MOUNT RAINIER, Wash. — New drone video shows the extensive fire damage to the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad’s largest wooden trestle bridge and the surrounding area The heat from the fire twisted and melted the steel railroad tracks "Our drone footage shows what we couldn’t quite capture from the ground: the scale of the destruction to our bridge and the surrounding area," Mt The rail has twisted and melted in the heat RELATED: Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad devastated by trestle bridge fire, alleges possible arson which happened on a critical 28-span bridge between Mineral and Morton was reported to the fire department at 6:40 p.m By the time crews arrived over an hour later A spokesperson for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources told KOMO News the fire was "human-caused" but added that the investigation is still ongoing the fire happened just hours after the railway's total sale to WFIM was finalized which was rebuilt 20 years ago and deemed structurally sound was essential for reopening freight and passenger services to Morton "Bridges do not spontaneously combust someone set in motion the destruction of decades of infrastructure and millions in future regional impact," a representative told KOMO News Rainier Scenic Railroad is a heritage railway that offers inclusive and sustainable recreation for visitors Passengers board in Elbe and take an 18-mile ride on a vintage logging locomotive through the countryside with a terminus at a historic logging museum WFIM spent two and a half years rebuilding the railroad mile by mile carrying "more passengers than ever," opening access "Our in-service track is still operational for steam train excursions And the outpouring of support from this community has kept us going through one of the hardest weeks we’ve ever faced." Rainier Scenic Railroad concluded on Friday social media post that they've started a GoFundMe "We’ve raised our GoFundMe goal — not out of greed and eventual rebuilding will be in the millions and the first step is getting the right experts on board to chart a path forward." Anyone with information about the fire is asked to contact the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office Employees at Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad are reeling after a fire destroyed one of the railroad’s biggest bridges late Wednesday night According to a Thursday morning Facebook post, a fire on the 28-span bridge between Mineral and Morton was reported at about 6:40 p.m Regular excursions are still up and running the company clarified in an update on Facebook The fire happened on a piece of track that was going to be restored our future went up in smoke,” the Thursday morning post said “ … It took over an hour for fire crews to reach (the bridge) By the time we got the news and arrived on scene The bridge was structurally sound and had been rebuilt 20 years ago “Let’s be clear: bridges do not spontaneously combust someone set in motion the destruction of decades of infrastructure and millions in future regional impact.” the executive director for the organization told The News Tribune the company is still trying to figure out how to move forward “We know that the bridge is going to be a total loss “We know that the cost to rebuild will be significant — in the millions if not tens of millions of dollars.” “Our staff and our volunteers have given a huge amount of time and effort to rebuilding this railroad and preserving our little piece of history,” Maher said public support is everything and we won’t be able to rebuild without it.” Anyone with information about the bridge fire can contact Detective Darrell Tevis with the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office at 360-748-9286 or investigations@lewiscountywa.gov Stay secure and make sure you have the best reading experience possible by upgrading your browser MYNORTHWEST NEWS 11:24 AM | Updated: 11:26 am A fire that's believed to be deliberately set destroyed a 128-foot railroad trestle owned by the Mt BY BY BRANDON THOMPSON, KIRO7 NEWS AND KIRO7 EYEWITNESS NEWS STAFF — Wednesday night was a night of celebration for the Mt they had just completed the purchase of the rail lines they had been previously leasing from Tacoma Rail It’s the latest achievement for the crew of 12 full-time employees that reopened the railroad in 2023 “We started getting messages on our phones and hadn’t confirmed the railroad was on fire but we were a little suspicious,” said Bethan Maher the executive director of the Western Forest Industries Museum Maher and some of her colleagues confirmed what they had feared—a 128-foot trestle bridge was up in flames powered by the flammable creosote that coated the wooden beams “It’s safe to say it was shocking and is still shocking,” Maher said “I spent most of the day onsite yesterday watching it burn.” The bridge isn’t apart of the North and South routes that close to 80,000 people had ridden on in the last 18 months But the near-capacity crowds over the last summer brought the bridge into a plan to build out more routes to bring more people to the scenic views of the westside of Mount Rainier We’re a very small non-profit with a relatively small bank account and a whole lot of volunteers who give a ton of time and energy,” Maher said The locomotives and train cars they have all are around a century old some found abandoned in the woods around Rainier The infrastructure that old comes with its challenges but the bridge itself was far from the list of concerns It had been rebuilt 20 years earlier with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Maher and her team watched as the bridge collapsed Washington’s Department of Natural Resources says it is human-caused given that no natural sparks like lightning were detected in the area near there “We had investigators on the ground yesterday That process will wind its way through its course and hopefully we’ll have some sort of more exact findings sooner the wildfire communications manager for DNR It comes on the heels of some suspicious happenings at the railroad like someone threatening to blow up one of the locomotives at the museum portion of its property “Do we know that it is related to that situation The threat was over the railroad’s history of poor labor standards and practices An irony that strikes Maher because it’s exactly that kind of history she’s hoping to share with people who ride on trains and visit the future museum that’s set in a log camp that was the setting of those conditions “I’m passionate about telling the stories of the folks that lived along the railroad and worked on the railroad Not all the history associated with railroads is pretty and neat and that’s a story that deserves to be told,” Maher said albeit on a longer time frame than what she had been planning on the North and South routes are still available for trips and supporting their GoFundMe will help with the mitigation and the engineering of a replacement bridge that she suspects will cost tens of millions of dollars A GoFundMe to benefit the railroad and help with rebuilding efforts has been set up This website is unavailable in your location It appears you are attempting to access this website from a country outside of the United States therefore access cannot be granted at this time News & Reviews News Wire Fire destroys trestle on Mt Heritage line seeks donations to help reopen Rainier Scenic Railroad has been destroyed in a potential arson fire a major blow that has the operation asking for financial support The heritage railway, in a Facebook post says a fire at a 28-span bridge between Mineral and Morton It took fire crews more than an hour to reach the scene The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office has identified a “person of interest” involved with the fire, the railroad reports — but also notes that a photo of a railroad volunteer was released as part of Sheriff’s Office investigation Rainier Scenic has updated its initial report to note that its previously scheduled operations are continuing as the bridge was on a portion of its line that was still being restored In a Friday, May 2, Faceb0ok video showing a collapse of portions of the bridge the railroad says the state Department of Natural Resources has determined the fire was human-caused The bridge had been