Carbon River Ranger Station
The Carbon River Ranger Station is the park's only ranger station that stays open year-round.
Plan Around Carbon River Ranger Station
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Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.
Carbon River Ranger Station Details
The Carbon River Ranger Station (360-829-9639) is located 5.5 miles east of the Mowich Lake junction (State Route 165, about 2.5 miles before the Carbon River Entrance) in the northwest corner of the park, and is the only ranger station open year-round. This area is subject to huge amounts of rainfall, which is why it resembles a temperate rainforest. After continually rebuilding the washed-out Carbon River Road, the park finally closed this road indefinitely after severe flooding in 2006 washed parts of the road away. You can drive as far as the ranger station, but will need to rely on foot or bike power to journey beyond the gate and travel the road 5 miles inside the park boundary, as far as the Ipsut-Creek Campground and trailheads. Tip: You'll want a mountain bike for this unmaintained route, but keep in mind that bikes are prohibited from all hiking trails.
Difficulty
Low
Distance
N/A
Estimated time
N/A
Region
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Nearby Parks Around Carbon River Ranger Station
Compare nearby parks around Carbon River Ranger Station when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Carbon River Ranger Station
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Carbon River Ranger Station while the map context is still fresh.
0.4 mi away
Moraine Park Trail
This spectacular hike gives you a close-up look at the Carbon Glacier, wildflowers, and a sweeping view of Mount Rainier.
0.8 mi away
Carbon River
The 30-mile Carbon River flows from the Carbon Glacier on Mount Rainier to Orting in Pierce County, Wash., where it joins the Puyallup River.
2.1 mi away
Lake James Trail
You'll need to tackle 10 miles (roundtrip) of hiking along the now-closed Carbon River Road to complete this trip, but it's worth it to see the Yellowstone Cliffs, Windy Gap, and Lake James at the end.
2.1 mi away
Mystic Lake Trail
You can access Mystic Lake from two trailheads: Sunrise (a 21.8-mile route) or the Carbon River Entrance (20.8 miles), via the Wonderland Trail from either direction.
2.2 mi away
Carbon River Rainforest Trail
This .3-mile loop is enough to give you a taste of this ancient and stunning lowland rainforest in the Carbon River area.
