Sunrise Accessibility

Mount Rainier from the Silver Forest Trail at Sunrise

E Brouwer

 

 

At an elevation of 6,400 feet, Sunrise is the highest point that can be reached by vehicle at Mount Rainier National Park. In summer, mountain meadows abound with wildflowers. On clear summer days, Sunrise provides breathtaking views of Mount Rainier and Emmons Glacier. Sunrise is located 60 miles northeast of the Nisqually Entrance and 14 miles northwest of the Sunrise/White River turnoff on State Route 410.

Parking

Sunrise Parking Lot:
There are accessible spaces in front of the Sunrise Day Lodge and in front of the restrooms and vault toilets.

• around 200 standard spaces
• 3 van-accessible spaces
• 3 standard accessible spaces

White River Campground:

• 1 standard accessible space (at the campground ranger station)

Public Buildings

Sunrise Visitor Center

When approaching the visitor center from the parking lot, there is a paved path to the right side of the building that leads to the accessible entrance. The path is cement and narrow with a gentle incline. The accessible parking spaces and restrooms are near the beginning of this path. There is a drop-off area in front of the visitor center. The front entrance to the visitor center has several stairs.

Information desk: The information desk is located to the left after you enter the visitor center from the accessible entrance. There is a lower area at the front of the desk. Wheelchairs are available for short-term loan in the Sunrise area with photo ID. There is a braille version of the park brochure available at the information desk.

Bookstore: Near the accessible entrance there is a small bookstore. The aisles are wide. There is an employee available at the information desk to reach items on higher shelves. Purchases are made at the front desk. There is a card reader for purchasing that is accessible to a person in a wheelchair.

Exhibits: The Sunrise Visitor Center consists of a large room with open space to navigate; the exhibits are accessible. There is an accessible viewing scope and tactile map on the south side of the room, in front of the large window.

Seating: Inside the visitor center there are two benches. Outside, on the side of the building opposite from the accessible entrance, there are several picnic tables. The path to get there is uneven compact dirt and stone.

Restrooms: There are no public restrooms available inside the visitor center, the restrooms are in a small building outside, located in front of the accessible parking spaces.

Sunrise Day Lodge

The lodge is accessible via an asphalt ramp at the entrance, on the left side as you are facing the building from the parking lot.

Gift shop: The lodge has a large gift shop that takes up most of the second floor of the building. The aisles are standard width. There are employees available to reach items on higher shelves. The floor consists of wide wood planks that are mostly smooth. The checkout counters are high. There are accessible card readers for purchasing.

Café: There is a counter where you can purchase lunch, snacks, and beverages to go.

Seating: There is no seating inside the lodge, there are picnic tables in the Sunrise Picnic Area, northwest of the visitor center.

Restrooms: There are no restrooms inside the lodge, there are restrooms available outside on either side of the lodge.

Restrooms

The restrooms are located on the north side of the parking lot on either side of the lodge. There are no public restrooms inside the visitor center or lodge. There is no family restroom at Sunrise.

Restroom Building
A small building containing restrooms is located to the left of the lodge if you are coming from the parking lot, in front of accessible parking spaces. These restrooms are designated ‘men’ and ‘women’.

Women’s restroom: The accessible entrance is at the rear of the building via an uneven gravel path.

• 8 stalls total, 1 is wheelchair accessible
• running water, pipe under the sink is covered
• baby changing table
• flush toilets

Men’s restroom: The entrance is accessible from the front of the building via a ramp with a gentle slope.

• 4 stalls total, 1 is wheelchair accessible
• 4 urinals
• running water, pipe under the sink is covered
• baby changing table
• flush toilets

Vault Toilets
The vault toilets are located to the right of the lodge and are not designated by gender.

• 1 standard vault toilet, 1 accessible vault toilet
• no running water

 

Picnic tables at the Sunrise Picnic Area

NPS Photo

Water Fountains and Refill Stations

There is one water fountain in Sunrise, it is located outside near the front of the lodge. The water from the bathroom sinks is potable.