rebuilt 20 years ago and was still structurally sound It burned just after the sale of the railroad had been finalized “That span carried more than trains,” the railroad said on Facebook “It carried the weight of our financial stability and the future of the communities we serve … we don’t know what the path forward looks like yet The railroad says it will post updates and photos later today, but for now has launched a GoFundMe page to help reopen the railroad “Donations will go toward whatever that now requires — including insurance deductibles bridge replacement and recovery planning,”” according to that page the page had received $22,692 toward a goal reset to $45,000 I know a lot of people ask the same question “why would someone do such a thing?” I am not a psychiatrist but I have read many stories over the years about community and local efforts to rebuild historical railroad artifacts only to have an arsonist set it to flames shortly thereafter Usually the perp resents the fact that everyone is so worked up on something that has no value to them When a major milestone is applauded publicly One local town saved an old RR freight barn moved it to a donated piece of land by having a very public fundraiser that raised over $14k Another small town raised money to restore and remodel an old passenger depot into a museum for the community They had done a very public fund raising campaign 2 nights later an arsonist damaged it severely a 14 year old boy who resented the fact that he had nothing but people were spending all this time and money and he saw nothing in it for him The answer is obviously to continue to do public fundraising and it is impossible to suave every disgruntled person but there is a mentality out there who resents the attention and money spent on things like railroad history When people make an inanimate object the subject of attention that is usually reserved for actual people doing something A big worry has always when preserving RR items to add in good fire detection and protection That is especially true for buildings that were around a lot of steam operations due to the coal dust fallout being very volatile These wooden bridge fires are a national problem The problem is not easily solved as the replacement costs for some bridges are very steep Rainier Scenic RR years ago and really enjoyed the train ride and tour of the shops I hope they are able to secure the funding to replace the bridge and resume operations Definitely worthy of a donation in my opinion Members enjoy 15% off any purchase in our store. Join Today Get updates and special offers via email from Trains.com brands The bridge is located between Mineral and Morton While it was not on the portion of the railroad that currently hosts excursions officials said they hoped to use the trestle in the future for both freight and passenger service A 28-span wooden trestle on Washington’s Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad caught fire on the evening of April 30, a significant setback for the tourist operation that reopened in 2023 It was the backbone of our future: the critical connection that would allow both freight and passenger service to return to Morton we were finally on the brink of a new era—ready to restore service and build long-term financial sustainability for the railroad,” Executive Director Bethan Maher wrote the morning after the fire railroad officials alleged that someone had set the bridge on fire A call by Railfan & Railroad to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office the agency that would presumably investigate the incident Railroad officials are currently raising money to initiate the process of rebuilding the bridge Editor’s Note: This story was updated to note that Railfan & Railroad contacted the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office not the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Portland & Seattle E-1 4-8-4 700 will be under steam for the first time in nearly a decade this week plans to acquire Minnesota Commercial Railway Locomotive 1616 is the second unit UP has painted to honor a U.S Railfan & Railroad Magazine takes you trackside Snow and Mountain Lifestyle news and entertainment Washington — A railroad’s plan to grow its network took a massive turn for the worse last week On April 30th, a railroad bridge (known as a trestle) that connected the towns of Mineral and Morton caught fire. The trestle partially collapsed on Thursday. It was notably not operational, as the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad has been working to the restore this portion of the track. The fire is still smoldering, and recovery efforts are not underway due to this fact. Authorities determined it to be a human caused fire. A suspect was originally identified, but it’s now believed that this wasn’t the person who caused it. View this post on InstagramA post shared by Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad (@visitmrsr) View this post on InstagramA post shared by Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad (@visitmrsr) The good news is that this is not the main line Rainier Scenic Railroad connects the towns of Elbe and Mineral This means that the railroad will remain operational Rainier Scenic Railroad is a seasonal operation A fundraiser has been started to help the Railroad rebuild the build. So far, it has raised over $114,000. If you want to help the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad, you can donate here Image/Video Credits: Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad (Todd John) Get the latest snow and mountain lifestyle news and entertainment delivered to your inbox. ian@unofficialnetworks.com Born and raised in New Hampshire, Ian Wood became passionate about the ski industry while learning to ski at Mt. Sunapee. In high school, he became a ski patroller at Proctor Ski Area. He travelled out... The Carbon River Bridge has “permanently closed” to all traffic cutting off Highway 165 to the northwest of Mount Rainier National Park according to the Washington State Department of Transportation the closure will indefinitely pinch recreational access to Rainier in the summer as two of the park’s precious few entrance points have been rendered inaccessible.  Photos show the bridge support column “is bent in two directions and starting to buckle,” according to a blog post from WSDOT “It’s very apparent from the visual changes in the columns that the bridge is no longer safe to use,” Steve Roark, WSDOT’s Olympic region administrator, said in a written statement. After an emergency closure last week WSDOT announced Tuesday that the bridge will remain closed “Closing the bridge was our last option,” Roark said “We fully understand the magnitude of this decision for everyone who relies on this bridge.”  WSDOT closed the bridge April 14 “as a safety precaution after a recent inspection revealed new deterioration of steel supports across the bridge,” per Tuesday’s report.  will hinder the plans of outdoors enthusiasts this spring and summer as Highway 165 leads to the Carbon River and Mowich Lake entrances of Mount Rainier National Park It’s also along the route to the Carbon River Ranger Station where backpackers pick up permits to stay in the park overnight access to the park from the northwest will be cut off including northwestern access points to the Wonderland Trail that circles all of mighty Tahoma which is popular with ultrarunners and hardcore hikers.  As for those other park entrances? Mount Rainier National Park instituted a reserved, timed-entry system during peak hours at the park’s southwestern southeastern and east-northeastern entrance points last summer Stevens Canyon and White River entrances provide access to the popular Paradise and Sunrise areas while the Mowich Lake and Carbon River entrances maintained unfettered access.  A representative for Mount Rainier National Park could not be immediately reached for comment With the bridge closed for the foreseeable future WSDOT has started a planning study to evaluate next steps Potential solutions listed by WSDOT include replacing the bridge “in the same vicinity” or rerouting the highway “on a new alignment to the east or west of Carbon River Canyon.” Or the state could “keep the bridge closed and not replace it.”  there is currently “no funding available to replace the bridge.”  