This Saturday and Sunday, April 18-19, visitors to Mount Rainier National Park will be able to visit the park for free. Fees will be waived at all national park areas throughout the weekend as the kickoff to National Park Week, which is April 20-24. Visitors to Mount Rainier will find that winter is still very present in the Paradise area with over 5 feet of snow remaining on the ground. The area has received close to 2 feet of snow in the past several days, but the forecast is for improving weather.

The Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center will be open on the weekend offering exhibits, food, visitor information and a bookstore/gift shop. In addition, the National Park Inn at Longmire is open daily and offers lodging, food, ski rental and gifts.

Beginning April 20, the gate between Longmire and Paradise will remain open 24-hours a day. State Routes 410 and 123 are open on the east side of the park. Stevens Canyon Road remains closed due to a rock/mud slide. Contractors will be working on removal in the near future. The White River Road to White River Campground is projected to open May 1. Visitors are required to carry tire chains in their vehicles when traveling in the park until May 1.

Spring is a great time to enjoy the park. Lower elevation trails are snow free, but snowshoeing and cross country skiing can still be enjoyed in the Paradise area.