Transition to winter wilderness at Mount Rainier

Fall has arrived, and with it, changes are in the wind.  Climbing and skiing on the upper mountain is now a true wilderness experience, as all route adjuncts (ladders/ropes/protection) have been removed.  Expect that there will be some difficult route finding, even on the standard Disappointment Cleaver Route, due to no wands or boot pack now that the guide services have wrapped up for the season.  All crevasses will have to be end-run or crossed via a snow bridge. 

Any summit attempts this time of year should be considered a serious venture - it's not the time of year for parties to attempt the mountain for the first time.  All parties must be self-reliant and should be capable of self-rescue.  There will not be guides on route nor regularly scheduled rangers at the high camps.  Expect solitude.  

Looking down upon a sea of clouds.  Hikers traveling to Camp Muir should be prepared to navigate in near white-out conditions on any given day.  A dedicated GPS app (and knowing how to use it) is an essential piece of equipment!  Also, both ice and cracks are present this time of year.

For parties planning on hiking to Camp Muir - the Public Shelter at Camp Muir remains CLOSED. It will remain closed until the Park Service can finish up remodel/maintenance projects.  The NPS expects to reopen the shelter by October 2026, however visitors should confirm the status of the shelter at a ranger station.  

Climbing Permits are still required for traveling (skiing or climbing) on Mount Rainier above 10,000 feet or on glaciers. 

ALL CLIMBERS/SKIERS MUST:

1. Pay the climbing fee (starting in 2026 this is no longer an annual fee, pay for each climb/ski)

2. Obtain a climbing permit (also need a permit for each climb/ski)

You can pay the fee online at Pay.Gov and you can obtain a permit via self-registration at Paradise and at the White River Ranger Station.  Please remember to check out after your climb by submitting your climbing permit back at the ranger station after your climb.  See the blog post below for more details on registration now that it's the "winter" season.  

These moments of transition from late summer to the start of winter add extra hazards.  Thinly covered crevasses, new avalanche problems, longer storm cycles and colder temperatures can all add up to dangerous conditions.  Please use extra caution in any winter climbing or skiing attempt.  And, while it can be rewarding to have solitude up high on the mountain, please do it safely!

Have a great winter and see you next spring! 

Climbing Self-Registration 2026/2027

During the winter, there are two things required to climb or ski (above 10,000' or on glaciers) at Mount Rainier National Park.  The first is to pay the online Annual Climber Cost Recovery Fee. The second is to use the self-registration kiosks at Paradise or White River to fill out your permit. 

Paradise:  Self-registration for climbers began Monday September 7th, 2026 and the Paradise Wilderness Information Center is now closed. There is a self-registration box located outside the Old Ranger Station in Paradise. This is open 24/7 for registration, even if no one is staffing it - follow the directions on the kiosk located just inside the "Guide House" Building's front door.  Eventually, when Paradise Buildings are winterized, this kiosk will move down to the Paradise Old Station's porch so it's accessible all winter.

Self-Registration Kiosk at Paradise is just inside the Guide House.

White River:  The White River Wilderness Information Center will be staffed until October 11th, 2026. After that date, there will be a self-registration box on the outside of the Wilderness Information Center.  This self-registration box should be accessible all winter and into early spring for climbers and skiers headed to the Emmons-Winthrop, Little Tahoma and routes on the north side of the mountain.  

Climbers can still register in-person (which we recommend) in Longmire.  Check the park's operating hours and pay special attention to the date - the operating hours change throughout the winter. 

As summer turns to winter, our seasonal staff migrates away from the mountain. High camps will only be staffed very occasionally, and any aviation or search and rescue operations will be delayed if not impossible. Please keep in mind that during the winters, there aren't rangers actively staffing the high camps to talk about conditions or weather.  All climbers and skiers will have to be self-reliant and should be able to self-rescue in case of an incident.