A 9-mile detour remains open to first responders and local residents Public feedback will be accepted at “in-person and online open house” sessions after Memorial Day which will be announced at a later date.  Over 200 out of 7,300 bridges inspected by the WSDOT are considered to be in poor structural condition including the bridge over the Carbon River Washington has seen a multitude of bridge failures over the past decades One broken beam on a steel-truss bridge over I-5 caused the span to fall into the Skagit River in 2013 when a truck hauling drilling equipment struck an overheard brace Three people survived the collapse with minor injuries The Skagit River Bridge was not structurally deficient though its design made it “functionally obsolete,” according to the Federal Highway Administration The West Seattle Bridge closed in 2020 for two-and-a-half years due to cracks in deteriorating concrete girders below the bridge deck used a design from the late 1970s that over the years became too weak to hold up its weight At the time it opened over 103 years ago, the Fairfax Bridge was said to be the highest in the state, according to HistoryLink The 494-foot-long span over the Carbon River is a three-hinged steel arch “Since then, we have repeatedly recommended this bridge as a candidate for replacement due to its overall condition and age,” according to a WSDOT blog post last year it was removed as a candidate for replacement due to funding constraints.” Seattle Times Assistant Metro Editor Caleb Hutton contributed to this report The opinions expressed in reader comments are those of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of The Seattle Times Park staff conducted multiple March search and rescue operations in challenging conditions Download the NPS app to navigate the parks on the go A portion of Mount Rainier National Park will be inaccessible due to an indefinite bridge closure outside of the park On April 14, the Washington State Department of Transportation announced that the State Route 165 Carbon River Fairfax Bridge is closed until further notice showed new deterioration on steel supports in the preliminary findings of a recent inspection The bridge provided access to areas of the national park that are no longer accessible to the public Budget cuts and bathrooms: An ongoing struggle at US national parks The single-lane bridge on Route 165 led to the Mowich Lake Entrance and the Carbon River Ranger Station in the northwest corner of the park The National Park Service map shows the Mowich Lake Road is closed restricting access to the Paul Peak Trailhead the Mountain Meadows and the Wonderland Trail The bridge closure follows three previously imposed weight restrictions on the bridge since 2009 The average age of the state-owned bridges in Washington is 51 years "There is no funding available to replace the bridge at this point," the release stated "Years of deferred preservation work due to limited preservation funding resulted in the updated weight restrictions and now the indefinite closure." USA TODAY reached out to the National Park Service for this story Kinsey Crowley is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @kinseycrowley.bsky.social throwing the organization's historic railway restoration project into jeopardy PREVIOUS COVERAGE | KOMO News explores Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad Video shared with KOMO News shows a large section of the wooden bridge on fire and collapsing on Thursday Rainier Scenic Railroad said in a Facebook post that the “heat is so intense the steel rail is warping and melting.” A spokesperson for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources told KOMO News the fire was "human caused," but added that the investigation is still ongoing The bridge was rebuilt 20 years ago and deemed structurally sound "With the world’s largest comprehensive collection of logging locomotives, we will promote and provide historical steam age experiences telling the stories of those that lived, worked, and were impacted by the railroads," a statement on the website reads. Rainier Scenic Railroad in August of 2022 after its 2020 closure by the former operator The nonprofit has consistently provided updates about its endeavors to restore the railroad through the years restoring historic locomotives and equipment MRSR said the loss of the bridge has significant implications for the financial stability and future plans of the railroad and the communities it serves and build long-term financial sustainability for the railroad," the organization said "Our organization has done a herculean amount of work in the last two and a half years," Mt Rainier Scenic Railroad said in the announcement about the fire "We’ve carried more passengers than ever before We’ve fought for every inch of progress with sweat alleging arson as a possible reason for the fire Rainier Scenic Railroad said in a social media post They plan to provide updates and photos as they assess the damage further and the community is urged to stay off the tracks for safety reasons the Washington State Department of Natural Resources confirmed the fire was small but still burning and that crews were launched to assess the scene In the state’s latest symptom of inadequate road maintenance growing bridge cracks have caused an emergency shutdown of Highway 165 approaching Mount Rainier National Park prevents public access to the park’s Mowich Lake entrance approaching the mountain’s northwest slopes It was built in 1921 to traverse a 494-foot-wide canyon Recent inspections found worsening damage, prompting the shutdown for all drivers and pedestrians indefinitely, according to a Washington State Department of Transportation notice issued Monday “There is no funding available to replace the bridge at this point. Years of deferred preservation work due to limited preservation funding resulted in the updated weight restrictions and now the indefinite closure,” the WSDOT announcement said but 133 state bridges are already load-restricted or limited to lightweight and emergency vehicles legislators budgeted only about half the estimated $1 billion per year needed to keep the state’s highways and 3,385 bridges in good condition even as Washington kept promises to expand replace and add freeways led by the $5.6 billion Highway 520 replacement As of June 2023, a total 315 state bridges were 80 years or older, and 47 steel bridges were overdue for painting. WSDOT also reported that as of June 2024 29 bridges statewide need replacement and 33 others require rehabilitation “The longer these bridges are left in need of rehabilitation or replacement the more likely it is that they will need to be load restricted City and county bridges are aging as well: Notably, the Fishing Wars Memorial Bridge in Tacoma closed in 2023 after 96 years when debris caked onto the bridge’s steel beams cast doubts about whether they are still structurally sound Carbon River is the only WSDOT bridge currently blocked because of structural decline The Carbon River Bridge rests upon a steel arch and vertical steel beams for its central span with predominantly wood columns and crossbeams at either end of the canyon WSDOT previously reduced the load limit to 16,000 pounds last summer and changed its own snowplow fleet to comply The department also recommended replacing the bridge in 2015 It did replace some wooden deck panels in 2024 Wooden timbers below road level are in good condition Steel bridges are commonly preserved with new plates, bolts, and additional beams, while they’re repainted, Grimm said. Six years ago in Seattle, a broken connection on the Aurora Bridge was restored by inserting a short piece of new I-beam “The deterioration is more advanced and widespread than most steel rehabilitation situations,” Grimm commented by e-mail “The canyon it spans is particularly deep Many of the rusted steel connections were built in a manner that makes them difficult to rebuild without fully disconnecting them and that process would require the bridge to be supported independently during the reconstruction.” are detouring through logging roads and a Pierce County bridge which entails using keys to enter locked gates About 2,300 people visited the Carbon River area in April and May last year but the road to Mowich typically isn’t cleared of snow until July As of Tuesday, the Nisqually