Established Camping
Cougar Rock Campground — Mount Rainier National Park
About
National Park Service
Mount Rainier National Park
Overview
Cougar Rock Campground, on the southwest side of Mt. Rainier National Park, is conveniently located near Paradise. Individual campsites are reservable on this page. Group campsite reservations can be made via Cougar Rock Group Campground.__ Paradise is the most popular destination in the park, with a lodge and visitor center, many miles of hiking trails and a commanding view of the mountain-the highest in the state and Cascade range. The main attraction at Mount Rainier National Park is the mountain itself, a massive glacier-clad volcano, peaking at 14,411 ft. and dominating the skyline for hundreds of miles. Visitors travel through majestic old-growth forests, past tumbling waterfalls and historic buildings to reach sub-alpine meadows, where world-famous wildflower displays bloom through July and August. Popular activities in the park include sight-seeing, hiking, rock climbing and camping.Cougar Rock campground is located at an elevation of 3,180 feet. Summers are dry and cool with daytime temperatures ranging from 60 to 80 degrees. Weather throughout the park can be variable, so visitors should come prepared.
Recreation
From the facility, experienced hikers and backpackers can access the well-known, strenuous and beautiful Wonderland Trail, which encircles the park for 93 miles. For those who enjoy learning more about the park's natural and cultural history, there is an on-site amphitheater where interpretive programs are held.
Facilities
Cougar Rock is relatively rustic, but has drinking water, flush toilets and picnic tables at all 173 campsites. This facility is one of only two campgrounds in the park with campsites that can be reserved. Visitors must use extra caution with food storage, as foxes and other animals have been known to frequent the campground looking for food.
Natural Features
Cougar Rock Campground has one lookout point from which campers can view Mt. Rainier. Although it is peaceful now, the still active volcano last erupted in the mid 1800s. The campground is adjacent to the Nisqually River and is surrounded by thick forests. A short drive to Paradise in summer reveals fields of lush wildflowers.
Nearby Attractions
Mount Rainier National Park is about 50 miles southeast of the Seattle-Tacoma metropolitan area.
Charges & Cancellations
If a camper does not check-in at the ranger station by 12:00pm check-out time the day after the scheduled arrival date, their reservation will be cancelled, the camper will incur a $10.00 service fee, and forfeit the first night's camping fee.__
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
Stay Connected
- WiFiUnknown
- VerizonUnknown
- AT&TUnknown
- T-MobileUnknown
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Pull-Through Sites
Inside the park
Pretty big site that is a short drive to paradise. Many hiking trails nearby. Sites are a bit rugged and small but it was cozy enough.
Convenient spot
This is a great quiet campground convenient to Paradise. 10-15 min drive up the mountain.
No cellphone reception and the spots were not the most level and a little tight (we have a 23 foot rig and it would be tough to bring much bigger) the roads are narrow and spots are narrow to get in and out of. The national park also has a limit on the size, so check before you try to come here. It is first come first serve after Sept 5th. We went during week and got a spot, but campground was still pretty full. People seemed to leave on Wednesday; but loved having the Carter falls trail across the street and Mt. Rainier in plain site. It was a quiet spot and you could also drive to Longmire a couple miles down the road. You have the option to sit at the lodge in Paradise, if you need to check emails or make a phone call.
Dump station was closed. Fireban in affect, so no firewood option, but they have trash and a place to recycle and of course, bathrooms were open.
- (11) View All
Good Spot In Mt Rainier
My wife and I came here on a Friday afternoon hoping to get a spot. We did! We got lucky because only a few hours later, it was full. Keep in mind this is a “first come, first serve” campground. Our site was decent sized. There’s a burn ban pretty much everywhere, so no fire but we made due. It’s a good location to all the good spots in the park. The only downside was that the women’s bathroom flooded, and the other one got shut down so the one closest to our site was the only operable one, and it was packed. But, they were clean. We would absolutely go back!
Location
Cougar Rock Campground — Mount Rainier National Park is located in Washington
Directions
Cougar Rock Campground is located 14 miles east of Ashford, Washington, on State Route 706/Paradise Road.
Coordinates
46.7672222 N
121.7944444 W