You may be aware that there are bears in the park, but do you know what species live here or what to expect from a typical bear encounter? There are only black bears at Mount Rainier, although their fur is often varying shades of brown. Black bears are naturally much less aggressive than grizzly bears, and there have been no black bear attacks in the park. In fact, humans may be more of a safety concern to black bears than they are to us because our behavior influences theirs. Here are some things to keep in mind in black bear territory:
1. Always give bears plenty of space. If you see bear, let it know you are there by clapping, yelling, or making other noise. If the bear doesn't move away, slowly back away. The recommended distance is 300 feet (approx. 91 meters), or about 20 cars lined up end to end.
2. Never approach a bear, get between a mother bear and her cubs, or let a bear get access to human food. Although black bears are typically docile, these actions can make them become defensive, act aggressively, and change their natural behavior.
3. Drive carefully while in the park. If you see a bear near the road, slow down but do not stop unless it is trying to cross. Use your vehicle's hazard light to let other drivers know to slow down.
4. Report bear sightings to rangers, especially if the bear is seen accessing human food, camps, and picnic items or is acting aggressively towards humans.
5. Remember that you are visiting their home, and it is up to you to act responsibly and safely in their habitat.
To learn more about black bears and bear safety, see our website at: https://go.nps.gov/MountRainierWildlifeSafety
NPS Photo comparison of a large grizzly bear and a black bear enjoying wildflower meadows.
Spring Safety Alert: Hidden Snow Cavities
During the spring and early summer, as snowmelt increases the volume of water flowing off the mountain, traveling in both the front and backcountry carries extra risk.
Water flowing beneath the snowpack carves out large, unseen hollows. In these conditions, you risk "punching through" the snow into a hidden cavity. These drops can range from a few inches to many feet deep. Depending on the water’s flow, you could be swept away or trapped with the potential of hypothermia, suffocation, or drowning.
Use the following tips to help navigate these hazards:
Listen Closely: As you hike, listen for the sound of rushing water beneath the snow. This is a clear indication that a hidden stream may be directly in your path.
Probe the Path: Use a trekking pole to firmly poke the snow in front of you before every step. Look for existing surface collapses or "snow bridges" these are major red flags.
Maintain Distance: If traveling in a group, keep space between members. If one person falls through, others must be on solid ground to provide immediate assistance.
Watch for "Tree Wells" and Rocks: Avoid walking too close to boulders or trees protruding from the snow. These objects absorb and radiate heat, melting the snow around them and creating soft, hollow pockets known as tree wells.
For tips on negotiating late season snow hazards visit.
go.nps.gov/334qsp
Check the webcams for current conditions at Paradise and Longmire go.nps.gov/RainierWebcams
NPS photo
#mountrainier
#SnowSafety
#Spring
#RainierWildflowers Spring has arrived and so have the wildflowers! Subalpine areas like Paradise are still covered in snow, but at lower elevations, like Longmire, many flowers are starting to bloom. Trillium (Trillium ovatum) is a common early season favorite. With three petals framed by three large leaves, trillium is easy to recognize. The petals start white and turn pink as the flower ages. It can take several years for trillium to bloom so please take care to not damage these delicate forest plants! What spring wildflowers are you finding in Mount Rainier’s forests?
For updates on what’s blooming where visit https://go.nps.gov/RainierWildflower
Unfamiliar with Mount Rainier’s wildflower species? Check out the wildflower guide at https://go.nps.gov/RainierWildflowerGuide
NPS Photos of trillium blooming in the Longmire area, 5/6/26.
“Absent themselves on buoyant wing!
The birds that Winter drives away
Will surely come again with Spring.
They of our ills will mindful be,
And when at length the storm has passed,
They will return to this same tree
Which has so often felt the blast.
Then to our fertile vale will they
A more auspicious presage bring!
The birds that Winter drives away
Will surely come again with Spring.”
- Pierre-Jean de Béranger
What’s the first bird that caught your interest? Let us know which species started it all!
