Page 22 - Feb 24

Narada Falls, a 188-foot waterfall located on the south face of Mount Rainier, is the easiest to access within MRNP due to its proximity to Mount Rainier Highway.
Deep gorges are everywhere along the Stevens Canyon Road or MRNP. In this area, the water level within the gorge is 150-feet below the tops of the sheer walls that line both sides.
considered likely to experience a major eruption within a decade). But that doesn’t seem to keep the tourists away any more than it did in the years and months leading up to the eruption of Mount Saint Helens. With the lack of seismic activity warning an eruption is imminent, there appears little reason to avoid visiting the Pacific Northwest, in general, or MRNP, in particular. Indeed, seismologists and volcanologists believe the mountain will provide adequate warning leading into its next eruptive cycle.
The NPS has long been dedicated to making such areas more accessible to the public while protecting the land, animals, plants and resources from various forms of exploitation. Without the NPS, areas like MRNP would remain inaccessible to all but the most ardent outdoorsman. Thankfully, for those of us who are less “hardy” but equally enamored with nature’s wonders, places like MRNP can be enjoyed. The closest entrance
20 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
into MRNP is at the park’s northwest corner, known as the Carbon River Entrance. A Ranger Station fronts this way into the park, and the paved road ends at the park’s boundary. Beyond that, hikers, mountain bikers and campers have miles of trails to enjoy, but wilderness and camping permits are required. As a result, the more popular entrance is at the park’s southwest corner, the Nisqually Entrance, off Highway 706.
Exploring MRNP by road is limited to the southern and eastern areas. Although there is a road and park entrance on the west side, its primary purpose is to allow access to the White River camping area (elevation: 4,400 feet MSL) and the Sunrise Visitor Center & Day Lodge (at 6,400 feet MSL, the highest point in the park reachable by car). However, those areas and the roads leading to them are typically only open July through September due to frequent and abundant snowfalls making the road impassable the rest of the year. In contrast, the
FEBRUARY 2024