Mount Rainier National Park is piloting timed entry requirements in 2024. Due to a heavy increase in visitation and damage to park ecosystems, the park is hoping timed reservations will improve the visitor experience by reducing traffic, waiting times, and negative impacts on trails.

The video below shows a line of cars waiting to enter the park at 1:00 pm on a Saturday in October 2023. Summer time crowds were much worse.

What is a timed entry reservation?

Timed entry reservations are reserved in advance and allow you to enter Mount Rainier National Park during a two-hour arrival window during the peak season (May to September).

With a timed entry reservation, you may not enter the park before or after your reservation time slot. However, once you enter during your arrival window, you may re-enter the park and there are no time limitations.

Timed entry rules

Timed entry reservations are good for one vehicle, and valid for one day. Visitors are allowed a one-timed entry reservation per person to the Paradise Corridor and a one-timed entry reservation to the Sunrise Corridor per day. If your group has more than one vehicle planning to enter the park, you’ll need a second person to secure another timed entry reservation.

Parking

Timed entry reservations do not guarantee parking. Be patient finding parking and be flexible with your plans.

Bicyclists and pedestrians

Bicyclists do not need timed entry reservations. However, there aren’t designated bike trails within the park, and biking far would be very challenging.

Pedestrians aren’t required to have timed entry reservations either, but since the park entrances are at the base of the mountain, it’s not practical to enter the park on foot. Hitchhiking is illegal, so it’s best to arrive with a vehicle.

Cancellations

If you’re not planning on using a timed entry reservation you have purchased, please cancel it so others may have the chance to visit. Timed entry reservations may not be sold, transferred, or refunded the $2 cost of purchase.

Questions

If you have questions about the timed entry, you may email MORA_Timed_Entry@nps.gov or call 360-569-6249.

What areas require a timed entry reservation?

You’ll need a timed entry reservation to access the Sunrise Corridor (White River entrance) as well as both directions leading to the Paradise Corridor (the southwest Nisqually entrance and the southeast Stevens Canyon entrance). The timed entry reservations for the Paradise Corridor are good for both the Nisqually and Stevens Canyon entrances. Each corridor requires a separate reservation.

Source: https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/timed-entry-reservations.htm

When do you need a timed entry reservation?

The Paradise Corridor

May 24th to September 2nd

7:00 am to 3:00 pm

The Sunrise Corridor

July 3rd through September 2nd

7:00 am to 3:00 pm

When can you purchase a timed entry permit?

A portion of timed entry reservations will be available 90 days or approximately three months in advance. They go on sale at 8:00 am PT each day mentioned. Reserve your timed entry reservation for $2, here.

Reservations will likely sell out quickly. We recommend creating a login on recreation.gov in advance and attempting to make your purchase as soon as they go on sale at 8:00 am.

Paradise Corridor

February 21st, 2024 for reservations between May 24th and June 30th 2024

April 1st, 2024 for reservations between July 1st and July 31st 2024

May 1st , 2024 for reservations between August 1st and September 2nd 2024

Sunrise Corridor

April 1st 2024 for reservations between July 3rd and July 31st 2024

May 1st 2024 for reservations between August 1st and September 2nd 2024

Next day reservations

A portion of timed entry reservations will be available for purchase for the next day starting on May 24th for the Paradise Corridor and July 3rd for the Sunrise Corridor daily at 7:00 pm PT.

Park entrance fees

The timed entry permit DOES NOT cover your entrance fee to get into Mount Rainier National Park. You will still need to pay the entrance fee to enter the park. It’s fastest to pay the entrance fee in advance online. If you pay onsite, it’s by card only.

What to do if you didn’t get a timed entry reservation

Make a service reservation within the park

If you have a service reservation within the park — lodging, camping, wilderness permit, or special use permit — you’ll have access to the appropriate corridor to reach your reservation.

Lodging and campground reservations grant you entry after 1:00 pm on the day of your reservation. Visitors with wilderness permits or special use permits can use these in place of entry reservations but timed access varies.

Getting these reservations was already competitive before the timed entry reservation was put into place (except for special use permits). If you’re hoping to secure one of these bookings, we recommend attempting to make a reservation the moment they go on sale.

Go in before or after permitted hours

Timed entries go from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm, however, the park is open 24/7. Get past the entrance gates to enter either the Sunrise or Paradise Corridors before or after these times to visit without a timed entry reservation.

As locals in the area, visiting outside these hours is when we’ve always chosen to visit Rainier to avoid most of the crowds and find parking easily, even before this reservation system was in place.

Visit an unregulated area

The surrounding national forests and highways outside of the national park are home to many great hikes and scenic drives. Drive down Chinook Pass for beautiful views, or consider hiking some of our favorite trails, including Silver Falls Loop, High Rock Lookout, or Snoquera Falls.

Pro tip: Hikes on wta.org mention what parking passes are required for every hike under the map and directions section. If it says no parking pass is required or National Forest Pass is required then that hike is outside the corridors.

The Carbon River entrance of Mount Rainier National Park is also unregulated. It’s closed to cars due to flooding, but it’s passable by bike or foot year-round, although the most well-known hikes, like Tolmie Peak, are accessible seasonally between June and September.

Visit in the off-season

We’d still recommend visiting during the timed entry season — between July and September for the best weather, odds of viewing Mount Rainier, and access to hiking trails. However, you can visit the Paradise Visitor Center year round, and the Sunrise Corridor into early October.

If you visit between September and July, Mount Rainier will likely be covered in clouds. Trails will be snow-covered, and some are inaccessible.

Is Mount Rainier worth visiting without a timed entry reservation?

Yes! We highly recommend visiting between July and September with or without a time entry reservation. If you don’t have a timed entry reservation, plan on early mornings, getting to the park entrances before 7:00 am and having the day to explore. Plus, this early start ensures you get parking!

What should we do at Mount Rainier?

We have a 1–5-day itinerary outlined in this blog. Even just one day in the park is enough to see stunning views of rivers, waterfalls, wildflower meadows, and great views of Rainier. If you have more time, it’s worth staying a few days, checking out different areas of Mount Rainier, or spending time hiking our favorite trails.

What should we do in the Paradise Corridor?

Day one of our itinerary is the perfect way to see everything the Paradise Corridor has to offer! Along your drive, you’ll see waterfalls, river valleys, wildflower meadows, and the mountain all with minimal hiking. This corridor is the most versatile and great for first-time visitors.

What should we do in the Sunrise Corridor?

Day two of our itinerary covers the Sunrise Corridor. Plan on stopping to see a few sights on your drive to the Sunrise Visitor Center — the highest drivable point on Mount Rainier! Standing in the parking lot next to the mountain is impressive alone, but the best way to appreciate these views is to get out and hike!