Visitors to Mount Rainier National Park this winter will have one fewer day per week to drive to the Paradise area and they won't find any open sledding runs there.
Starting Nov. 12, vehicle access to the Paradise area will be open four days per week, from Fridays through Mondays, the park announced in a news release. That's one less day than last winter, but still two more days than in 2022.
The release also said the Paradise sled runs will be closed for the duration of the 2024-2025 winter season because staff "will be focused on plowing roads and parking lots to maintain access into the area." Sledding is not allowed in any other parts of the park.
Winter camping will be allowed Friday through Sunday nights only, conditions permitting.
Meanwhile, vehicle access will be open to the Longmire area seven days a week through the winter, barring major storms. The Longmire General Store will be open daily.
Park officials limit winter access because of staffing levels. In the release, the park said it will revisit the access schedule if staffing levels change. Otherwise, access will be limited until early May.
Other typical wintertime closures will be enacted, such as closures of state Routes 410 and 123 at the park's boundaries. The park's east side will be open for visitor use throughout the winter, including camping with a valid permit.
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