Date:
November 20, 2024
Contact: Mount Rainier Press Information Line, 360-569-6510

ASHFORD, Wash. - Two major Mount Rainier National Park construction projects starting in 2025 will replace decades-old crumbling infrastructure in the park's popular Ohanapecosh Campground and improve travel through the park on State Route 123.

Both projects address important deficiencies and will improve the visitor experience once completed. However, construction activities will cause temporary roadway and/or facilities closures.

The Ohanapecosh Campground rehabilitation project will provide significant upgrades to the popular campground located in the southeast corner of the park. This effort will rehabilitate the campground's 185 campsites and nine bathrooms, replace the aging wastewater collection system, upgrade electrical and water systems, and support improvements to campground accessibility.

The project will be completed during the 2025 visitor season. The Ohanapecosh Campground and all associated structures including the visitor center, bathrooms, picnic area and auditorium will remain closed to visitors for the duration of construction. However, the improved campground will reopen to visitors in time for the 2026 camping season.

Visitors who wish to camp in the park during the summer 2025 camping season will still have access to both the White River Campground and Cougar Rock Campground.

The Ohanapecosh Campground project is partly funded through the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), Recreation Fee revenue and the National Park Foundation. GAOA is historic bipartisan legislation that expands equitable and accessible recreational opportunities and addresses long overdue infrastructure improvement and modernization needs on public lands managed by the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Indian Education schools. The funding is reducing the maintenance and repair backlog, protecting critical resources, expanding recreational opportunities, and promoting long-term sustainable operations.

The State Route 123 construction project is a two-year effort that will rehabilitate a 2.8-mile section of roadway between Laughingwater Creek and Panther Creek along the park's eastern boundary. This project is funded through the Federal Highways Administration.

Construction impacts are projected to be as follows:

• Construction Year One (2025)
  • A 2.8-mile section of roadway will be under construction April-October 2025. Travelers will experience delays of up to 30 minutes.
  • A full road closure of a portion of the roadway between Stevens Canyon Road and Panther Creek will take place September 2-30, 2025. The roadway will be bisected to install two large box culverts which will be more resilient during high flows and flooding reducing risk of road washouts and costly repairs and also annual maintenance needs. They should also improve habitat for amphibians and fish.
    • There will be no vehicle, pedestrian or bicycling access through the construction zone during this one-month culvert replacement project.
• Construction Year Two (2026)
  • There will be no full closures of the roadway during the 2026 construction season.
  • A 2.8-mile section of roadway will be under construction April-October 2026. Travelers will experience delays of up to 30 minutes.

"We are grateful to have the opportunity to make much-needed improvements to the Ohanapecosh Campground and State Route 123," stated Superintendent Greg Dudgeon. "There will be some temporary inconveniences next year, but we know that this critical investment in our facilities will help ensure recreational opportunities for visitors for decades to come."

Information about both construction projects will be posted on the park's website in spring 2025 prior to the start of construction. For general information about Mount Rainier National Park, please visit www.nps.gov/mora.

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