Unusual bear activity has shut down a heavily used slice of Mount Rainier's Wonderland Trail, with rangers closing the route near Narada Falls and telling hikers to reroute plans for the popular Paradise to Longmire corridor.
Mount Rainier National Park officials say the Wonderland section between the Narada Falls trail junction and Stevens Canyon Road is closed while wildlife staff investigate the reports. Hikers who had permits or itineraries through the area are being told to plan alternate routes and be ready for a stronger ranger presence on nearby trails.
Where The Trail Is Closed
Per The Seattle Times, the park posted a closure notice that described the bear behavior as "unusual." The notice pinpoints the closed stretch as the corridor between the Narada Falls junction and Stevens Canyon Road, a well traveled link for both day hikers and backpackers on multi day trips. The paper reports the park has not given a target date for reopening.
What Rangers Say To Do If You See A Bear
The National Park Service is reminding visitors that Mount Rainier is firmly in bear country, and that most encounters stay safe if people know how to react. Per the National Park Service, hikers who see a bear should back away slowly while facing the animal, make themselves look and sound as large as possible, and throw nonfood items such as rocks or sticks if the bear approaches.
The agency says bear spray should be used only as a last resort at roughly 20 yards. If a bear attacks and food is not involved, the guidance is blunt: do not play dead, instead fight back aggressively.
Why This Stretch Matters For Wonderland Hikers
The Wonderland Trail is Mount Rainier's signature loop, and any closure can scramble carefully built itineraries. Per Wikipedia, the route circles the mountain for roughly 93 miles and passes a string of backcountry camps. The Washington Trails Association notes that those camps often include established sites and bear pole food storage that many backpackers count on.
When the Reflection Lakes and Narada Falls area is off limits, thru hikers can be forced into detours that ripple through permit plans and food cache logistics for multi day trips.
What The Park Is Doing Next
Rangers say wildlife staff are actively monitoring the reports and are asking visitors to tell park personnel about any bear sightings or behavior that seems out of the ordinary. According to the park's trail and backcountry updates, visitors should secure all food in bear proof canisters or odor proof sacks and should use park provided bear poles where they exist.
Officials have not said when the closed Wonderland segment will reopen, and they are urging anyone heading into the backcountry to check the park's current conditions pages before lacing up their boots.
