Soaring 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the lower 48 and stands as a beacon to outdoor recreationalists in both summer and winter seasons. They say you should visit Mount Rainier National Park because “a lifetime of discovery awaits” but if you’re thinking of discovering how fast your sled goes you will be disappointed.
Mount Rainier National Park will unfortunately not open The Paradise Sledding Area for the 2024-2025 season. The reason for the closure is lack of staff as all available employees will be focused on “plowing roads and parking lots.” The designated sledding area is the only place where sledding is permitted in Mount Rainier National Park, therefore it will be illegal to sled over the winter:
“The greater Paradise area contains avalanche zones, unstable snow bridges and deceptively steep drop offs where sledding activities are unsafe. The official Paradise Sledding Area is the safest and only location that sledding is permitted in Mount Rainier National Park.”
Along with avalanches, cliff and sketchy snowbridges, Mount Rainier National Park is also home to significant treewell dangers, which should be taken seriously. If your preferred way to sled is on is hard toboggans or runner sled, you won’t be missing much this winter as Mount Rainier outlaws them when Paradise Area is operating and requires visitors to use “soft” sliding devices-flexible sleds, inner tubes, and saucers.
MOUNT RAINER NATIONAL PARK NEWS RELEASE:
Sledding Status: CLOSED. The Paradise Sledding Area will not open for the 2024-2025 season
Beginning Tuesday, November 12th, the park will open vehicle access to the Paradise area four days per week, Fridays through Mondays.
The road will be closed to public vehicle access Tuesdays through Thursdays. Park staff will continue to revisit the Paradise access schedule should staffing levels change during the winter season. The Longmire area will remain open seven days a week barring any major storm events or emergency situations.
Winter camping at Paradise will be available Friday through Sunday nights only, conditions permitting. The sledding runs at Paradise will not be open for the 2024-2025 winter season, as available staff members will be focused on plowing roads and parking lots to maintain access into the area. Sledding is not permitted elsewhere in the park. More information about Paradise winter access is available on the park website.
Winter recreation access in the rest of the park remains unchanged. Annual winter season closures of State Routes 410 and 123 will be enacted soon at the northeast, east, and southeast park boundaries. The east side of the park is open for visitor use throughout the winter, including overnight winter camping with a valid permit.
Information on the status of the gate to Paradise can be found on the park’s Alerts section of the website. The National Park Inn and Longmire General Store remain open daily for equipment rentals, food, and beverages. The park website provides information on winter activities within the park and at nearby areas outside the park. Staff and visitor safety goals are outlined in the 2018 document “Longmire-to-Paradise Winter Road Opening Matrix” on the park’s website.
