Hiker Headlines: Winter schedule for national parks; new trail mural

It’s Oct. 31. Happy Halloween from all of us at WTA! Mount Rainier National Park and Olympic National Park are now on winter recreation and road access schedules. Be aware of smoke that may come from planned fires. And check out a new mural on the Eastrail in the Puget Sound area. Here’s some news you may have missed while out on trail this week.

Hurricane Ridge road may be closed due to weather throughout the winter. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service (taken the morning of Oct. 31).

Happy Halloween! From all of us at WTA, we hope you all have a spooky and fun evening tonight. Stay safe and check out our tips for a night hike if you'd like to head out on a nighttime adventure. 

Mount Rainier winter access: Starting Nov. 12, Paradise at Mount Rainier National Park will be open Fridays through Mondays. The Longmire to Paradise road will be closed Tuesdays to Thursdays. Longmire will be open 7 days a week. Winter camping at Paradise will be open Friday nights through Sunday nights. All of these schedules are subject to change due to inclement weather. 

Olympic National Park access: For the winter season, Hurricane Ridge Road's open status will depend on weather and road conditions. Check the alert page on the National Park Service website or call the recorded road and weather line at 360-565-3131. Additionally, Obstruction Point Road is closed for the winter. 

Maintenance fire operations: With temperatures cooling down, multiple land managers are conducting maintenance fire operations. Expect smoke in these areas.

• Olympic National Park is starting debris pile burns across the peninsula. Operations will continue through Jan. 2025, and occur in the Sol Duc, Mora, Hoh, Elwha and Quinault maintenance areas. 
• Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and Gifford Pinchot National Forest have also been conducting prescribed burns.

New mural: Eastrail has a new mural on the Bellevue segment by artist Nikita Ares, after a call for artists this summer. The mural can be found near the Wilburton Light Rail Station and NE 8th bridge. When finished, Eastrail will be a 42-mile urban route connecting Renton and Snohomish County. 

BE IN THE KNOW

• Keep up to date with Trail News, our monthly email newsletter.
• Search our Hiking Guide to find your next adventure.
• Check trip reports for latest conditions on trails. And if you go for a hike, file your own trip report.
• Sign up for Families Go Hiking, our email newsletter for families with plenty of tips on keeping kids busy.
• Sign up for Trail Action Network to stay up to date on issues impacting trails and ways to get involved.