To tackle overcrowding, Mount Rainier National Park in Washington is introducing an advance reservation system this summer for specific areas during peak times. Visitors must reserve access to the Paradise Corridor on the south side from May 24 to September 2, between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., and the Sunrise Corridor on the northeast from July 4 to September 2, during the same hours. Reservations, which open 90 days before the intended visit, allow a two-hour entry window and cost $2, bookable via recreation.gov.
However, guests with lodging at the National Park Inn, Paradise Inn, or Cougar Rock Campground, or a first-come, first-served permit for White River Campground, bypass the timed entry requirement for post-1 p.m. access. The same applies to Wilderness or Special Use Permit holders for their respective corridors. Pedestrians and cyclists are exempt from this reservation mandate, but all visitors must still pay the entrance fee.
This system, part of a broader national effort to mitigate park congestion and resource strain, echoes the NPS’s response to a 40% visitor increase at Mount Rainier over the last decade. Mount Rainier joins other national parks like Arches, Acadia, and Yosemite, which have already implemented timed entry to enhance visitor experience and protect park environments. While the exact number of parks using timed entry varies, the NPS website offers the latest updates on park entry protocols. This initiative underscores the NPS’s commitment to preserving natural resources while accommodating growing visitor interest.