Skiing and Snowshoeing in Mount Rainier National Park

Mt. Rainier is a major Nordic ski center for cross-country and telemark skiing. Although trails are not groomed, those around Paradise are extremely popular. If you want to ski with fewer people, try the trails in and around the Ohanapecosh-Stevens Canyon area, which are just as beautiful and, because of their more easterly exposure, slightly less subject to the rains that can douse the Longmire side, even in the dead of winter. You should never ski on the plowed main roads, especially in the Paradise area—the snowplow operator can't see you. No rentals are available on the eastern side of the park.

Deep snows make Mt. Rainier a snowshoeing pleasure. The Paradise area, with its network of trails, is the best choice. The park's east side roads, Routes 123 and 410, are unplowed and provide other good snowshoeing venues, although you must share the main parts of the road with snowmobilers.

Paradise Ski Area. During winter, the easy, 3½-mile Nordic ski route begins at the Paradise parking lot, and follows Paradise Valley/Stevens Canyon Road to Reflection Lakes. In summer, many trails around this side of the mountain are accessible from Paradise. Equipment rentals are available at Whittaker Mountaineering in Ashford, or at the National Park Inn's General Store in Longmire. Accessible from Nisqually entrance at park's southwest corner and (summer only) from Stevens Canyon entrance at park's southeast corner, Mt. Rainier National Park, WA, 98304. 360/569-2211. www.nps.gov/mora. May-mid-Oct., daily, sunrise-sunset; mid-Oct.-Apr., weekends sunrise-sunset.

Outfitters and Expeditions

Rainier Ski Touring Center. Adjacent to the National Park Inn, Rainier Ski Touring Center rents cross-country ski equipment and provides lessons from mid-December through Easter, depending on snow conditions. Hwy. 706, 10 mi east of Nisqually entrance, Longmire, WA, 98304. 360/569-2411; 360/569-2271 weekdays.