Sunrise Park Road
The highest point you can drive to in Washington, dead-ending at 6,400 feet on Mount Rainier's northeast shoulder. Its season is short even by seasonal-road standards: snowfields linger into July and return in September.
This year
Live plow-season reports load here. For today's conditions, go straight to Mount Rainier NP's status page.
Conditions change by the hour at 6,400 feet — check Mount Rainier NP's status page before you drive.
The record
Usually opens in late June or early July — one of the last roads in the Northwest to melt out.
We're still putting this road's year-by-year record together from Mount Rainier NP archives — it will appear here as it's confirmed. In the meantime, Mount Rainier NP's page has current conditions.
When does Sunrise Park Road close?
Closes with the first lasting snow, usually by early October. The winter closure covers the road from the White River entrance up to Sunrise.
We don't have this road's year-by-year closing dates yet — they'll appear here as Mount Rainier NP's notices are worked through. Until then, Mount Rainier NP's own page has the state of the gate.
Sunrise Park Road: opening and closing questions
- When does Sunrise Park Road close for the winter?
- Closes with the first lasting snow, usually by early October. The winter closure covers the road from the White River entrance up to Sunrise.
- Can you drive Sunrise Park Road in winter?
- No. The road from the White River entrance up to Sunrise is gated once the season ends, and it stays shut until spring plowing gets through. Mount Rainier NP posts the gate's current state.
- Is Sunrise Park Road open right now?
- This page is the season record, not the road's condition this morning. National Park Service — Mount Rainier National Park publishes today's state of the road, and that is the one to check before you drive — conditions turn over in hours at this elevation.
- When does Sunrise Park Road open again?
- Usually opens in late June or early July — one of the last roads in the Northwest to melt out.