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The historic Mather Memorial Parkway (State Route 410) is the gateway to a recreational haven. On a clear day, enjoy spectacular views of Mt. Rainier. For more excitement, take a spin in the off-road vehicle area at Evans Creek, or zip down the slopes of Crystal Mountain Ski Area. Or if you prefer solitude, escape into the solace of the forest and leave the world behind.
Mather Memorial Parkway
Created in 1931, this paved two-lane classic Cascades drive along Highway 410 from Enumclaw to the eastern edge of Mount Rainier National Park presents majestic views of Mount Rainier and surrounding peaks. More than 200 miles of trails accommodate hikers, horses and mountain bikes. Drive, hike or ride to the Suntop Lookout Cabin at the top of Forest Road 7315. Choose a primitive campsite along forest roads east and west of the parkway. In November buy a permit at the Enumclaw office and take the family out to the woods to cut your own Christmas tree. Most forest roads are unpaved and minimally maintained. Cell phones have limited coverage in the mountains.
Dispersed camping is the term used for camping in the National Forest OUTSIDE of a designated campground. Typically, it refers to roadside car camping, but also refers to backpacking in undeveloped sites. Dispersed camping means there are no services like trash removal, and amenities such as toilets, tables and fire pits, are not usually available.
It is your responsibility to plan ahead and learn the extra skills necessary for dispersed camping. Camping rules and regulations apply to make your experience safe, and to keep the natural resources scenic and unspoiled for other campers.
Dispersed camping along Forest Service roads is allowed where there is adequate space to safely park completely off the roadway and not on any vegetation. Whether car camping or backpacking, choose an existing campsite on bare or compacted soil. Unless signed as an area where a fee is required, dispersed camping is free. Dispersed camping is prohibited in developed campgrounds and areas posted closed or no camping. Some designated Wilderness areas have additional restrictions.
Absolutely loved this place!! Things I wish I’d known when booking this campsite:
1. It is the best site in the whole park to camp. From clean bathrooms, to dishwashing stations, to its walk in/out trailhead to 2+ hikes, to its creeks, and proximity to the river and Sunrise area - it cannot be beat. We would have spent a week here if we’d known how great it was.
2. We stayed in Loop C. We’d read that Loop C may have less tree cover or shade than A or B, but I disagree. We were in space C15, and it was perfect and shady and a creek ran right by us. Loop D is the only loop that felt sunnier, but it also has the riverside spaces, which are amazing to get in the evening.
3. Although it’s first come - first serve, I’d also say it’s “finders keepers.” What I mean is that most other first come first served campsites in national parks I’ve been to typically have a car line, where a ranger eventually lets you in one at a time to get sites as they become available. This one is the wild Wild West - you drive in, and circle all 4 loops until/if you find a spot. A little stressful if you try for A, and the car behind you speeds on to B and gets the one available spot :) We arrived early (6am) on a Wednesday in August and had to wait half an hour for a spot to clear out for us. When we left on a Friday, there were 4 open spots around us (just in loop C) still at 9am. If we did it again; we’d pull up around 8am, as campers are packing up their spots. Many become available right around then.
4. $20/night cash in envelopes at the campsite ranger station
5. Definitely walk down the wonderland trail to the river in the evening with your camping chair for some epic views of Mt. Rainier and sunset.
6. Bring your bug spray!
7. No lights in the bathrooms.
8. Water jug fill-up stations in each loop.
2021 Information.
An excellent campground for tents and small trailers. Big trailers should avoid this due to the road up and the lack of larger flat pads to park on. The NPS website has clear information on trailer size. We noted someone with a larger unit roll in and have a rough time finding a pad that would fit it. They got lucky as it was a Thursday... in busier times they would have been driving back out.
Also... Bring 20 dollars per night for the paybox. Credit only down at the entrance station...miles away down the mountain.
Loop A - Limited first come, first serve sites. Many sites reserved for volunteers or closed due to tree hazards. This is a shame because Loop A to me is the best for tent campers based on site size and site isolation. You may snag one if you get in on a weekday or get really lucky.
Loop B and C - seemed to be mostly open with few tree hazard closings. The loops are also really nice for tents. Sites tended towards a bit more sun than A. Some spots are okay for a small trailer, but it really depends on the camper size.
Loop D - lots more sun on these sites. Less privacy. Might be easier to park a trailer due to flatter leveler pads in general.
Bathhouse Info - Every loop has a pit toilet setup and a bathhouse with running water and flush toilets. Water faucets are at both pit toilets and bathhouses, but you will have to carry water a distance. No showers and no hot water. Also no lights in the restrooms.
The bathhouse with running water has the camp sink for washing dishes and preventing bear issues. You might have to walk dishes quite a distance for cleanup.
Bear County - Don't be stupid and leave food, water, or smelly items out. We saw black bear off the road on multiple occasions during our visit.
Holidays - Expect it to be very busy around holidays.
It was really beautiful and in a good location, it was tons of fun I highly recommend it. Although people treated me badly and acted like I was a creep for hiking with bear mace and a hatchet even though it's bear country. I even ran into 2 bears the first night I was there! Sad to be treated so bad by the people there, I ended up leaving because of it. Bunch of rich Californian and Seattle tourist city slickers. I was raised in Washington I know the dangers of predator animals.
This campground in the Sunrise district of Mt Rainier just opened this month. C and D loops are day use only and A and B loops are available on a first come first serve basis. The issue is that more than half these sites are closed due to “hazard trees.” The rangers said some trees are compromised and could fall on campers. With “the Covid,” no maintenance is taking place. What we couldn’t reconcile is that the trees in the campground look a lot like the trees on the trails. It is a beautiful place that is under utilized because of this, therefore 4 stars instead of 5. Camp here for Sunrise trails, up close views of Rainier and three trails of the White River area - Summerland, Emmons Moraine and Glacier Bay. Stunning!
Ok so the good...
Very quiet (except the natural sound of the river), easy access to great trails/the Sunrise side of the park and it was clean.
Then, the not as good...
Unless you tent camp you could be out of luck; given it is 1st come 1st serve and most sites are not RV friendly.
There are rocks placed in the middle of some sites to prevent larger vehicles. Why?
There are 6 sites marked "closed" due to hazardous trees. If you had time to make a sign then take out the hazard.
If need a flush toilet loop B is not your loop.
