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There are several ongoing or upcoming construction projects in Mount Rainier National Park that may affect visitor access to certain areas of the park. More information about these park construction projects is available through the frequently-asked-questions listed below.
News Releases:
Last Updated: 11/19/24
Ohanapecosh Campground FAQs
Work will include the rehabilitation of 185 campsites and nine restroom buildings, replacing the wastewater collection system, upgrading electrical and water systems, road repairs, and accessibility improvements.
The original Ohanapecosh Hot Springs Resort started in the 1920’s and the Civilian Conservation Corps used public works funding to further improve the campground between 1934 and 1939.
No. The entire Ohanapecosh Developed Area, including all campsites, group camping sites, Cowlitz Indian Tribe Designated Use Area, visitor center, restrooms, auditorium, Ohanapecosh river access, picnic area and parking facilities will be closed for the construction project.
No. Visitor access to the Ohanapecosh area will not be permitted in summer 2025 as the site will be under construction.
No. Special Use Permits will not be issued for any portion of the Ohanapecosh area, including the amphitheater, in summer 2025. No visitor access will be permitted. The site will be under construction.
The Cougar Rock Campground and White River Campground will both be open to visitors during the summer 2025 camping season. Walk in sites at Ipsut and Mowich will also be available. For more information on camping in the park, please visit the campgrounds webpage.
Reservations for the 2026 camping season are expected to reopen on www.recreation.gov in December 2025.
This $24.1M project is funded by the Great American Outdoors Act's Legacy Restoration Fund ($3.3M), Recreation Fee revenues ($19.3M), and National Park Foundation ($1.5M).
The 2020 Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) is historic bipartisan legislation that expands equitable and accessible recreational opportunities and addresses long overdue infrastructure improvement and modernization needs on public lands managed by the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Indian Education schools.
The funding is reducing the maintenance and repair backlog, protecting critical resources, expanding recreational opportunities, and promoting long-term sustainable operations.
GAOA is funded by royalties from offshore oil and gas leases. The LRF provides up to $1.9 billion a year for five years to repair critical facilities and infrastructure in national parks, forests, wildlife refuges and American Indian schools. The NPS receives 70% of the LRF—up to $1.3 billion each year, or up to $6.65 billion total, through 2025.
Yes. The size of the LRF funding relative to other sources presents an opportunity to address large-scale deferred maintenance projects that cannot realistically be funded through other means. Without this investment, large projects would have to be phased, often with delay and public inconvenience, and at an increased cost.
The funding supports dozens of large-scale projects in parks that will improve campgrounds, roads, trails, restrooms, water treatment systems, and visitor facilities that are aging and strained by a level of use they were not designed to support.
The annual investment of up to $1.3 billion each year in national park infrastructure will in turn support jobs, businesses in local communities, and our national economy.
GAOA has generated billions of dollars of economic activity in communities across the nation by supporting 57,900 jobs, creating a $4 billion labor market, and contributing $6.3 billion to the nation’s gross domestic product.
State Route (SR) 123 construction & temporary closure zone (September 2-30, 2025) FAQs
This major rehabilitation project is for work done on a 2.8 mile section of State Route (SR) 123 within park boundaries, from Laughingwater Creek Bridge to the Panther Creek Bridge.
- Construction Year One (2025) - travel impacts:
- A 2.8 mile section of roadway will be under construction from April 2025-October 2025. Travelers will experience delays of up to 30 minutes.
- A full road closure of a portion of the roadway between Stevens Canyon Road and Panther Creek will take place from September 2-September 30, 2025. The roadway will be bisected near Panther Creek to install to large box culverts. There will be no vehicle, pedestrian, or bicycling access through the construction zone during this one-month culvert replacement project.
- Construction Year Two (2026) - travel impacts:
- A 2.8 mile section of roadway will be under construction from April 2026-October 2026. Travelers will experience delays of up to 30 minutes.
- There will be no full closures of the roadway during the 2026 construction season.
The Federal Highways Administration is providing $11.4 million to complete this project.
Yes, Stevens Canyon Road will be open and accessible during the one-month closure of the portion of SR 123 between Stevens Canyon Road and Panther Creek. The closure area will be north of the Stevens Canyon Road/SR 123 intersection and south of the SR 410/SR 123 intersection (Cayuse Pass).
The full two-lane closure of a small portion of SR 123 will take place starting September 2, 2025 and will finish on September 30, 2025. The park anticipates reopening the closed section of roadway by Monday, October 1, 2025.
Contractors will be installing to large box culverts to support improved water flow through Panther Creek. During this period of construction both lanes of roadway in the affected area will be completely removed. This will sever the connection between portions of roadway both north and south of Panther Creek.
Yes. However, visitors will have to plan ahead for a 2-3 hour detour if they wish to travel between the Sunrise/White River areas and the southeastern border of the park near Ohanapecosh during September 2-September 30, 2025.
No. We anticipate that Stevens Canyon Road will open and close on its normal schedule.
The park has made no decisions regarding timed entry reservations for 2025.
Information will be posted on the park construction webpage. Maps will be created and also posted on this website prior to the start of construction in April 2025.
Park Construction
Park construction includes work to improve roads and visitor areas. Learn how this will impact your travel plans through the park.
Road Status
Find out current road conditions, including access to Paradise during the winter season.
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