Take a guided snowshoe walk in Washington's national parks

Guided snowshoe walks are available at Mount Rainier, Olympic National Park and Snoqualmie Pass.

Mount Rainier

The National Park Service offers free, guided snowshoe walks on weekends during the winter at Paradise -- until April, or as long as the snow holds out.

Guided walks for reserved groups start at 10:30 a.m. and for the public at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. at the Jackson Memorial Visitor Center at Paradise.

The walks are about a mile to the Nisqually Vista and take about 90 minutes. Groups are limited to 25 people, ages 10 and older, on a first-come, first-served basis. A sign-up sheet is available at the visitor center information desk one hour before each walk.

Groups of up to 25 people may inquire at Longmire Museum or Jackson Visitor Center information desk; or call 360-569-2211, Ext. 3314, to make reservations.

The park will loan snowshoes for the walks for a $1 donation to cover the cost of snowshoe maintenance and replacement. It's free if you bring your own snowshoes.

For people who want to strike out on their own, snowshoes also are available for rental -- $12 adults all day, $8 children; $7.25 adults half-day, $4.50 children.

The National Park Inn at Longmire is open, with lodging and a restaurant. Lodging and restaurants also are available in Ashford outside the park.

Olympic National Park

Snowshoe walks also are offered at Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic National Park.

The walks are led by park rangers, cover about a mile and last about 90 minutes.

Walks for reserved groups start at 10:30 a.m. and for the public at 2 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday and holidays through March -- depending on the snow. They start at the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center.

Snowshoes are provided free, but the park asks for a $2 donation to help with upkeep.

Walks are limited to 30 participants, and anyone interested should sign up at the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center information desk one our before the walk.

Call the main park visitor center at 360-565-3136 for reservations and information. Call 360-565-3131 to find out whether the road to Hurricane Ridge is open.

Snoqualmie Pass

The Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest offers guided snowshoe walks at Snoqualmie Pass at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

For more information, call the Snoqualmie Pass Visitor Center at 425-434-6111 between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday, or call 425-888-1421, Ext. 242, for reservations.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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