Crystal Carriage House

08/23/2026

Hunger level: bear with me.

“I’ll have the salmon, please. With a side of salmon. Then, for dessert, perhaps the salmon. Actually, forget the dessert. More salmon. And a small grass salad and a water.”

In late summer and fall, Alaska’s coastal brown bears enter a state called hyperphagia, which is a scientific way of saying, “I must now eat everything I can find before winter arrives and turns the world into a giant freezer.” During this all-you-can-eat season, a large male bear can consume 80 to 90 pounds of food a day.

To handle all this eating, bears take midday naps to process their meals. A relatable strategy: eat an unreasonable amount, then lie down and think about your choices. At the peak of the salmon run, a dominant bear can eat more than 30 salmon in a single day.

NPS Image

08/20/2026

Pack it in, pack it out. It's one of the simplest principles in outdoor recreation — and one of the most important.

Waste services inside Mount Rainier National Park are limited. Whatever you bring in — food wrappers, bottles, orange peels, everything — plan to take it back out with you. Keeping the park clean is something every visitor can contribute to, every single visit.

07/26/2026

Plan to go early to Sunrise!

Getting to Sunrise can take a while. The line to get in at the White River entrance is frequently over an hour long, especially at midday and on weekends.

There is a public restroom on the other side of the entrance gate, but is a good idea to stop in a nearby town or at one of the park toilets along the way. There are vault toilets at Tipsoo Lake, and there is a public restroom in downtown Enumclaw.

Bring snacks and extra drinking water with you. There is limited water in the park. Our supply primarily depends on streams and lakes fed by snowmelt and perennial snowfields.

NPS photo of about a third of the White River entrance line last Saturday, in the reflection of a side-view mirror.

07/22/2026

Your dog is a very good dog! But Mount Rainier's wildlife doesn't know that.

To a marmot, bear, an endangered Cascade red fox or white-tailed ptarmigan, even the friendliest pup looks and smells like a predator. That can trigger stress responses, disrupt feeding, separate parents from young, and cause animals to abandon important habitat. Sadly, your experience will end up seeing less of them.

Dogs can also leave behind scents that linger long after a hike and can spread diseases and parasites between pets and wild animals.

For many reasons, pets aren't allowed on Mount Rainier's trails, paved or unpaved. The rule protects wildlife and it protects your best friend from steep cliffs, wildlife encounters, hot pavement, and fragile ecosystems.

Your pup can still be part of the adventure. Leashed pets are welcome in developed areas like campgrounds, parking lots, and roads open to vehicles. Learn more: nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/pets.htm

Every choice we make shapes the experience of the wildlife that lives here. Help keep Mount Rainier wild for the species that call it their only home.

NPS Photo Graphic

07/19/2026

Stay aware

05/21/2026

Chinook and Cayuse Passes opening tomorrow! Crystal Mountain Resort will have its Gondola running over the weekend, and so many local trails waiting for you.

Include the Crystal Carriage House in your getaway plans.

Peace and serenity abounds at the Crystal Carriage House. Nestled on two acres and a short 19 miles to Crystal Ski Resort and 12 miles to the Sunrise Entrance of Mount Rainier.

12/29/2025

Perfect time to plan your trip to the Mountain!
Come up midweek in January, avoid parking reservations, and book a stay at the peaceful Crystal Carriage House.