Adytum Sanctuary Life: Mt. Rainier and White Pass' Winter Wonderlands

Sledding
The Snowplay area at Paradise is expected to re-open next weekend, January 14th. No other areas in the park are open to sliding activities.

Skiing and Snowboarding
Two of Washington's best places to ski are in the Mt. Rainier region. Crystal Mountain Resort and White Pass Ski area are great options for skiers & riders of all abilities. Snowboarding is permitted in areas in the Mt. Rainier National Park outside of the snowplay area.
Snowshoe and Cross Country Skiing
TheWhite Pass Nordic Center offers 18K of groomed double-tracked trails. The terrain offers classic cross-country, skating and snowshoeing for individuals of all ability levels. The Nordic Center is open Thursday - Sunday and holidays from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.

The Mount Tahoma Trails Association operates and manages the largest no fee Hut-to-Hut Trail System in North America for cross country skiing and snowshoeing. Approximately 50 miles of trails, 20 miles of which are groomed, provide safe and easy access to 3 ski huts and a yurt.

Paradise Ranger-Led Snowshoe walks - Learn the art of snowshoeing and discover the ecology of the area. Guided walks are offered daily until Jan 1st. From January 7th - March 25th the walks will be conducted on weekends and holidays. Get the details here.
Snowshoeing and cross country skiing are permitted in areas in Mt. Rainier National Park outside of the snowplay area at Paradise. Equipment rentals are available for rent at the Longmire General Store.

Snowmobiling
Find out where snowmobiling is allowed inside the park.
Areas outside of the National Park in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Naches Ranger District or Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest are also great places for snowmobiling. Information about SnoPark options can be found on VisitRainer.com.

Winter Camping
Camping on the snow is allowed almost everywhere in the park once the snow depth is over 5 feet at Paradise and 2 feet elsewhere in the park. Backcountry permits are required and parking is restricted to designated areas.

Resources:
With the arrival of snow, Mount Rainier's beauty changes and so do its challenges. Visitors planning to travel to the park in winter should familiarize themselves with winter travel tips, road status, and be prepared for potential winter hazards. For any questions on winter activities and snow conditions in the park, contact the Longmire Museum at 360-569-6575.

Important Winter Reminders

1) Carry Chains - Remember to check our Road Conditions page before you leave home. It is state law that you must carry chains when traveling on mountain roads. Mt. Rainier National Park personnel are enforcing this long-time law. You must carry chains or risk the chance of being turned away at the gate.
2) Twitter informs everyone when is the uphill gate to the Paradise opens. Check your Twitter updates. The park service will post daily updates on when they expect the gate to open and exactly when the gate is open. Please be advised that for our benefit, our National Park personnel do error on the side of caution and if there is any danger or anticipated road issues, they will monitor and announce the opening only when they are certain of safe driving conditions.
3) WebCams help everyone prepare for winter conditions. There are a variety of cams directed at your favorite destination. You can also get forecasts and weather planning information, all on our popularweather page.

Turkish Steam Sauna, Quite Possibly The Fav Seat in the House...

The perfect end to a perfect day is obviously back at Adytum Sanctuary, easing sore muscles and strains in the Salt Water Hot Tub with a glass of champagne...and making your way to the Turkish Steam Sauna when you're done...then back to the Salt Water Hot Tub for some time under the Milky Way...You get the idea!