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Ongoing or upcoming construction projects in Mount Rainier National Park 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. Last Updated: April 30, 2026 Ohanapecosh Campground FAQsOhanapecosh ClosuresWork includes the rehabilitation of 185 campsites and nine restroom buildings, replacing the wastewater collection system, upgrading electrical and water systems, road repairs, and accessibility improvements.
Construction delays will require that the Ohanapecosh Campground and adjacent developed area remain closed during the 2026 camping season. The Ohanapecosh Campground is expected to be open for the summer 2027 camping season.
No, the entire Ohanapecosh Developed Area, including all campsites, group camping sites, Cowlitz 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 2026 as the site will remain under construction.
No. Special Use Permits will not be issued for any portion of the Ohanapecosh area, including the amphitheater. No visitor access will be permitted. The site will be under construction.
No, the entire Ohanapecosh area remains under construction.
The Cougar Rock Campground and White River Campground will both be open to visitors during the summer 2026 camping season. For more information on camping in the park, please visit: Campgrounds.
Reservations for the 2027 camping season are expected to reopen on www.recreation.gov in December 2026.
No, there will be no trailhead access from Ohanapecosh, but the Silver Falls Trail can be accessed from the Grove of the Patriarchs trailhead.
There will be no day use parking available at Ohanapecosh. The closest day use parking will be at the Grove of Patriarchs trailhead.
Ohanapecosh Campground information can be found on the Ohanapecosh page on the park’s website and on the updated Park Construction page.
No, there will be no timed entry reservations required in any portion of Mount Rainier National Park in 2026.
Ohanapecosh Campground Project Funding
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).
Upcoming Construction ProjectsSR410 White River Flood & Erosion Risk Reduction Project The National Park Service (NPS) and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) are seeking public input on a proposed project that would 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 environmental assessment is available on the project website at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/SR410WhiteRiver. Public comments on the EA will be accepted from April 29 through May 29, 2026.
Construction is proposed during late summer 2027. No road closures are proposed. Traffic delays of up to 30 minutes may be required for up to six days of helicopter operations during approximately three weeks of construction.
No trailheads would be closed by construction. Some roadside pullout areas would be used as project staging during construction and would not be available for roadside parking.
Visit these pages on the park's website to learn about impacts caused by road construction:
Flood events occurred in 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2016, resulting 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 oriented toward the roadway. Action is needed because additional flood erosion could result in damage or loss to this section of road.
Past actions have included placement of riprap and concrete barriers to help protect the road. However, the current risk has the potential to result in greater road damage should the main channel of the White River shift into the existing highway corridor.
If approved, the project would be scheduled for construction during a timeframe that minimizes potential impacts to sensitive fish species. The project proposes using natural materials similar to what is present within the flood plain. The proposed design is intended to avoid the impacts of traditional concrete and rock barriers while providing additional protection from flooding and erosion due to high flows of the White River. Both short- and long-term effects to fish habitat will be analyzed to help inform decision making.
Options to provide long-term sustainable access will require additional time, funding, and analysis. The current proposal is intended to reduce the imminent risks to this section of road while the National Park Service and WSDOT develop options and seek funding to help improve long-term sustainability of the SR410 corridor.
The proposed flooding and risk reduction project has the potential for short- and long-term impacts to the area. This would include short-term impacts during construction that would result in traffic delays and temporary noise and visual disturbance from helicopter use, and long-term impacts from vegetation removal and installation of engineered log structures within the White River floodplain.
The intent of the installations is to halt further movement of the river channel towards the road but is designed to not result in large shifts of the river channel that would increase downstream flood risk.
During construction, visitors in the area will hear and see a helicopter delivering logs to the site for up to six days. The project location is not visible from the road and is not located near any existing park trails. The proposed installations are designed to function and appear similar to natural log jams that occur within the river corridor.
Based on observed changes happening within the area, risks from flooding are more likely to occur as the number of heavy rainfall events increase and as upstream glaciers continue to shrink and deliver large volumes of rocky sediment to the White River.
Flood events occurred in 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2016, resulting in emergency protection installation to prevent damage to the highway; however, these reoccurring emergency measures are inadequate in addressing the continued development of side channels and headcuts—the most recent of which have formed in 2017. Because the area experiences recurring floods and the elevation of the White River is higher than SR 410 in some locations, the river could change course—either abruptly by forming a new channel or gradually through lateral migration across the valley floor. If action is not taken, the White River will continue to cut through the forest, eventually working its way to and destroying or damaging the road, which would impact visitor access and threaten the surrounding biological communities.
Travel times would increase up to two hours due to changes in travel routes, for example needing to use Highway 12 and State Route 123 to avoid this section of State Route 410.
The current WSDOT proposal is intended to mitigate the near-term risk to the road in an area where damage is most likely to occur and where the potential for negative impacts to access are greatest. This project is one of several that has been identified through the WSDOT Chronic Environmental Deficiencies (CED) program. Additional funding would be needed to proceed with other proposed erosion and flood protection measures that have been identified.
No, commercial vehicles are not permitted in Mount Rainier National Park including the sections of SR 410 and SR 123 that are located inside park boundaries.
Comments may be provided at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/SR410WhiteRiver through May 29, 2026.
The project website is https://parkplanning.nps.gov/SR410WhiteRiver. Information on the project will also be posted on the Park Construction webpage on the Mount Rainier National Park website.
Park construction includes work to improve roads and visitor areas. Learn how this will impact your travel plans through the park.
Find out current road conditions, including access to Paradise during the winter season.
Hours of operation for park visitor centers, inns, ranger stations, and other facilities.
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Last updated: May 5, 2026