entrance via Highway 706 to Longmire and Paradise is open, with drivers required to carry tire chains; Highway 123 (Cayuse Pass) and Highway 410 (Chinook Pass) remain closed for winter, along with their connected routes including Sunrise Road and Stevens Canyon Road, the park service’s travel map says Westside Road remains closed for the season Rainier Scenic Railroad are reeling after a fire destroyed one of the railroad’s biggest bridges late Wednesday night According to a Thursday morning Facebook post a fire on the 28-span bridge between Mineral and Morton was reported at about 6:40 p.m ” … It took over an hour for fire crews to reach (the bridge) told the News Tribune the company is still trying to figure out how to move forward “We know that the cost to rebuild will be significant – in the millions if not tens of millions of dollars.” Employees started a GoFundMe to raise donations Anyone with information about the bridge fire can contact Detective Darrell Tevis with the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office at (360) 748-9286 or investigations@lewiscountywa.gov Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible Get breaking news delivered to your inbox as it happens © Copyright 2025, The Spokesman-Review | Community Guidelines | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy Be one of the first to try our new activity feed After five rescues in winter conditions in less than a month Mount Rainier officials are reminding hikers and skiers that it's still winter up high It may be spring in the lowlands, but it’s still winter in the high country of Mount Rainier National Park, officials are reminding would-be adventurers. This week, the park issued a warning to visitors encouraging them to stay up-to-date on the latest weather reports after a string of rescues in March Parts of Mount Rainier National Park often maintain snow and ice into June which is one reason why all vehicles must carry chains or other traction devices through the first of May the park is notorious for hosting rapidly changing weather which can add danger to otherwise manageable conditions rangers and Mount Rainier Nordic Patrol volunteers rescued a 30-year-old woman near Panorama Point after she was injured in a skiing fall a 62-year-old snowshoer suffered an injury on the Muir Snowfield amidst 60 mph winds and freezing temperatures Rescuers from the first incident responded a 72-year-old man called for help in the Narada Falls area rangers rescued a 19-year-old man with a medical issue on the Wonderland Trail park rangers carried out a 28-year-old man after he suffered injuries near Panorama Point the park noted that “rescue is not guaranteed” for hikers or other adventurers who get into trouble “Longer days and rising temperatures can be misleading when planning a trip to higher elevations,” officials said sits at an elevation of 5,400 feet and maintains its snow cover until early summer Trails there are typically covered with snow and ice into June.” The 30-mile thru-hike was the ideal trip for putting our backpacking and hiking candidates through the wringer The fire was determined to be human caused but it is unknown if it was intentional or an accident Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Re: “Key bridge to Mount Rainier ‘starting to buckle,’ closes indefinitely,” April 22 The indefinite closure of the Fairfax Bridge over the Carbon River is a disservice to the local and broader Washington community outdoor enthusiasts and the small businesses that depend on summer traffic The suggestion of abandoning the bridge should not be on the table the state must fund the renovation of the bent steel beams and columns I urge WSDOT and the National Park Service to expand public access to the 9-mile detour route which is currently restricted to first responders and local residents This ensures equitable access while preserving emergency response routes from traffic congestion Washington’s natural parks are a shared resource not a luxury for those who live near alternate entrances I urge WSDOT to be transparent and consistent with public updates This can be done by hosting bi-monthly forums on updates regarding the construction and by allowing state legislators to prioritize funding to support a long-term solution whether that be fixing the specific columns that are unstable or renovating the bridge completely 2025 3:12 PM EDTNational Park tourists may have to contend with detours and traffic jams this summer as a key route into a popular park has been closed indefinitely Earlier this week, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) announced the closure of the State Route 165 Carbon River Fairfax Bridge built in 1921 and located at milepost 11.5—about three miles south of Carbonado in Pierce County—has been deemed unsafe following recent inspections that revealed new deterioration in its steel supports.  An aerial view of the Carbon River Fairfax Bridge near Mount Rainier National Park The closure serves as a key access point to Mount Rainier National Park These areas feature popular hikes such as Tolmie Peak Lookout there will be no public access to these areas “We are continuing to evaluate the bridge’s condition and will share updates as they become available.”  The agency also shared images as proof of the bridge’s condition citing specific “rusting areas” and of “advanced deterioration” in the bridge’s support columns that could be problematic for the safety of anyone crossing the bridge The SR 165 Carbon River Fairfax Bridge is a steel truss bridge supported by a lattice work of steel beams and columns rusting areas on the steel truss portions of the bridge are visible underneath the bridge deck. Washington State Dept This side-by-side photo shows advanced deterioration on the State Route 165 Carbon River Fairfax Bridge between 2022 and 2024 This shows the rusting steel on a critical piece of the bridge Gusset plates connect beams to other portions of the bridge The majority of the gusset plates on this bridge have advanced deterioration. Washington State Dept This is a side-by-side comparison of the same element on the State Route 165 Carbon River Fairfax Bridge pictured one year apart This piece of the span is called a gusset plate advanced corrosion is visible in the center of the gusset further deterioration resulted in cracks through the steel Other pieces of the steel are no longer there Gussets helps connect the driving surface of the bridge and the steel arch underneath the span There are many other gussets on the century-old span that have advanced deterioration. Washington State Dept Each year, an estimated two million people visit Mount Rainier in search of exploration and natural connection Travelers are worried that that the area could be closed for the whole summer but the reality is that officials aren’t sure yet how long it will take to fix the 103-year-old bridge WSDOT signed an emergency declaration that expedited work for an emergency detour route for first responders and local property owners south of the bridge the emergency detour route is not open to the public officials aren’t sure yet how long it will take to fix the 103-year-old bridge which has surpassed its service life of 75 years based on current standards "There’s currently no funding available to replace the bridge at this point Years of deferred preservation work due to limited preservation funding resulted in the updated weight restrictions and now the indefinite closure." Visitors are encouraged to check the WSDOT app and statewide travel map for the latest updates.  