Those coming to see a popular national park's iconic peak and pristine wilderness in 2024 will need to do some advanced planning. Mount Rainier National Park will use timed-entry reservations in 2024 to help mitigate traffic, according to a National Park Service press release.
While Washington has three national parks — Olympic, North Cascades, and Mount Rainier — only the latter one is requiring reservations. The park has seen a 40% increase in traffic over the past 10 years, making the measure a necessity to manage the sheer influx of visitors. Park overcrowding isn't fun for anyone, as it impacts visitors' experiences and harms the natural ecosystems.
Many popular national parks have introduced reservation systems to reduce crowds. However, reservations will only be required at Rainier during the busiest seasons. From May 24 until Sept. 2, the Paradise Corridor at the park's south area will require timed-entry reservations, from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m., when visitors are entering via the Stevens Canyon and Nisqually entrances.
From July 3 through Sept. 3, the Sunrise Corridor on the northeast portion of the park will require timed-entry reservations from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. for visitors coming in through the White River entrance. Reservations will be required for all vehicles, including motorcycles. Secure your reservations on recreation.gov, which will cost $2 and are good for a two-hour window. Visitors will be able to book their reservation beginning Feb. 21 for the Paradise Corridor and April 1 for the Sunrise Corridor.
On top of reservations, visitors will need to pay a park entry fee or have a valid park pass. Those entering the park outside of the 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. time blocks will not need a reservation.
"In recent years, it's been too common for visitors to sit in idling cars for a couple of hours at the entrance stations and then make laps through the parking lots hoping for an empty parking space," Superintendent Greg Dudgeon wrote in a press release. "We are testing a system that will spread visitation out throughout the day and season to reduce crowding."
READ MORE: 8 National Parks Will Require Reservations in 2024
