If you’re planning a camping trip to Mount Rainier National Park, you might be wondering if campfires are allowed in the park and if there are any specific restrictions or rules in regards to campfires?
Below is everything you need to know about campfires at Mt Rainier National Park.
Campfires are generally allowed in Mount Rainier National Park. However, there are some rules and restrictions about campfires in the park that you should be aware of.
Below are the rules and regulations around campfires at Mt Rainier, as well as one example of when you can’t have a campfire while at the park.
Mt Rainier National Park Campfire Rules and Restrictions
While many of the campfire rules at Mt Rainier fall under the category of common sense, some of these rules and restrictions might actually surprise you as they are not always common knowledge.
Rule # 1 – Keep it Small
The first rule to keep in mind if you plan to have a campfire inside Mount Rainier National Park is that you should always keep the fire small and manageable. Keeping the fire small and manageable is one of the best ways to ensure that the fire doesn’t get out of hand or cause injuries at the campsite.
While there are no specific size restrictions in regards to the height or width of a campfire in the park, just remember to keep the fire low to the ground and well inside the grating or campfire ring provided at every campsite.
Rule # 2 – Never Leave a Campfire Unattended
While this particular campfire rule definitely falls under the common sense category it still bears repeating that you should never leave a campfire unattended even if it’s just for a few minutes or its mainly just hot coals.
Even though campfires are relaxing and one of the most enjoyable aspects of camping, it’s important to remember that campfires are also one of the more dangerous and potentially harmful aspects of camping as well, not only for campers but also for nature and the wildlife around the fire.
So when camping with a campfire never leave the fire unattended and always make sure to give the campfire the attention and respect that it deserves.
Rule # 3 – Do Not Bring Firewood From Other Areas
While it might be tempting to bring firewood from home in order to save time and money, it is prohibited to bring firewood from outside the area into the park, as it might contain invasive insect species or disease that could pose a serious threat to the park and its natural resources.
Even if the wood looks healthy or is aged and dried it could still endanger the park’s natural environment, so always make sure to leave your firewood at home when you come to Mount Rainier and instead purchase your firewood locally once you reach Mount Rainier.
When buying your firewood “locally”, it means to purchase firewood no farther away than 50 miles from Mount Rainier.
Rule # 4 – Do Not Forage for Firwood Around the Campsite
Gathering firewood off the ground around the campsite or while at the National Park such as branches, pine cones, or twigs is prohibited while inside the park.
If you are wondering why you can’t collect firewood from the ground around the campsite or inside the National Park it’s because these natural materials provide compost for the environment in the area which helps to nourish the trees and maintain the quality and health of the forest.
One place you can forage for campfire wood though is inside the campfire ring at your campsite as often time past campers will leave only half-burned logs or even full logs inside the fire ring making it a great source for free firewood while camping at Mount Rainier.
Rule # 5 – Do Not Burn Trash at Your Campsite
When camping at Mount Rainier National Park you are not allowed to burn trash at your campsite nor or you allowed to leave any trash inside the fire grate or ring at your campsite.
While this is a good general rule when it comes to campfires at the park, it’s also a great rule to help preserve the natural beauty of the campsite and campground for the next camper that might camp at your site after you.
So always remember to be a good steward of the campsite you stay at whether you have a campfire or not while camping.
Where to Purchase Local Firewood at Mt Rainier National Park
There are several different places you can purchase firewood locally when camping at Mt Rainier, below is a list of some of the most popular places to buy firewood for campfires inside Mt Rainier National Park.
- Located at 47009 Paradise Rd E, Ashford, WA 98304
- Open 7 Days a Week, Hours Vary Depending on the Time of Year
- Open Year-Round
- Located in Ashford, WA near the Cougar Rock Ranger Station in the Southwest Area of the Park
- Open from Late May to Late September
- 175 Campsites and 5 Group Campsites
- Located at Ohanapecosh Rd, Randle, WA 98377 in the Southeast Area of the Park
- Open from Late May to Late September
- 188 Campsites and 2 Group Sites
- Located 5 miles from Highway 410 in the Northeast Area of the Park
- Open Late June to Late September
- 112 Campsites
If you need more information about where and how to purchase firewood at Mount Rainier National Park the bulletin boards at each campground are also a wealth of information.
When Can You Not Have a Campfire at Mount Rainier National Park?
You can just about always have a campfire while camping at Mt Rainier, however, there are rare occasions when you might not be able to have a campfire and this is when fire bans are in place at the park.
While rare, fire bans can happen in the Northwest from time to time, which includes Mount Rainier National Park especially during the dry summer months.
While Mt Rainier was unaffected, a recent example when many fire bans were in place in the Northwest was in 2018 during a particularly hot and dry summer.
So before you go camping and light that campfire while at Mt Rainier make sure to first check the national park service website by clicking here to make sure that there are no current fire bans in place.