Wifi and Cell Service

There is no cell service at Sunrise. There is public wifi available in the visitor center, but it can be weak and intermittent. The lodge does not have public wifi. Cell coverage is usually available at Sunrise Point Overlook, east of Sunrise.

Paths

Sidewalks leading from the parking lot to the visitor center and to the restrooms and lodge are uneven concrete. Many of the paths and trails in the area around the visitor center are gravel.

Lodging

There is no lodging in the Sunrise area.

Dining

Lunch and Snacks: There are to-go lunches and snacks for purchase in the Sunrise Day Lodge. There is no dining area inside the lodge. Picnic tables are available in the picnic area northwest of the visitor center and there are several picnic tables on the south side of the visitor center with views of the mountain. There is no food for purchase in the visitor center.

Picnic Areas

Sunrise Picnic Area

Sunrise has a large picnic area located northwest of the visitor center, or behind and to the right of the visitor center when coming from the parking lot. The paths in the picnic area are gently sloping uneven packed gravel. You can access the picnic area by car by entering the road to the right of the restrooms and following it until you see an available pull-out on your left. It is possible to park in these pull-outs to access the picnic area; there are paths connecting each of the pull-outs to a small clearing with a picnic table. Use caution as this road is used by pedestrians who may not be expecting to encounter vehicle traffic.

White River Campground Picnic Area

There are several picnic tables south of parking lot. The paths are dirt and mostly level with some rocks.

Camping

White River Campground

The campground is located 11 miles downhill from Sunrise and has campsites available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Checkout is at noon. There are no designated accessible sites or raised tent pads. There is an accessible restroom in Loop C. There is an accessible parking space by the fee station at the entrance.

 

Viewpoints

• Located a few miles before reaching Sunrise, Sunrise Point Overlook offers nearly 360-degree views of the surrounding valleys, Mount Rainier, and other volcanoes in the Cascade Range such as Mount Adams.

• Tipsoo Lake is a popular summer destination about 22 miles from Sunrise. Located at Chinook Pass along State Route 410, this subalpine lake is surrounded by meadows. Come early or late in the day or on a weekday to avoid congestion. View wildflowers in the meadows, observe tadpoles and frogs in the lake, and watch for birds. There are 5 accessible parking spots at Tipsoo Lake and 2 accessible picnic tables.

Trails

Sunrise

• Emmons Vista and Silver Forest Trail - A 2 mile (3.2km) out and back trail starting on the south side of the parking lot heads first toward Emmons Vista. At the trail junction, continue left to Silver Forest, or straight to the viewpoint. Often sunny and exposed, the trail has rocks, roots, and some steep sections.

• Service Road (pedestrians only) - A 0.8 mile (1.4km) gravel road begins at the southwest corner of the parking area and continues to an exhibit panel describing the site of the historic Sunrise Campground. Several trails split off from the road, however they become narrower and steeper after the exhibit panel. The road is gravel and slopes downhill from the parking lot.

Surrounding Area

• Tipsoo Lake - A 0.5 mile (0.8 km) loop around a small subalpine lake. Trail is mostly hard packed, level dirt. The trail is narrow and has several wooden bridges to cross creeks, as well as stone stairs near the parking area.

 

Things to Do

• Visit viewpoints at Sunrise Point and Tipsoo Lake — both have accessible parking.
• Learn more about the geology of the area by listening to the Sunrise Geology Audio Tour while driving along the Sunrise Road.
• Enjoy a picnic in the Sunrise Picnic Area or the White River Campground Picnic Area.

Winter at Sunrise

Sunrise is closed in winter, typically from October-June.

NPS Mobile App

The NPS App is accessible and includes alt text for images. Mount Rainier National Park does not have cell service in many areas; download the NPS App prior to coming to the park. Features available include:

• Audio descriptions of exhibits along trails and roads

• Things to do in the park

• Details about amenities

• News, calendar, and passport stamp locations

• Audio description tours of the visitor centers

 

 

Area Maps:

 

Sunrise map highlighting accessible features

 

White River Campground map highlighting accessible features

 

Explore other areas of Mount Rainier National Park: