Camping at/near Rainier

Does anyone know whether you can camp/car camp at Paradise or near there? Because I hate waking up early in the morning, I was thinking of camping down there fri or sat night. Is this possible? If not in the park, can you camp nearby?

Get a camping permit. I just got a 75 dollar ticket for not having one for the carbon area. You should be able to camp very close by to paradise. They wouldn't like you camping in your car, though I've done it before. Plus they make you park down by the visitor center these days I think and at night they look to see if you have a permit.

sunshine point campground (right inside the park boundary) is open year round, but I'd expect it to be a swampy mess this time of year...not a big deal if you're car camping though I guess.<br>The disadvantage to camping there is that you're not on the 'good' side of the longmire gate...you're still gonna be stuck waiting for the morning opening just like everyone else.<br><br>If you want to get to the goods early, get a camping permit at Longmire (they're free) and drive on up to Paradise...in the winter I don't think you have to go very far from the parking lot...at least it seems like theres usually a gaggle of boyscouts there many weekends camping within 100 yards of the parking lot.<br><br>

Good advise from both Jason and Pete.<br>For details go to "Winter Camping" on THIS PAGE .

www.nps.gov/mora/recreation/winter.htm#camping

Ron's link didn't work for me -- so here is a copy of the MORA website text on Winter Camping -- in summary -- above Longmire "Car Camping" isn't permitted -- you have to snow camp -- but you need only travel a mere 300ft from the parking lot in the winter. The big scout troops usually snow camp in the "Dead horse creek" area perhaps a 1/2 mile northwest of the parking lot. They are supposed to collapse thier snow caves and igloos when they leave -- but often they don't -- so arriving on a Friday afternoon you might even find a snow shelter left over from last week. Be aware that the Rangers close the road to uphill travel at Longmire fairly early in the late afternoon -- so call the Rangers(360-569-6003) to find out when they plan on closing the road so you can leave Seattle early enough. The ranger's generally a pretty friendly group of hard working people -- but they are overworked -- you would be amazed at how many incident's and accident's they have to deal with -- just with people on the roads and the parking lots.

Winter Camping<br><br>Mount Rainier National Park is a popular place to enjoy winter activities. The mountain receives abundant snowfall and the scenery is spectacular. Snows usually begin in earnest in late October or early November.<br><br>Camping on snow is allowed almost anywhere in the park once enough snow has accumulated to protect vegetation. This means when snow has reached a depth of five feet at Paradise and two feet elsewhere in the park. A snow depth of 8' is recommended before constructing snow caves at Paradise.<br><br>Backcountry permits are required year-round and during the winter are available at the Longmire Museum at Longmire daily and the Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise (weekends and holidays).<br><br>In snow camping, you choose your own campsite, but the site must be a minimum of 300 ft. from plowed roads and parking areas (to avoid being buried by snowblowers), marked routes, trails, and buildings and at least 100 ft. from water. Maximum group size is up to twelve people.<br><br>Groups of more than 12 people are directed to snow camp only at Paradise. Groups must camp in 1 of the 3 designated group camping areas and are required to use restrooms to dispose of human wastes. Maximum group size is 100. We strongly recommend groups of 13 or make a reservation since there are no other areas open to groups once the designated group sites are full. Please call 360-569-6003, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., at least two weeks in advance to make a reservation. Obtain your permit from the Longmire Museum by 4 p.m. the day of arrival.<br><br>Blue bags for human waste can be obtained from the ranger station or visitor center. Using blue bags requires maturity and a commitment to protecting the park. When you use blue bags with your group, please explain carefully how to use them and why: blue bag use helps keep water pure, protects fragile vegetation from digging, and allows more people to use this area without impacting it. A blue bag barrel is available in the tunnel to the restrooms in the upper parking lot for disposal of used blue bags. You are responsible for properly disposing of human waste.<br><br>In order to protect the scenic winter environment you have come to enjoy, the following are PROHIBITED: <br><br>Cutting vegetation (e.g., tree boughs). Use sleeping pads for insulation instead. <br>Campfires of any type. The charcoal and unburned debris will melt out in an ugly mess in the spring. <br>Leaving Trash. Pack out EVERYTHING you bring in. Trash is buried by subsequent snowfall, but melts out in early summer to form unsightly piles of debris. <br>Pets are allowed only in the plowed parking lots and sidewalks and must always be on a leash. <br>Drying clothing and gear in the restrooms or the visitor center. <br>Camping or cooking in any building or in the restroom tunnel. <br>Collecting or gathering of wood, rocks, plants or other park resources. <br>Paradise Overnight Parking Areas<br><br><br><br>If you plan to camp overnight you MUST park your vehicle in the designated overnight parking areas at Paradise, Narada Falls or Longmire. These areas are signed and maps are available. If designated areas are full, contact a ranger. Parking outside these areas will impede snow plowing operations, could cause an accident and will definitely result in you having to dig your car out of the snow. Remember, camping in vehicles anywhere except in drive-in campgrounds (e.g., Sunshine Point Campground) is prohibited. Regardless of where you park, avoid setting your emergency brake if possible - it may freeze solid.<br><br>NEVER WALK OR SKI ON THE ROAD. Snow plows work overnight and early in the morning. Drivers will not be able to see you in time to stop.<br><br>DO NOT DRIVE IN OR ENTER THE PARADISE PARKING LOT OR DRIVE ON THE ROAD until you are certain it has been opened to traffic. At Paradise, park rangers will open the road and remove the "Road Closed" sign in the parking lot. Until the sign is removed, travel is unsafe.<br><br>