NPS photos
1 – Red-breasted sapsucker
2- Barn swallows & nest
3-Red-winged blackbird
4-Dark-eyed junco
NPS photos
#MountRainier
#Birds
#BirdPhotography
Conditions are shifting rapidly across the park. While the warm weather may seem inviting, the terrain is currently a mix of ice and unstable snow. Please prioritize safety while on the mountain and observe the following tips:
Stay Clear of Orange Zones: For your protection, stay out of all areas marked in orange.
Acknowledge Hidden Risks: It is impossible for rangers to mark every hazard; constant vigilance is required.
Know Your Limits: Be honest when assessing your skills and experience. Steep snow slopes, melt holes, and thinning snow bridges are early-season hazards.
Glacier Travel: Watch for crevasses opening when traveling on glaciers.
Protect the Meadows: Stay on trails or thick patches of snow.
Notes from the Field:
Expect hazardous conditions on the Comet Falls Trail. Snowmelt has undercut the trail, leaving a narrow path flanked by a steep drop-off. A small landslide and downed trees have further obstructed this section. Additionally, deep post-holes from previous hikers have frozen solid, creating significant trip hazards. Multiple fatalities have occurred in similar conditions on this trail. Consider an alternative hike until it is completely melted out.
There is a significant amount of ice in the first 0.2 miles of trail between the Narada Falls parking lot and the Paradise River Campground. Exercise extreme caution in this area. The rest of the hike to the campground has very little snow. The campground has patches of snow that are soft enough to cause post-holing.
Spring melt-out conditions require caution when traveling on snow at Mount Rainier! Your safety is your responsibility.
Visit our website for Spring Hiking Safety Tips go.nps.gov/SpringHikingSafety.
NPS/EPerry photo of icy trail conditions on Comet Falls Trail #springsnow #hike #mountrainier
Not all of the peaks in Mount Rainier National Park are rocky craigs. Tumtum Peak in the southwest area of the park is completely forested. At 4,678 feet, it is far from the highest summit in the park, but it is noticeable from a variety of locations.
The Nisqually-Longmire Road skirts the base of Tumtum Peak not far from the park entrance, where the slope rises nearly 2,500 feet above the road in one mile! This steep-sided peak is visible from Rampart Ridge Trail, Kautz Creek Trail, Inspiration Point along Stevens Canyon Road, and other higher elevation locations on Mount Rainier. Have you noticed Tumtum Peak while exploring the park?
NPS/S. Redman Photo of Tumtum Peak from Rampart Ridge Trail.
Sharing some spring sightings from Longmire. How many can you identify? Keep track of how many you identify correctly and get your rating at the end!
NPS photos
#MountRainier
#Forest
#WhoAmI
Navigate Spring Hazards Safely
As the snowpack melts, trails become deceptive. High-elevation routes remain snow-covered well into summer, turning "easy" hikes into high-risk treks.
Trail Conditions:
Comet Falls: Hazardous ice/snow slopes. Fatalities have occurred in the past here. Avoid until completely melted out (late spring/early summer).
Narada Falls to Reflection Lakes: Dangerous snow bridges, steep icy slopes, and exposed terrain.
Narada Falls to Paradise: Requires skis or snowshoes. Watch for post-holing, snow bridges, and thinning snow.
Wonderland Trail to Carter Falls: The footlog is washed out. There is currently no safe crossing.
Plan Ahead and Prepare:
Know When to Turn Back: If you encounter steep, icy slopes, turn around. Carry an ice axe if you are trained to use it.
Identify Hidden Dangers: Listen for rushing water under the snow; assume any snow bridge over a creek is unstable. Stay off overhanging snow ledges and keep a safe distance from "tree wells" (hollows around trunks/rocks).
Gear Up: Carry a reliable physical map and compass—GPS isn't always enough when the trail is buried.
Stay Alert: Avalanches happen in spring, too. Avoid slippery rocks near streams and waterfalls.
Be self-reliant. Always check in at a wilderness information center or visitor center for the latest conditions before heading out.
Your safety is your responsibility.
Visit our website for Spring Hiking Safety Tips at the link in our bio.
NPS/Rowan Ball photo Narada Falls Trail #MountRainier #springsnow #hike
Public input sought on State Route 410 White River erosion and flood risk reduction project
ASHFORD, Wash. — The National Park Service and the Washington State Department of Transportation are seeking public input on a proposed project to reduce flooding and erosion risks to a section of State Route 410 adjacent to the White River in Mount Rainier National Park.
