Mount Rainier: Ohanapecosh Area Closed for Construction
Ohanapecosh Campground and all its services are closed for the duration of construction, so plan a backup base for your Mount Rainier trip.
If you're planning a trip to Mount Rainier, put one piece of news into your planning right away. The Ohanapecosh area, in the park's southeast corner, is closed for now while a renovation project moves forward. And it's not just a handful of scattered campsites. The whole area is off-limits.
In practical terms, you won't be able to book any of the campsites at Ohanapecosh while the work is underway. The area's visitor center is closed too, along with the restrooms and the picnic area. Access to the Ohanapecosh River from this part of the park isn't possible right now either. In short, this longtime anchor point in the south of the park isn't an option this season.
For you, it really comes down to one thing, and that's where you'll sleep. Ohanapecosh is one of Mount Rainier's big campgrounds, and it's a handy base for exploring both the south and the east. If your itinerary leaned on it, line up a backup, maybe over at Cougar Rock, or a place to stay outside the park. Book early, too. The nights lost at Ohanapecosh simply shift to the other campgrounds, and those fill up fast in summer.
As for sightseeing, the southeast entrance is still a gorgeous corner of the park, but the amenities you'd normally count on there (restrooms, tables, an info point) aren't available on site anymore. So bring water, something to eat, and a clear idea of your next stop with facilities, rather than relying on the campground's services.
As always in a mountain park, things can change as the project moves along. Before you head out, check on access and reservations, then build the rest of your route around this temporarily unavailable area. To fit this closure into your larger trip and map out your stops, lean on the Mount Rainier park guide, which will help you spread your nights and visits across the park's other entrances.