Road Biking

Road and touring cyclists will find park roads quite challenging as they are steep, narrow, winding and have unpaved shoulders. There are several significant elevation gains and losses.

The road from the Nisqually Entrance in the southwest corner of the park to Paradise is 19 miles one way with a gain in elevation of 3,400 feet. Travel from the northeast park boundary to Sunrise is 20 miles with an elevation gain of 3,650 feet.

The Redmond Cycling Club sponsors RAMROD (Ride Around Mount Rainier One Day), an annual bicycle ride in July in which 750 cyclists test themselves on the 154 mile course with 10,000 feet of total elevation gain.

Mountain Biking

Bicycles are not permitted on any of the foot trails in Mount Rainier National Park and there are no designated bike trails. Mountain bikers have three areas to choose from in the park:

The Westside Road is just inside the Nisqually Entrance in the southwest corner of the park. The entire length is unpaved and provides an exceptionally scenic challenge. The first three miles of the road are open to all vehicles. There is a small parking area at the end of this three mile section and many mountain bikers choose to leave their cars at this point. The ten mile stretch to Klapatche Point is restricted to cyclists and hikers. There are two challenging climbs and the views are spectacular.

The Carbon River Road is in the northwest corner of the park. The old roadbed of the Carbon River makes a fine mountain bike trail through the rain forest for the first two miles. Travel beyond this point to the Ipsut Creek campground is currently restricted to bicyclists because of flood damage.

A third option for mountain bikers is the road behind the old campground in Longmire. Vehicle parking and access to this road are at the Community Building in Longmire.

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