In a small bit of good news, entry is free into Mount Rainier and every other national park in the country this weekend. By Doris Alvarez is a news writer at Men's Journal covering travel Mount Rainier is a national park because people with very different points of view came together to save a magnificent landscape from being forever lost mountain climbers and ecologists united their efforts to lobby Congress for six years to protect Mount Rainier as a national park Their efforts were rewarded when President McKinley signed legislation on March 2 making Mount Rainier the fifth national park Their reasoning was so convincing that many of their arguments are included in the park's significance statements A park's significance statements are the unique reasons identifying why a park exists form the basis for every aspect of the park's management Listed below are the significance statements for Mount Rainier National Park Mount Rainier is the highest volcanic peak in the contiguous United States It has the largest alpine glacial system outside of Alaska and the world's largest volcanic glacier cave system (in the summit crater) Mount Rainier shapes the physical environment and defines the identity of the Pacific Northwest used with permission under a Creative Commons license Mount Rainier is an outstanding example of Cascade volcanism Mount Rainier's eruptions and mud flows have shaped the area and future eruptions are a potential threat to park visitors Mount Rainier is the second most seismically active and the most hazardous volcano in the Cascade Range Geological Survey to provide advance warning of future eruptions Mount Rainier National Park protects the headwaters of five major watersheds that originate on the mountain's glaciers and are an important source of water for the Puget Sound region Mount Rainier reaches up into the atmosphere to disturb great tides of eastward moving Pacific maritime air Mount Rainier National Park is a vital remnant of the once widespread primeval Cascade ecosystem and provides habitat for many species representative of the region’s flora and fauna The park preserves a diverse mosaic of subalpine and alpine ecological communities and contains outstanding examples of diverse vegetation communities and dependent organisms ranging from old-growth forest to subalpine meadows and ancient heather communities Mount Rainier National Park protects more than 97% of its area as federally designated wilderness Particularly as urban and rural development expands the park increases in importance to the region and the world as a large island of protected open space where ecosystem processes dominate and opportunities for wilderness recreation are available to a growing and diverse population Wilderness allows us to experience natural environments unchanged by humans But experiencing wilderness without altering it requires care and knowledge "Leave No Trace" techniques help us to minimize our impact on wilderness areas as we enjoy them It is thrilling to see animals in the wild and it's important to know what to do or not to do when you encounter wildlife Mount Rainier is a living laboratory that offers opportunities for scientists and students to study and develop a deeper understanding of as well as foster an appreciation for the park Due to its great elevation range and extensive glacial systems and historic infrastructure are acutely sensitive to climate change impacts offering an exceptional opportunity to observe and understand the effects of climate change and demonstrate climate change response in the national park system Mount Rainier offers recreational and educational opportunities in a wide range of scenic settings all in a relatively compact area that is easily accessed by a large urban population The park's terrain and weather conditions offer world-class climbing opportunities that have tested the skills of climbers for more than a century Carbon River is located in the park’s northwest corner This part of Mount Rainier National Park receives consistently high amounts of rainfall so the climate and plant communities found here resemble that of a temperate rainforest Set in a glacial basin surrounded by fragile wildflower meadows, Mowich Lake is the largest and deepest lake in Mount Rainier National Park. Mowich Lake is open for fishing and non-motorized boating The area is generally open mid-July to mid-October The road is unpaved after the first three miles and may be rough Check the road status prior to visiting the Carbon & Mowich area You might consider visiting additional areas of the park such as Sunrise, Ohanapecosh, Paradise, and Longmire The Carbon Glacier has shaped both the landscape of Mount Rainier as well as the history of Mount Rainier National Park This impressive glacier also plays a powerful role in shaping the future of both the mountain and its national park The Ipsut Creek Campground is located 5 miles (8 km) from the Carbon River Entrance. Due to the 2006 flood the road is closed to vehicles; the campground is open to hikers with a wilderness camping permit The Mowich Lake Campground is located 6 miles (9.5 km) from the Mowich Lake Entrance. The Paul Peak Trailhead Picnic Area is located at the Mowich Lake Entrance Both the Mowich Lake Campground and Paul Peak area are open midsummer to early fall The Carbon River area includes old-growth forest and inland temperate rain forest. The Carbon Glacier is the lowest elevation glacier in the lower 48 states Enjoy other day hikes in the Carbon & Mowich area, or learn about more Trails of Mount Rainier There are many ways to experience Mount Rainier National Park Hike through subalpine meadows and cross snowfields at the height of summer See the terminus of a glacier and follow the path of a river into temperate rain forest While the 2006 flood closed the Carbon River Road to motor vehicle traffic up to the Ipsut Creek Campground and trailheads More information on bicycling at Mount Rainier It was a long time ago that I packed up my young family and we went on vacation and decided to visit It was an amazing drive; the scenery was stunning we went all the way up to the Paradise Lodge which is the jump off point for people who want to climb Mount Rainier.  The easiest access to Mount Rainier National Park is on Hwy But now that access has disappeared.  According to seattletimes.com,‘The Carbon River Bridge has “permanently closed” to all traffic according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.Beyond daily traffic as two of the park’s precious few entrance points have been rendered inaccessible.‘  People wanting to visit this park are going to have a much more difficult time getting there through Longmire finally giving you access to Paradise by way of Paradise Valley Rd. or you could detour up to Wonderland Trail.  The thing to keep in mind is that hiking is restricted because of the lack of easy access extracting them from the park would be a severe problem There is a nine-mile detour that's open to 1st responders The saddest part of this whole story is the fact that it's doubtful that the Carbon River Bridge will be repaired even this year possibly not even repaired next year because of the severe budget shortfall that Washington state is going to see over the next four years.  and it's probably been due for repair or replacement for decades Planning a trip to Mount Rainier National Park? Discover how the Carbon River Bridge closure affects access to Paradise Lodge and key hiking trails in Washington\nRead More According to seattletimes.com,‘The Carbon River Bridge has “permanently closed” to all traffic Washington state’s Mount Rainier has been making regular guest appearances during air-to-air test flights in the Puget Sound region The Boeing Company was born in the shadow of Mount Rainier William Boeing and Conrad Westervelt decided to go into the aviation business on the shores of the Duwamish River buying the former Heath Shipyard as their first business venture in what later became known as the Boeing Airplane Co Virtually every new airplane built there does a flyby photo with Mount Rainier The following is a selection of highlights from throughout the years Site Terms | Privacy and Cookie Statement | Ad Choices | Cookie Settings by George Waldenberger the word “eruption” brings to mind 1980 when Mount Saint Helens demonstrated that the Washington Cascades are one of the most volcanically active parts of the country and Glacier Peak are four of the active volcanoes in Washington state "It's totally at a state of background activity so we're not worried about Mount Rainier right now,” said Alex Iezzi Iezzi's team with the USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory monitors the Cascades daily Their infrasound and seismic sensors detect cracks and movement from below as magma is forced upward Gas sensors signal changes in volcanic fumes and GPS sensors monitor and measure ground deformation ALSO SEE | Washington state's volcanoes ranked among nation's most hazardous With researchers monitoring Mount Rainier so closely Iezzi said if a big eruption were to occur it’s likely "we would be able to see it for months in