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Mount Rainier

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Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center

Parent Category: Attractions

in Paradise Area

Created: 16 October 2014

Pictures and the video below will take you on a virtual trip around Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center. Enjoy the beauty of mountains!

Contact Information

Address: 39000 Washington 706, Ashford, WA 98304, United States

Phone: (360) 569-6571

Hours: Open year-round, but weekends only in winter (generally October-May)

October 14 - December 31
10:00 am - 5:00 pm weekends and holidays only
Open daily during Winter Break, December 20 - January 1

Overview

Visiting Paradise should be the main priority on your to-do-list in Mount Rainier National Park. This area is one of the most visited areas in the park throughout the year. It is very popular among the tourists because Mount Rainier with its glaciers seems to be very close. Paradise Area is also home for the main visitor center – Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center.

Originally, this visitor center was named the Paradise Visitor Center, but received a new name in 1987. The center was renamed in honor of Henry M. Jackson, who was a U.S. Congressman and U.S. Senator for Washington State.

It should be said that the visitor center is located at an elevation of 5,400 feet and in winter this is the snowiest place. Despite this fact, the center is open all year round. Snow was one of the main reasons why the Park Service decided to construct a new building for the visitor center. The original building was poorly engineered and was not able to work efficiently during the snowfall. The Park service had to melt the snow on the roof of the building and paid lots of money for that.

This new building was opened to public in October, 2008 and the old building was pulled down in spring of the following year. The new Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center was designed in the traditional style for this region and it can easily withstand heavy snowfalls in winter.

Mount Rainier National Park is visited by two million people every year and all these tourists come to the visitor center. Here they enjoy informative displays on wildlife of the region, on climbing and hiking opportunities at Mount Rainier, and different diagrams that show the activity of the volcano.

The top of Mt. Rainier is covered by 26 glaciers; each of them has the name. With all the snow and ice they create a huge glacier system, which includes Glacier Carbon as well as Emmons Glacier.

Glacier Nisqually is the easiest one to get to, over the past 45 years it increased by several times and then decreased again, melted showing the obvious climate changes. The mountain with its white glaciers you can see on our pictures that were taken in October. Autumn is a beautiful season, especially in the mountains. On our pictures you may see all the beauty of the Paradise Area: breathtaking sunrises and gorgeous autumn foliage, magnificent Mount Rainier and its’ white glaciers. Not only the visitor center area, but also the whole way to it is very scenic. Even from the parking lot, you may enjoy perfect views of the mountains and autumn forest. Visit this place and enjoy the nature to the full!