This part of Mount Rainier is no longer off-limits. Proceed with caution, park says
Now’s a good time to revive your plans to visit Carbon River.
Mount Rainier National Park reopened access to the Carbon River area, which has been closed for about three months. Visitors should be cautious and expect to see snow, downed trees and washed-out trails.
Portable toilets can be found at the beginning of the road closure area. People can ride bikes in the area, but it is not recommended “due to extensive trail washouts and downed trees,” according to a news release.
The park’s staff stabilized a temporary path on the adjacent Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, allowing visitors to go through the park entrance. The Rainforest Nature Loop Trail and Chenuis Falls are still inaccessible, according to the news release.
Visitors can access the Carbon River Trail and Green Lake Trail. Visitors are encouraged to follow safety guidelines for winter hiking, which can be found on the park’s website.
Carbon River has a “long history of flooding,” The News Tribune reported. The area was closed on Nov. 15, 2021, as well as some time in early November 2006. The river makes it susceptible to flooding due to how it is built.
The Fairfax Forest Reserve Road west of the Carbon River entrance has been partially washed out since February 2020 but enough of the road stayed in place to give visitors a safe path, according to the news release.
“Mount Rainier National Park staff members are working in cooperation with area partners to restore stable access to the Carbon River area. Additional engineering design work is needed following the increased impacts from the November 2021 storm event,” according to the news release.
This story was originally published February 22, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
