By Steve Dubiel, Chief Executive Officer
Mount Rainier National Park is a beloved gem of the Pacific Northwest, celebrated for its breathtaking vistas, abundant biodiversity, and rich cultural history. However, the park’s popularity — welcoming over two million visitors annually — has taken its toll on its meadows, trails, and facilities.
In response, Washington’s National Park Fund (WNPF) launched “Restoring Paradise” as part of the Together for the Parks campaign. This bold, multi-year effort goes beyond our support of the park’s annual priority projects, addressing critical restoration and preservation needs at Paradise, the park’s most visited area.
Thanks to donor support, this ambitious signature project has already made significant strides with early donations from campaign supporters. To date, we have provided more than $700,000 to the park to begin work on several elements of the project. I’m excited to share an update on the progress of each of the initiative’s key components:
The fragile Paradise Meadows, known for their vibrant wildflowers and unique ecosystems, are vital to the park’s biodiversity. However, heavy foot traffic and off-trail hiking have degraded these meadows, disrupting water systems, soil stability, and wildlife habitats.
To combat this, WNPF is funding a three-year research collaboration with ecological researchers at the University of Washington. This research is now underway, with early funds allowing the park to focus on developing a high-priority research plan that will identify best practices for meadow restoration and begin data collection.
The research aims to develop methods for restoring damaged areas and protecting untrampled meadows that are based on sound science. This effort will advance a long-term vision of a future where annual restoration is no longer needed, ensuring the meadows remain healthy, thriving ecosystems for generations to come. Learn more about this effort.
The Skyline Trail, starting at the iconic Jackson Visitor Center, offers visitors unparalleled views of Mount Rainier and its glaciers.
Unfortunately, decades of heavy use have left sections of this iconic trail narrow, eroded, and prone to water damage. Plans are in place to widen the trail, improve drainage systems, and add rest areas to enhance safety and visitor enjoyment.
By clearly delineating the trail, this effort will complement the park’s work to return the meadows by reducing meadow trampling and ensuring a safer, more accessible hiking experience.
To address visitor safety and reduce habitat disruption, a new 1.2-mile trail will be constructed to connect Paradise’s lower picnic area and parking lot to the Jackson Visitor Center. This new trail will eliminate the need for visitors to walk along busy roads or create “social trails” through sensitive habitats.
This project is progressing well, with archaeological surveys now completed to ensure minimal disruption to cultural and environmental resources and trail construction expected to begin in the coming years. Restoration of the surrounding area’s unofficial trails is also planned, helping to further protect this heavily visited region.
The Slate Comfort Station, built in 1929 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has served millions of visitors but has suffered from years of wear and deferred maintenance. This facility remains critical, as it is one of the few restrooms open year-round in Paradise.
Rehabilitation work is expected to be underway in 2026, including addressing structural issues, replacing outdated plumbing and electrical systems, and restoring the historic stonework.
Meanwhile, early donor dollars are already facilitating the park’s design, fabrication, and installation of wayside panels that will provide critical visitor orientation and safety messaging. Once completed, the updated facility will be fully accessible, energy-efficient, and better equipped to serve the park’s growing number of visitors.
This project ensures both functionality and preservation of an essential piece of Mount Rainier’s history. Learn more about this effort.
Thanks to the generous contributions of donors and the collaboration of dedicated partners, the Restoring Paradise signature project is already making a lasting impact, helping protect the park’s natural and cultural treasures and enhance the visitor experience for millions each year.
Your continued support can help bring this vision to life. Every gift — large or small — plays a critical role in preserving Mount Rainier for future generations. We hope you will consider making a gift to this important project. To do so, please contact Andrea Christensen, Director of Philanthropy, at andrea@wnpf.org.
Together, we can ensure that Paradise remains a haven of beauty, inspiration, and adventure.
Washington’s National Park Fund is the official philanthropic partner to Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks. With your help, we raise private support to preserve and protect Washington’s national parks, funding scientific research, youth and family experiences, and projects that will keep these parks strong and vital now and forever, for everyone. Restoring Paradise is a signature project WNPF is raising funds for as part of the five-year Together for the Parks campaign. Learn more at togetherfortheparks.org.
Cover photo by John Chao, WNPF Creative Partner