advance.” may be able to bring volcanic ash to Seattle lava flow or mudflow impacting the Seattle area would be very unlikely In 2018 the USGS updated its assessment of the most dangerous volcanoes in the United States ranking Mount Rainier third on the list behind Mount St The USGS said Mount Rainier was ranked third due to its history of large destructive eruptions and its proximity to heavily populated areas Experts believe an eruption from Mount Rainier would post a grave threat to millions of people who live in the southern and eastern sections of the Seattle metropolitan area but it has a lot of glaciers on top of it that can melt and form these really large lahars that can move downstream into areas people live in," Iezzi said Lahars are very destructive volcanic mudflows that can swallow everything in their paths lahars flowed up to 60 miles destroying 200 homes Lahars are one of the risks with a Mount Rainier eruption "There's a lahar evacuation drill in the areas of Orting and Puyallup (and every year or two) and I think 45,000 people participated this year,” Iezzi said lahars can trigger without a volcanic eruption from a landslide instead These so-called “no notice lahars” are the reason extra sensors are concentrated in drainage areas on the southwest slopes of Mount Rainier wind patterns would often direct any ash from an erupting volcano eastward whereas the lahar risk primarily impacts the western slopes And while Mount Rainier hasn't erupted in 1,000 years the team with the USGS will be watching for when it shows the signs A throwback photo of skiers queueing up to ride REX There will be another way to snag one of the chairs, too.Visitors who ski or ride a chairlift at Crystal Mountain between May 2 and May 4 will be automatically entered for a chance to win a REX chair. Each ski day counts as a raffle entry.According to a recent social media post from Crystal Mountain are forthcoming.To honor the departure of REX Crystal Mountain is hosting a 1980s-themed party on May 4 with live music which is located near the base of the chairlift Vintage outfits with neon and wild patterns are encouraged.The party also coincides with the Over the Top Rail Jam which has been relocated to be visible from REX’s lower terminal.REX It was the first detachable chairlift built in Washington and has since become a staple of Crystal Mountain’s skier access infrastructure providing access to popular powder day haunts like The Doors and Sunnyside.In June the ski resort will begin replacing REX with a new Leitner-Poma high-speed quad that is expected to be complete by December 2025 The construction process won’t interrupt Crystal Mountain’s summer operations which include the Mount Rainier Scenic Gondola Climate change and the parks National Parks in Crisis A distant view of the Paradise Area from the Pinnacle Peak Trail Mount Rainier National Park / Rebecca Latson On a clear sunny day in the Seattle/Tacoma area of Washington State, the locals often remark “The Mountain is out.” Gaze eastward and you, too, will see The Mountain, a 14,410-foot-tall (4,392 meters) volcano towering over the landscape in all its glacier-flanked glory. It’s a sight to behold. It’s also the centerpiece of Mount Rainier National Park Before European explorers ever set eyes upon this icon of the Pacific Northwest and Coast Salish peoples revered the mountain this episodically active volcano boasts the most glaciers on a mountain within the contiguous United States Twenty-five major glaciers have a combined area of 35 square miles (90 square kilometers) There are five entrances from which to gain access to the many trails and scenic views and Nisqually Entrance is the only one open year-round (weather permitting) Five areas are accessible via one or more of these five entrances: Paradise - the most-visited area within the park and home to Paradise Inn Sunrise - the highest point that can be reached by vehicle Longmire - designated a National Historic District and location of the National Park Inn Ohanapecosh - located among old-growth forest Carbon River-Mowich – a landscape of old-growth forest and inland temperate rain forest shaped by volcanic activity and glaciation which has the lowest terminus of any glacier in the contiguous United States In addition to day hikes and backcountry trails, the park is a magnet for climbers intent upon ascending this glacier-iced volcano. The park roads are open to bicyclists and there’s even a 154-mile (247.8-kilometer) RAMROD (Ride Around Mount Rainier in One Day) annual bike ride organized by the Redmond Cycling Club For those of you who want to see the park from a waterier perspective kayaking and canoeing are allowed on most of the park’s lakes Even during winter, when all roads except for the Nisqually Entrance road are closed for the season, there are still plenty of outdoor activities from snowboarding Pack your binoculars and camera to observe the park’s abundance of wildlife you’ll definitely see (or hear) one or more of 182 bird species living within or migrating through the park Visit during mid-July through early August and your eyes will feast upon wildflowers such as avalanche lilies and scarlet paintbrush blanketing the meadows at both Paradise and Sunrise areas With so much to see, do, and photograph at Mount Rainier National Park, you might wonder where to start first. This Traveler’s Checklist should help you with your planning Support Essential Coverage of Essential Places A copy of National Parks Traveler's financial statements may be obtained by sending a stamped self-addressed envelope to: National Parks Traveler National Parks Traveler was formed in the state of Utah for the purpose of informing and educating about national parks and protected areas Residents of the following states may obtain a copy of our financial and additional information as stated below: National Parks Traveler is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs Our app is packed with RVing- specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 national parks.You’ll also find stories about RVing in the parks tips helpful if you’ve just recently become an RVer National Parks Traveler is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit media organization Climate change creates ripple effects throughout the environment of Mount Rainier and the Pacific Northwest Park scientists are studying the effects of climate change in a variety of areas in the park Excerpt from Puyallup Watershed Thermal Imagery Web Map South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group As glaciers retreat, they deposit massive amounts of rocky debris into river systems. This debris fills up river channels when the rivers can’t support the amount of sediment flowing in the water, a process known as aggradation The river water is forced to change direction and create new channels This is why Mount Rainier’s rivers have wide Climate change is accelerating glacial recession and thus increasing the sediment available to rivers to transport downstream This can lead to new river channels in adjacent floodplains that are in the path of buildings and roads climate change is increasing rain and flooding events Warmer temperatures means that precipitation falls as rain instead of snow This can result in rapid aggradation and debris flows Another side effect of an increase in extreme peak flows and flood events is that they can scour redds (a spawning location on a riverbed) while fish eggs are incubating Park scientists are conducting annual spawning surveys to track trends over time and location of spawning habitat The park is also prioritizing the replacement of culverts throughout the park including the White River Campground culverts as outlined in the Fish Management Plan Culverts help combat high flows and removal of fish barriers Please do your part when visiting by conserving water Part of Mount Rainier National Park became inaccessible on Monday after Washington officials shut down a bridge leading to the northwest area of the park Washington State Department of Transportation closed State Route 165 after finding deterioration of the steel supports of the 103-year-old structure The bridge provided access to Mount Rainier National Park's Mowich Lake Entrance the transportation agency reported no public access from SR 165 to these areas which had nearly 16,000 vehicle entries