WSDOT proposes installing two engineered log structures in the White River floodplain to help prevent the river from shifting into the SR 410 corridor and damaging the roadway. The project area is within designated wilderness adjacent to the highway.
The National Park Service has prepared an environmental assessment to evaluate the potential impacts of the proposal. The analysis considers effects on wilderness character, natural and cultural resources, and visitor experience.
“Providing sustainable public access to and through Mount Rainier National Park is a shared priority,” said Superintendent Greg Dudgeon. “We encourage the public to review the environmental assessment and share input to help inform our decision.”
State Route 410 serves as a key access route to the park’s east side, including Sunrise, White River Campground, and several popular trailheads. The roadway runs along the White River, a glacier-fed system that drains the Emmons Glacier. Past flooding events have damaged portions of the highway, and continued erosion poses an increasing risk to the corridor.
If approved, construction could begin as early as 2027. The work would take place over approximately three weeks in late summer. Visitors may experience delays of up to 30 minutes during limited helicopter operations, but no road closures are planned.
The environmental assessment is available online at: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/%20SR410FloodRiskReduction
The public comment period is open through May 29, 2026.
For more information about Mount Rainier National Park, visit www.nps.gov/mora.
NPS arrowhead graphic on a stylized mountain design. Text reads: Mount Rainier National Park News Release.
Around 40,000 years ago while the summit was being formed by a series of lava eruptions, a lava flow from the flank of Mount Rainier built a ridge now called Ricksecker Point. Massive Ice Age glaciers that existed during the period hemmed in the lava flow to create the steep-sided ridge we see today.
Ricksecker Point is now bordered by deep river valleys. To the west flows the Nisqually River, while to the east is the Paradise River. Narada Falls is formed from the Paradise River flowing over cliffs created by the same lava flow that formed Ricksecker Point. Have you stopped at Ricksecker Point or Narada Falls on your way up to Paradise?
USGS/Tom Sisson Photo of Ricksecker Point with the Nisqually River.
Two bufflehead and a hooded merganser walk into a bar… wait, wrong story. They swim into a pond!
This unexpected trio was recently seen hanging out at a pond in Longmire. Two dapper male buffleheads were busy showing off their diving skills, while the merganser (likely a female or non-breeding male based on coloring) mostly hunted around near the water’s edge—check out the video!
After all that activity, the group eventually drifted to the far end for a well-earned power nap.
It’s actually quite common to see these two species mingling! Not only are they both small diving ducks, but they they’re both cavity nesters.
Bufflehead often move into flicker or pileated woodpecker nesting cavities.
Hooded mergansers are notorious for “nest parasitism,” meaning they’ll happily lay their eggs in the nests of other ducks!
Have you spotted any interesting team-ups on the water lately? Do you think this crew will stick around to raise their next generation here?
NPS photos
NPS video of two mostly white birds with dark heads swimming on a pond, diving under the water, and resurfacing while a brown bird explores along the pond’s edge.
Despite last week’s low-elevation snowfall, spring melt-out is underway and trail conditions are changing rapidly. While trails around Longmire are snow-free at lower elevations, Paradise still has about eight feet of snow with melting and thinning creating hazardous conditions.
If you’re planning a hike, be prepared for winter conditions. Navigational skills are essential as snow-covered trails are not marked. We recommend:
Bring extra boot traction for icy slopes.
Watch for post-holing, snow bridges, and missing foot-logs.
Stay off lakes to prevent falling through thin ice.
Please protect meadow vegetation by hiking only on established trails or thick patches of snow.
For tips on negotiating late season snow hazards visit.
go.nps.gov/334qsp
Check the webcams for current conditions at Paradise and Longmire go.nps.gov/RainierWebcams
NPS/Elizabeth Perry photos taken April 11, 2026, between Paradise and Reflection Lakes.
NPS photo of a footbridge taken at Longmire April 15, 2026.
NPS/Elizabeth Perry photos taken April 11, 2026, between Paradise and Reflection Lakes. NPS photo taken at Longmire April 15, 2026. #MountRainier #hike #springsnow
