Advance timed entry reservations for August through September 2 visits to Paradise and Sunrise Corridors available Wednesday, May 1

A second block of reservations will be available at 7 p.m. Pacific Time throughout the summer to support spontaneous visits for the following day.

ASHFORD, Wash. – Mount Rainier National Park timed entry reservations for visits to the Paradise and/or Sunrise Corridors for dates from August 1, 2024, through September 2, 2024,  will become available on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. Visitors who wish to plan ahead for a visit through September 2 can visit Recreation.gov any time after 8 a.m. Pacific Time starting Wednesday, May 1, and select their preferred dates and time blocks.  Timed entry reservations for the Paradise Corridor starting on Friday, May 24 also remain available.

Visitors who prefer a more spontaneous visit can enter the park without a timed entry reservation before 7 a.m. or after 3 p.m., or they may choose to wait for a second block of timed entry reservations to be released at 7 p.m. every summer evening for visits on the following day.

The 2024 pilot timed entry reservation system seeks to spread out visitation in the most heavily impacted corridors throughout the day.  The system will be in effect from Friday, May 24, 2024, through Monday, September 2, 2024. Starting on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, visitors will not require a timed entry reservation to visit any location in Mount Rainier National Park. Entrance passes are required for all visitors accessing any area in the park, regardless of the day and time.

Park visitors will need a reservation between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. to:

• Enter the Paradise Corridor from either the Nisqually Entrance via State Route 706 or Stevens Canyon Entrance via State Route 123 from May 24 through September 2. Starting May 1, timed entry reservations for the entire timed entry reservation period of May 24–September 2, 2024 will be available.
• Enter the Sunrise Corridor at the White River Entrance via State Route 410 from July 4 through Sept. 2. Starting May 1, timed entry reservations for July 4–September 2, 2024 will be available.

Each reservation is for one personal vehicle and will cost $2. The reservation will provide a two-hour entry window. For instance, visitors with a 9 a.m. reservation could enter the park between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. There is no required departure time.

Visitors with in-park reservations for lodging or camping in one of the two corridors will not require an additional timed entry reservation and can enter that corridor any time after 1 p.m. the first day of their reservation and throughout their stay. Other permit holders may enter the park without reservations as outlined in their wilderness permit, special use permit, research permit or commercial use authorization.

The park has grown in popularity in recent years, with visitation growing from just over 1.1 million in 2013 to about 1.6 million in 2022. Most of those visits occur between July and September and are concentrated in a small number of destinations, including Paradise.

The National Park Service has been engaged in a visitor use management planning effort focused on the Nisqually-Paradise Corridor. During the planning process, the public also raised concerns about congestion in the Sunrise Corridor. A draft environmental assessment was shared with the public in April 2023 and identified reservation systems as a strategy to address the overall visitor experience.

This pilot reservation system is a key part of evaluating what type of system will provide a more enjoyable experience for visitors. The system is not expected to reduce overall visitation, but rather spread it out throughout the day and season to reduce crowding.

Detailed information on both the pilot reservation system is located at https://go.nps.gov/MORATimedEntry

Visitors with questions about the park’s timed entry reservation system can contact the park at MORA_Timed_Entry@nps.gov or review the timed entry reservation system frequently asked questions list. Timed entry reservations may only be made online at Recreation.gov or by calling  877-444-6777 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. Pacific Time.

For more information on Mount Rainier National Park, please visit the park’s website.