Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
OUTSIDE THE NORTHEAST (WHITE RIVER) ENTRANCE
Alta Crystal Resort at Mt. Rainier
This is the closest lodging to the
northeast (White River) park entrance and the Sunrise area, and although this
condominium resort with its wooded grounds is most popular in winter when
skiers flock to Crystal Mountain's slopes (just minutes away), there's also plenty
to do in summer. After spending the day hiking nearby trails, you can go for a
swim or soak your body in a hot tub in the woods. Accommodations are in one-
bedroom and loft chalets. The former sleep up to four people and the latter have
bed space for up to six people. All of the condos have fireplaces.
68317 Wash. 410 E., Greenwater, WA 98022.
&
800/277-6475
or 360/663-2500. Fax 360/663-2556. www.
altacrystalresort.com. 24 units. $139-$249 chalet for 1-6 people. AE, MC, V.
Amenities:
Outdoor pool;
Jacuzzi; bike rentals. In room:TV/VCR, dataport, kitchen, fridge, coffeemaker, hair dryer.
CAMPGROUNDS
There are six main campgrounds within Mount Rainier National Park, and
because all the park's campgrounds stay full on summer weekends, you should
be sure to either have a reservation (required for Ohanapecosh and Cougar Rock
from late June to Labor Day) or arrive early in the day. Reservations can be made
through the
National Park Reservation Service
(
&
800/365-2267;
http://
reservations.nps.gov). Campsite fees range from $9 to $15 per campsite per
night. No electrical or water hookups are available. Only the Sunshine Point
Campground and, depending on snow level and road conditions, the Ipsut
Creek Campground, stay open all year. The rest are open summer through early
fall, with the White River Campground usually closing first.
Ohanapecosh
(188 campsites), located in the southeast corner of the park, is
the largest but is a long way from the alpine meadows that are what most visi-
tors want to see. The closest campground to Paradise is
Cougar Rock
(173
campsites).
White River
(112 campsites) is close to Sunrise, which is one of
the most spectacular spots in the park.
Sunshine Point
(18 campsites) is near
the Nisqually entrance. Up in the northwest corner of the park, there is
Ipsut
Creek
(28 campsites), although due to frequent winter flood damage, the road
to this campground isn't always open.
In addition to drive-in campgrounds and the many backcountry camps, there
are two walk-in campgrounds that often have spaces available, even on week-
ends.
Mowich Lake
(30 campsites) is in the northwest corner of the park not
far from Ipsut Creek Campground, and the sites are only 50 yards from the
parking lot. If you're prepared for a longer walk in, consider
Sunrise
(8 camp-
sites), which is officially a backcountry campsite but is only about a mile from
the Sunrise parking lot (a backcountry camping permit is required).
When the park campgrounds are full, try
La Wis Wis
(90 campsites), a
national forest campground on U.S. 12 and the Cowlitz River near the
Ohanapecosh entrance. There are also numerous unremarkable National Forest
Service campgrounds along U.S. 12 east of White Pass and along Wash. 410 east
of the park.
For information on campgrounds in the national park, contact
Mount Rainier
National Park,
Tahoma Woods, Star Route, Ashford, WA 98304-9751 (
&
360/
569-2211;
www.nps.gov/mora). For information on national forest campgrounds
east of the park, contact the
Naches Ranger District,
10237 U.S. 12, Naches, WA
98937 (
&
509/653-2205;
www.fs.fed.us/r6/wenatchee); and for those west of the
park, contact the
Cowlitz Valley Ranger District,
10024 U.S. 12 (P.O. Box 670),
Randle, WA 98377 (
&
360/497-1100;
www.fs.fed.us/r6/gpnf ). For national
