrance
When visiting Mount Rainier Natl Park in the winter, there are lots of differences between visiting in summer. In the winter, only the south entrance to the park is open. This entrance goes to Longmire Lodge and the Paradise area. You’ll need a National Park pass or pay for a day pass to enter the park. For active duty military you can get the America the Beautiful Pass for FREE, just show your ID to the park ranger. A day pass is $30 into the park.
Read more about fees and passes HERE.
Read info on visiting the park in winter HERE.

Before leaving to visit Rainier National Park, check the National Park Twitter to make sure the park will be opening that day. Conditions change fast and the park is frequently closed in the winter. You’ll want to make sure that road from Longmire to Paradise is open. There is a really nothing to do and no trails at the lodge, so if the road is closed there is no point to go.
View Mount Rainier’s Twitter HERE.

Chains are REQUIRED in all vehicles entering the park, even if you have an AWD vehicle. You are not always required to put them on, only in certain conditions. If you are caught without chains, it is a $500 fine. You can purchase chains at any local tire shop. Most will let you return them if you did not use them. You can also rent tire chains at the snow gear shops you’ll pass on the way to the park.

On your way up to Paradise, watch out for wildlife. This is White Foot, she is the last known living female cascade red fox in the park. She hangs out on the right side of the road to beg for food. She has learned over the years that people will give her food, and this learned habit has caused all of her pups to be hit by cars over the years. The Cascade Red Fox is severely endangered. Please do NOT feed her or try to touch her, or any other wildlife you see in the park.
Read about Wildlife Safety HERE.
Read about the Red Cascade Fox HERE.

At Paradise there are ski trails, hiking trails, sledding hills and plenty of snow. The Paradise lodges are not open during the winter, but there were some port-o-pottys in the parking lot area. Dogs are allowed in the parking lot area only, they can stay in your car but they cannot play in the snow.

Paradise is absolutely covered in snow, feet upon feet of snow. I highly recommend bringing snowshoes. Not snow boots, the actual large metal snowshoes. The snow was so deep we were sinking 4 feet into it even with snow boots on. We were wearing snow pants and gear so ultimately were fine but if you plan to go walking or hiking in the snow you will 100% need snowshoes. You are able to rent them locally or at the shops on the way to Rainier.

If you plan to sled or tube, you will need to bring your own. There is nowhere to rent tubes/sleds inside the park. We purchased ours at Costco and Target. They are available to rent at the shops on the way to the park also.

We had a blast playing in the snow and cant wait to visit again in the Summer. Both seasons offer amazing views and there’s always fun to be had at Mount Rainier National Park. Check out my other posts for more hikes and info in the park.