Snowshoeing in the Mt. Rainier National Park Area

• Distance and Time: The walks cover approximately 1.5 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. Sign up at the Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise beginning one hour before the start time.
• Equipment: You will need snowshoes. They can be borrowed from the park for a $1-$5 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.
• When: Guided public snowshoe walks are presented twice a day (12:30 PM and 2:30 PM) at Paradise beginning December 19th (snow permitting). Snowshoe walks are presented each day the Paradise Jackson Visitor Center is open through March.
• 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 (open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Weekends and Holidays including November 26-29 and December 19-January 3).

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 General Store at Longmire. No reservations necessary. Get Rate 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.

Snowshoeing and Winter Camping
Consider snowshoeing to a winter camping destination within the park, an activity that is popular with the Boy Scouts and various youth groups. The park publishes this brochure about winter camping.

• Reservations are required: phone 1-360-663-3040,
  email skirental@skicrystal.com, or sign up in the Rental Shop.
• 3:15pm: Check in at the Rental Shop; 6:30pm: Return to Lodge for dinner.
• Minimum age is 11. Anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
• More info on snowshoe tours.

Join us every Saturday from mid-December to late-March for a 2.5 hr late afternoon snowshoe tour of the alpine wilderness. We begin our tour by riding up the Quicksilver chairlift to the base of the beautiful South Backcountry. We frolic around Lower Henskin Lake and head to Upper Henskin Lake where we rest at the Leaning Tree Lounge to hydrate and fuel up with a nutritious snack. We then depart the backcountry by snowshoeing down the slopes all the way to the base area lodge for an incredible Cheese Fondue Dinner with salad and dessert. All abilities are welcome. Tours are available Friday nights by reservation only for groups of 10 or more. All tours are weather permitting.

Cost: $30 includes tour with cheese fondue dinner, salad, and dessert. $50 includes snowshoe rental, tour with cheese fondue dinner, salad, and dessert.

• 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