in 2024 cuts off access to the Carbon River and the seasonal Mowich Lake area that features popular hikes such as Tolmie Peak Lookout An estimated two million people visit Mount Rainier National Park Here's what you need to know about the closure of the Carbon River Fairfax Bridge Engineers must evaluate to determine repairs and no timeline has been provided for the bridge's reopening the Washington State Department of Transportation said in a press release More park news: National Park Service firings hit Mount Rainier, Olympic, North Cascades the bridge's load rating was reduced to 16,000 pounds (8 tons) This was the third restriction imposed on the bridge since 2009 commercial vehicles were restricted from crossing the bridge the agency reported that no funding is available to replace the bridge The 494-foot-long bridge opened to travelers in 1921 A bridge is expected to have a service life of 75 years based on current standards The average age of state-owned vehicle bridges is 51 years "Steel deteriorates over time as it's exposed to rain or snow. Water on steel over time forms rust, which weakens the steel,"  wrote Cara Mitchell, a spokesperson for WSDOT, in a blog post for the agency "We combat rust on bridges by painting them The last time the bridge was painted was in 1988 we have repeatedly recommended this bridge as a candidate for replacement due to its overall condition and age it was removed as a candidate for replacement due to funding constraints." Visitors to the park are encouraged to check the WSDOT app and statewide travel map for the latest updates on the bridge and other travel options Monday (May 5) for more than 3,200 seats on city councils The county is looking at whether Segale Properties’ proposed environmental mitigation strategies are enough to protect the local environment 12-year-old dies after late-night crash in Enumclaw my family and I take a trip to Mount Rainier and our annual ritual looked a little different birthday means it is time for Mount Rainier my husband and I make a pilgrimage to Mount Rainier with our two daughters to admire the massive volcano Our trips began with toddlers and sledding near the parking lot then progressed to little kids happily hiking fueled by special treats with parents lugging kid skis and boots in big she was bound and determined to reach a new high point of base camp Our scheduled Rainier date approached and miserable white-out blizzard conditions prompted us to make a rational decision When a sunny window opened up a couple of weeks later, we pulled Nina out of school for a day and headed south. My husband, Hans, had a work project he couldn’t break free from, so we enlisted our friend Anna, a fellow emergency room doc and skilled mountaineer, to join us. Anna was fresh off a month living and working on Denali as part of a high altitude mountain rescue crew and Nina was a strong teenager fresh off the tail end of a full spring of 2.5-hour daily rowing workouts I was taking an oral chemotherapy medication for my metastatic breast cancer my third line of treatment in the four years since I’d been diagnosed with an incurable disease Translation: I was feeling fatigued and mildly queasy but enthusiastic by nature and powered by optimism and passing by tourists in running shoes slipping around on the snow near the parking lot at Paradise My decades-old backcountry boots and skis felt inordinately heavy beneath me and I wondered why I hadn’t yet sprung for a long-overdue upgrade to modern I silently rued my over-practical frugality laughing at myself when I acknowledged that cancer treatment might also be making this a bit harder than usual As we ascended I started feeling some nausea but I was also determined to help Nina reach her goal We hit a viewpoint and assessed our timing I told Anna and Nina that I needed to just lay on a sunny rock for about 20 minutes They both told me they were sure I could make it but that I needed to just sit and I wanted them to get Nina up there After a bit more back-and-forth and some hugs they clicked back into their skis and headed uphill together reveling in the feeling of accomplishment when I’ve endured to make it to a peak My husband and I have an agreement that if we are ever debating doing some outdoor activity it’s 99 percent of the time better to say yes and just go one that has filled my life with many wonders Asking to stay on the sunny rock was a different me laughed at a fat marmot galumphing across the snowfield below me chittered back at a bold chipmunk who came by asking for a treat and said yes to what my body was asking me at the moment ate a handful of gummy bears and a cheese stick and let myself rest as I gazed out on a field of volcanoes outlining the southward heading fault through the mountain ranges in the distance My nausea cleared and my heartbeat slowed to a comfortable rate happy to see the progress Nina and Anna were making 8,000 feet higher in elevation than where we woke up that morning in our Seattle home focusing on my boots and skis as they slid slowly upward Keeping my head down while ascending meant I got to surprise myself each time I looked up excited to see progress 100 steady steps at a time I loved finding a compromise between the rest I needed and pushing just enough to reach a goal Nina’s ear-to-ear grin and the soft spring-skiing turns that led us back to our car were worth it Cancer treatment has a rhythm like my 100 steps There have been times when the best I can do is to put my head down and count the 100 steps between treatments There have been other times where the steps have been easier like with 2.5 years of stability on my first targeted anti-cancer medication My latest treatments have a rapid cycle of visits and scans with scans every six weeks to see if the treatment is working or not the steps are leading in a more uncertain direction What is certain to me is that each batch of 100 steps is worth it and the time outdoors with the people I love And though my journey up Mount Rainier now is markedly different than it was before my diagnosis and tech with access to unlimited digital content from Outside Network's iconic brands Dec 26, 2024 | Sports THIS STAND OF Douglas firs felt holy and solemn like we had entered a cathedral or sanctuaryPhoto by Matthew Dickerson Stepping out the front door of the National Park Inn our eyes were drawn at once to the impressive peak of Mount Rainier straight in front of us Towering more than 11,500 feet above where we stood reaching to an elevation of 14,411 feet above sea level its perennially snow-and-ice-covered summit was bathed in the textured red glow of winter morning light My wife Deborah and I had come to Washington for the wedding of our second-oldest son Cross-country travel being as time-consuming and pricey as it is we figured that as long as we were spending the time and money to get there we should stay a few days extra and maybe find one of the West Coast national parks to visit When we learned that the southwest entrance to Mount Rainier National Park was less than a two-hour drive from our son’s house and that the historic inn at Longmire was running an off-season half-price two-night lodging special We booked a stay and arranged for a rental vehicle with available snow chains — a required accessory for winter visitors to the park even at Longmire which is only a half dozen miles into the park on one of its few lower-elevation stretches of road that is open year-round driving past a trio of elk at dusk just outside the park gate our initial glimpse of the park’s famous peak was under a bright moonlight which gave it a soft and almost welcoming appearance as I snapped a few long-exposure photos across a field lined with snow-covered trees and dotted with frosted flowers The next morning’s view of the intimidating tower of rocks and ice eliminated any illusion of softness and we were quite content to admire it from a distance we began our first hike along the Wonderland Trail It took us at once from the inn and visitor center into a thick and quiet old-growth forest of evergreens dominated by majestic Douglas fir Fresh tracks of black-tailed deer and something else we took to be coyote preceded us along the snowy trail Bold Douglas squirrels walked out on fallen trunks to watch us pass we found ourselves walking along the Nisqually River with views upriver of the