MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK – An extremely popular winter destination in Mt. Rainier National Park is off-limits during weekdays this winter, leading to outrage and frustration.
The National Park Service blames staffing shortages for the closure of the road up to Paradise, which is a favorite place in the greater Seattle area for people wanting to frolic in a winter wonderland. But the snow play area and the sledding hill are closed, too.
The issue is compounded by the fact that many local ski resorts have been overcrowded in recent weeks. And local businesses at the gateway to the park rely on the traffic to keep them going through quieter winter months.
Local groups are lobbying the park to open. The NPS says it’s doing everything it can to open up for more weekdays this winter, while also working to make sure that it doesn’t happen again next winter.
NATIONAL PARK NEWS
