Mount Rainier National Park
Welcome to Mount Rainier
Welcome to Mount Rainier, Olympic and North Cascades National Parks! Congress gave these spectacular mountain reserves their common mission when it established the National Park Service in 1916. All national parks are to "...conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same... by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."
These three parks—three of the almost 400 parks in the National Park System—conserve more than 1.8 million acres of public land, and provide enjoyment for millions of visitors each year. Within sight of greater Seattle's rapidly growing population, there are places where people can reconnect with the natural world and learn about past and present cultures. They provide an essential habitat for a great diversity of plants and animals, and their glaciers and snowfields feed rivers on which millions of people downstream depend.
Mount Rainier, Olympic and North Cascades National parks are always a visible reminder of the beauty and complexity of the natural world. In 1988, recognizing the importance of these wild expanses so close to an urban center, Congress added over 90% of each park to the National Wilderness Preservation System. Today we recognize the great value these places have for scientific and cultural research and its importance in providing the information needed to protect these and all national parks. They are here for you to explore and enjoy. Please do so safely and let us know what you liked and how we can improve our management of your national parks.
Dave Uberuaga
Superintendent
Mount Rainier National Park
Bill Laitner
Superintendent
Olympic National Park
Chip Jenkins
Superintendent
North Cascades National Park
Mt. Rainier In Depth
News from the Parks
Frommer's Top 5 Parks for Cozy Camping
November 21, 2008 - 10:01am
I always look forward to getting my Frommer's newsletter every week. Not only are they budget travel saavy, they inspire me to get out there no matter the weather! Here are their top five picks for cozy camping.
November 21, 2008 - 10:01am
I always look forward to getting my Frommer's newsletter every week. Not only are they budget travel saavy, they inspire me to get out there no matter the weather! Here are their top five picks for cozy camping.
Park to Reopen Today after Crews Repair Road, Channel Kautz Creek
November 21, 2008 - 9:56am
The Nisqually Road in Mount Rainier National Park will reopen today, a day earlier than expected. The road, and the park, have been closed since Nov. 12 when Kautz Creek jumped its banks and flooded the main road into the park.
November 21, 2008 - 9:56am
The Nisqually Road in Mount Rainier National Park will reopen today, a day earlier than expected. The road, and the park, have been closed since Nov. 12 when Kautz Creek jumped its banks and flooded the main road into the park.
Jenna Otter Returns to Scene of Grizzly Bear Attack
November 21, 2008 - 9:55am
Reporting from Glacier National Park -- No one knew what to expect on the trail to Grinnell Glacier one late summer morning, but a second bull moose less than an hour out was hardly a good sign. During September and October -- mating season -- it's always best to give the spindly-legged animals plenty of room.
November 21, 2008 - 9:55am
Reporting from Glacier National Park -- No one knew what to expect on the trail to Grinnell Glacier one late summer morning, but a second bull moose less than an hour out was hardly a good sign. During September and October -- mating season -- it's always best to give the spindly-legged animals plenty of room.
Expected Rule Change Would Benefit Bicycling in National Parks
November 21, 2008 - 9:07am
An upcoming National Park Service (NPS) rule change could greatly benefit mountain bicycling by improving the administrative process for opening trails to bicycles. IMBA has been asking the agency to revise its policies since 1992, because the current "special regulations" process is needlessly cumbersome and treats bicycles like motorized vehicles.
November 21, 2008 - 9:07am
An upcoming National Park Service (NPS) rule change could greatly benefit mountain bicycling by improving the administrative process for opening trails to bicycles. IMBA has been asking the agency to revise its policies since 1992, because the current "special regulations" process is needlessly cumbersome and treats bicycles like motorized vehicles.
Things Slow At Hawaii's National Parks
November 21, 2008 - 8:55am
On our recent trip to Hawaii we had a feeling that things were less busy than usual. Now there are some numbers to back up our hunch: The national parks in the state saw a drop in attendance of more than 50,000 visitors during the month of October.
November 21, 2008 - 8:55am
On our recent trip to Hawaii we had a feeling that things were less busy than usual. Now there are some numbers to back up our hunch: The national parks in the state saw a drop in attendance of more than 50,000 visitors during the month of October.
