Best camping at Mount Rainier National Park

Best Camping at Mt Rainier

This selection includes the primary drive-in campgrounds and high-altitude backcountry sites within Mount Rainier National Park. It covers established locations like Cougar Rock and Ohanapecosh, which provide access to the Paradise and Stevens Canyon areas, alongside rugged climbing refuges like Camp Muir and Camp Schurman. These sites range from vehicle-accessible plots with amenities to remote subalpine shelters along the Wonderland Trail requiring permits and strenuous hiking.

Cougar Rock Campground

Located on the southwest side near Paradise, this large campground sits at 3,180 feet. It provides direct access to the Nisqually River and the Wonderland Trail.

John Mayer / CC BY 2.0

Camp Muir

Camp Muir, named for the naturalist John Muir, is a high-altitude refuge for climbers in Mount Rainier National Park in Washington,…

Indian Bar Trail Shelter

The Wonderland Trail is an approximately 93-mile hiking trail that circumnavigates Mount Rainier in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington…

White River Campground

Situated at 4,400 feet on the park's northeast side, this campground serves as a primary trailhead for the Sunrise area and Glacier Basin trails.

Mowich Lake Campground

A primitive, walk-in campground located in the northwest corner of the park. It sits on the shores of the park's largest and deepest lake at 4,929 feet.

Ohanapecosh Campground

Set among old-growth Douglas firs and western red cedars in the southeast corner, this site is adjacent to the Ohanapecosh River and the Silver Falls trail.

Camp Summerland

A backcountry site on the Wonderland Trail known for its subalpine meadows and views of the mountain and Panhandle Gap.

Snow Lake Camp

A backcountry camping area reached via a hike from Stevens Canyon Road, located near the shores of a high-alpine lake.

Glacier Basin Camp

Located along a former mining road, this backcountry camp provides access to the Inter Glacier and the Emmons Glacier climbing routes.

Sunrise Camp

A high-elevation backcountry site located near the Sunrise Visitor Center, offering views of the Emmons Glacier and surrounding peaks.

Camp Schurman

A high-altitude climbing camp situated at 9,485 feet on Steamboat Prow. It serves as the primary base for summit attempts via the Emmons-Winthrop route.