Snowshoeing in the Mt. Rainier Area
- Distance and Time: The walks cover approximately 1.2 miles in two hours. This is a good opportunity for beginners to try the sport.
- Group Size: Snowshoe walks are limited to 25 people, 8 years old or older, on a first-come, first-served basis. A sign-up sheet is available at the Jackson Visitor Center information desk one hour before each walk.
- Equipment: You will need snowshoes. They can be borrowed from the park for a $1 per-pair donation, which defrays the cost of snowshoe maintenance and replacement, or you can use your own snowshoes. Participants also need to bring a hat, mittens or gloves, suitable boots (because you will sink into the snow even wearing snowshoes), sunscreen and sunglasses.
- Where and When: The walks will leave from the Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. The walks will be offered daily through January 2nd, then only on weekends and holidays until March 31st. Participants will learn about snowshoeing and discover how the plants and animals of Mount Rainier adapt to the heavy winter snowfall.
- Organized Groups: Snowshoe walks are available to organized groups of up to 25 people by reservation only. Group snowshoe walks begin at 10:30 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
- For more info: Call 360-569-2211, Ext. 3314. Or, visit the Longmire Museum or Jackson Visitor Center
Other Snowshoeing inside the park
Many of the park's hiking trails become snowshoeing trails in winter. For a detailed listing of these trails, visit mt-rainier.com. 
Paradise Valley Road
This snowshoe trail begins in the Paradise parking lot and follows the Paradise Valley Road/Stevens Canyon Road (closed in winter to cars and snowmobiles) for 3.5 miles to Reflection Lakes. The trail is "groomed" by the dozens of skiers/snowshoers who travel its length and offers great views of the Tatoosh and Rainier.
RENTAL EQUIPMENT:
- Pick up at the National Park Inn Gift Store at Longmire.
Get rate and lesson information here. - In Ashford at Whittaker Mountaineering
PARADISE VALLEY ROUTE MAP:
- Paradise Area Winter Recreation Map
This national park map shows the Paradise Valley route very clearly.
Snowshoe Tours at Crystal Mountain Ski Area
- More info here
- 1-360-663-3040
Join us every Friday and Saturday for a 2 hr evening snow shoe tour of the alpine wilderness, then finish off the evening with a delicious fondue dinner and dessert. Reservations are required. Call 360-663-3040 or sign up in the Rental Shop. All abilities are welcome.
White Pass Nordic Center
- White Pass Nordic Center
- The Nordic Track is open 8:30-4pm. Thursdays through Sundays
- Trails are 2-3K, easy to difficult
- For additional information, call us at: 509.672.3101
On the opposite side of Hwy. 12 from the downhill ski area at White Pass is the Pacific Northwest's most unique nordic trail -- an 18 kilometer cross country network for snowshoeing and cross country skiing. Rental skis and snowshoes are available at the Yurt located at the Nordic Center Trail Head which sits just behind the Village Inn Condominiums. Lessons meet Thursday - Sunday at 10am and Noon at the Yurt.
"The staff at White Pass, especially Richard Brooks and Kathleen Goyette, gave my friends and I everything that we needed and made us feel like family. The whole time we were there, people were having fun in the snow all around us. Not just cross country skiing and snowshoeing but playing in the snow and sun as well."
Doug DeVany
