Wilderness Recreation Problems and Solutions Project
Query Form
Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
Recreation Impact Type:
Deterioration of managed trails during spring snowmelt
Management Objectives:
The overall objective is to protect fragile subalpine vegetation from trampling effects during the
snow melt-out period by identifying and maintaining the trail alignment for visitors to follow.
Strategies:
1) General overview of the major elements of management program:
The Paradise subalpine meadows are a major visitor attraction at Mount Rainier National Park.
The immediate trail system accommodates 1000’s of hikers per day along a 12.5 mile network
of short trails. Special regulations prohibit off-trail travel in this area when snowfree in order to
protect the fragile subalpine meadows from trampling impacts. The meadows have gone
through extensive and expensive restoration efforts over the years to correct early park uses
and impacts. In winter, the trails are covered by a heavy snowpack – 15 feet deep on average.
The long snowmelt period extends into the summer months when visitation is at peak. The
critical time period is during the late stages of melt-out when the trails are still covered by snow
and intermittent patches of bare ground begin to show. Hikers walking on snow often find
themselves having to walk on bare meadow vegetation in order to continue their direction of
travel. The wet conditions cause immediate vegetation loss and erosion from just a few
footsteps. This situation is compounded by the large numbers of visitors.
NOTE: These management issues occur in both designated wilderness and non-wilderness
“backcountry” areas of the park. “Backcountry” zones permit higher carrying capacities and
some on-site manipulation (e.g. trail hardening) which is not allowed in designated wilderness.
Aggressive trail management has been practiced for years in order to minimize impacts. Great
efforts have been made to identify the exact trail alignment while still snow-covered in order to
establish a boot track in the snow that will entice visitors to follow. Early efforts involved a
buried cable along the trails so crews could locate it with metal detectors. This technique had
varied success. The advent of GPS technology has greatly aided in route identification.
2) List all actions taken to address the specific recreation impact type identified above and brief
description of why the specific action was taken
Action 1: GPS trail alignment
Rationale: GPS data is utilized to locate existing trails hidden beneath the snowpack.
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Action 2: Wand trails
Rationale: Climbers “wands” (bamboo sticks with a tape flag) are placed in the snow
along the identified route for hikers to follow.
Action 3: Rope off areas (allowed in “backcountry”, not wilderness)
Rationale: Snow poles and rope are placed in strategic locations to funnel people away
from winter routes that have extensive bare patches during melt-out.
Action 4: Shovel sections of trail (held to an absolute minimum in wilderness)
Rationale: The summer trail is often not in the best winter travel route. Some side-hill
trail and switchbacks are shoveled to establish a route that visitors are willing to follow.
Action5: Climbing Guide Concession Partnership
Rationale: The Paradise trails are the start of the major climbing routes on the
mountain. Climbing Guide Concessions lead 60 people a day through this area. They
assist the park by leading their clients on the summer trail route to establish and
maintain a substantial boot track for others to follow.
Action 6: Visitor Education Signs (allowed in “backcountry”; not in wilderness)
Rationale: Many types of signs have been produced in a number of languages in order
to explain the impact of walking off-trail and to gain compliance. A “Don’t Be a Meadow
Stomper” button campaign has also been developed.
Implementation Details:
1) How well did the actions work to accomplish management objectives?
These actions require constant attention and fine tuning of the trail alignment as the snow melts.
Conditions change rapidly during warm weather which necessitates daily attention.
2) How did you evaluate the action?
Evaluations are completed by daily observations of visitor behavior, observation of tracks off
trail, vegetation and erosion impacts, and long term impact monitoring of the meadows.
3) What aspects of implementation worked to help attain the desired condition?
All aspects of the implementation plan are necessary in order for the plan to work. One element
alone will not solve the problem.
4) What aspects did not work?
Staffing fluctuations over the years have the greatest impact. Without a constant presence to
maintain the routes, meadow impacts flourish.
5) What were the difficulties of implementation?
Implementation elements are not difficult. Educating all the visitors to the area and maintaining
staffing levels are the greatest challenges.
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6) What was the public acceptance?
The public is very willing to cooperate when they understand the issues. Many visitors still do
not receive the message or understand due to language/cultural barriers and continue to walk
off-trail to take photographs or get out of the snow.
7) Were there any unexpected effects?
No
8) What would you do differently next time; lessons learned; tips?
Unknown – this technique was developed and fine tuned over many years.
9) What are the estimated or actual costs and staff time to plan and implement?
Ideally, staffing requires two people a day, seven days per week for 21/2 months (May – mid
July). Staffing is supplemented with volunteers.
Location and Contact Information:
1) Park/Wilderness name: Mount Rainier National Park
2) Manager contact information: Steve Klump; steve_klump@nps.gov; (360) 569-2211, ext.
3304
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