rocky southeastern slope of Rainier Eventually we turned onto a different trail and crossed the Nisqually on a log bridge made of a massive fallen tree and into a much narrower cut carved by Paradise River From there the trail began a steeper ascent a little distance from the river until we found ourselves looking out as through a frosty windowpane through snow-laden bows of fir and hemlock at the 53-foot drop of Carter Falls It may have been the quiet of fresh snow on the ground or the fact that we had the trail to ourselves that made the place feel weighty and still which we later learned were many centuries old with some approaching a thousand years in age felt holy and solemn like we had entered a cathedral or sanctuary Although the name of the trail at first seemed somewhat pretentious I indeed quickly found myself raptured by a sense of wonder And though the snow on the ground was enough to put me in a holiday spirit it was more than mere snow that had me thinking about Christmas It was that sense of wonder and delight along a trail called Wonderland Thanks to a book I’ve been working on that is coming out in a couple months I have spent much of this year thinking and writing about wonder and delight that comes from spending time in nature then the Divine Being who called the Douglas firs into existence and created a world with the geologic forces of tectonic plates glaciers and erosion that thrust Mount Rainier toward the sky and then spent eons carving and shaping it — that very Divine Being then entered into that creation as an infant born in a manager in the village of Bethlehem in the first century of what we now refer to as the Common Era rivers and waterfalls is a place where the Divine came and dwelt then it is indeed a holy place: a temple or sanctuary or cathedral of sorts One of the theological themes of that book I’ve been working on is the oft-repeated Biblical message that the wonder of nature ought to be a pointer to the greatness of its Divine Creator and that delight in nature can lead to delight in its Maker The biblical writers from the prophets and psalmist through the first-century apostles and Jesus himself repeatedly invite us to be attentive to nature: from starry heavens we are invited to see the wonder of its Divine Creator there is a weightiness to that belief that nature is not only the creation of a Divine Being but that it became their dwelling place when the Divine took on human flesh This should inspire awe and perhaps even a little fear If the world is the work of a great Artist then to respect that Artist should call one to respect their art To defile or desecrate or exploit creation — what we often call nature — is to dishonor the Creator When our actions destroy that which is full of wonder THE COLUMNISTS SPOTTED these blossoms of frost illuminated in the first morning light  with Mount Rainier looming in the distance.Photo by Matthew Dickerson the wonder of nature can also restore our souls Christmas is supposed to be a time of wonder and delight as is often reflected in beloved Christmas carols as well as the festive decorations of the season Certainly these past few years have been times of increased anxiety for many Taking the time to be attentive to snow-laden hemlocks or the maple sticks scratching the sky; to the winter birds at your feeder or half hidden in the brush along the edge of the field; the call of a barred owl on a cold night or the tracks of deer through the woods and that fleeting glimpse of a black nose before the white flag pops up; to the peaks of our Green Mountain State or to snowflakes and rivers and waterfalls glistening with frost and ice; any or all of this can begin to restore some of that wonder and peace Even looking at the stars on a clear and cold winter night and pondering the infamous star of the wondrous Christmas story that led a company of astrologers from the east on a long journey to Bethlehem where they found the Maker of mountains and maples wrapped in baby’s clothing in a manger BRISTOL RESIDENT DEBORAH Dickerson crosses the Nisqually River on a snow-covered log bridge between Longmire and Paradise during a recent trip to the Mount Rainier National Park.Photo by Matthew Dickerson The MUHS team finds itself coming together as a group of talented players get more experie … (read more) The host Mount Abraham Union High School earned solid victories on Tuesday in both the gir … (read more) In two of their final tune-ups for the upcoming NESCAC tournament the Middlebury College … (read more) The proposed project area is located near State Route 410 between Mile Post (MP) 58 and MP 60 near the north entrance to Mount Rainier National Park This section of the highway is adjacent to the White River in a forested area of the park Public input is being sought on a plan by the National Park Service and Washington State Transportation Department on a proposed project within the Mount Rainier Wilderness that seeks to reduce the risk of flooding and erosion to a segment of State Route 410 (SR 410) adjacent to the White River in Mount Rainier National Park The state agency is proposing to build two log structures in the White River floodplain within the wilderness area adjacent to the road corridor to prevent flooding of the SR 410 road corridor and resulted in WSDOT installing emergency riprap bank protection in several of these locations to prevent further damage to the highway Sections of the highway are still in imminent danger of flooding and bank erosion New side channels formed in the floodplain during spring 2017 that are aimed toward the roadway Immediate action is needed because additional flood erosion could result in damage or loss to this section of road." Details of the project area and the proposed action are available on the project website at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/SR410WhiteRiver Public comments on the project will also be accepted on that site through April 11 There will be a virtual public meeting on March 19 from 4:30 p.m to provide information about the project and answer questions Links to join the live meeting or watch a later recording will be posted to the project website Flooding from the White River has flowed over and eroded away Route 410/NPS file The Mount Rainier Wilderness was designated as part of the Washington Park Wilderness Act of 1988 The wilderness designation includes 97% of Mount Rainier National Park Designated wilderness must be managed according to the provisions of the Wilderness Act of 1964 The proposed flooding and erosion risk reduction project would be located more than 200 feet from the centerline of State Route 410 within designated wilderness The proposal includes installations/structures These activities are generally prohibited in wilderness and will be evaluated to determine if the proposed action meets the requirements of the Wilderness Act Construction access plans are being developed by WSDOT in coordination with the National Park Service State Route 410 serves as a gateway to Mount Rainier National Park’s east side providing access to the White River Campground The highway is directly adjacent to and within the floodplain of the White River Several locations along SR 410 have been damaged by past flooding and are at increasing risk of future flooding and erosion The park anticipates preparing an environmental assessment to analyze impacts of the proposed flooding and risk reduction project Public comments will help inform and support the park’s decision-making related to the project design and environmental impact analysis hiking or pedestrian traffic is restricted to the trail in the following areas: ALL subalpine areas are delicate and see increased visitation every year please practice Leave No Trace and STAY ON THE TRAIL to protect these unique ecosystems Then their ability to return and to sustain life in their mountain home becomes diminished or permanently removed Follow Mount Rainier's Ecological Restoration program through its season from growing native seedlings in the greenhouse to planting in the fall at Sunrise and Paradise The Ecological Restoration program also controls invasive plants in the park and uses everything from rappel work to helicopters to protect the natural vegetation of Mount Rainier National Park and minimize human impact Download the NPS app to navigate the parks on the go.