Mount Rainier National Park reopened public access to the Carbon River area on Feb. 18, reversing an emergency closure issued on Nov. 15, 2021.

The closure was caused by the start of the Carbon River Road washing out due to erosion from the river, meaning there was no way to access the Carbon River Trail, the Rainforest Loop Trail, the Green Lake Trail, the Chenuis Falls trail, or the Ipsut Creek Campground safely.

The Carbon River Road is still not in operation. Instead, Mount Rainier National Park trails staff members have stabilized a temporary path partially located on the adjacent Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest to allow visitors to access the park entrance.

“The only way to get into the park is to go into the forest to get around the washed-out road. With the help of the Forest Service, we’ve roughed out a safe path through the forest around that washout,” Public Information Officer Kevin Bacher said, adding that there’s no estimated time when the Carbon River Road will be reopened, as the state is continuing to look at how much repairing the road is going to cost.

Although the Carbon River area is now safe for visitors to visit, you should still watch out for late winter hazards life downed trees, snow, and changing weather conditions.

Portable toilets are available at the beginning of the road closure area. Bicycling is permitted but not recommended due to extensive trail washouts and downed trees. All visitors should follow safety guidelines for winter season hiking.

OTHER CLOSURES

The Rainforest Loop Trail is closed due to down trees and the Ipsut Creek bridge been washed out due to several high-water events.

Log bridges over the Carbon River have also washed out, rendering the Chenuis Falls Trail inaccessible.

Visitors can access the Carbon River Trial and the Green Lake Trail by navigating around typical early season hazards.