Mount Rainier National Park Acting Superintendent Randy King announced Monday that state Route 123 and state Route 410 over Cayuse Pass (north-south) was to open to the public at noon Tuesday. This road has been closed since Dec. 18.

Washington State Department of Tran-sportation crews are finishing up spring snow removal operations and Mount Rainier staff is placing signs in preparation for the opening and the beginning of the 2009 visitor season. State Route 410 east over Chinook Pass remains closed. WSDOT crews continue to remove snow from this section of the road and anticipate it will open by Memorial Day weekend.

Since 1974 the earliest date the SR 410/123 road has opened was March 18 during the 1980-81 winter. The latest date for opening was June 30, 2006, when the road remained closed for extensive storm damage repair.

Repair of storm damage on the Nisqually-Paradise Road at Glacier Hill is scheduled to begin mid- to late-June with anticipated completion by mid-August. The road will remain open to traffic, but 20 minute delaysshould be expected.

Storm damage repairs to the Stevens Canyon Road (will also begin mid- to late June with expected completion by mid-August. Due to the more extensive damage at this site, the Stevens Canyon Road will remain closed to through traffic until repair is completed. Park visitors coming from the west on Stevens Canyon Road will be able to access areas as far as Backbone Ridge Overlook and from the east to the Grove of the Patriarchs located approximately .2 miles from state Route 123.

These sections of Stevens Canyon Road are scheduled to open by noon on May 22.

Visitors will not be able to travel between the east and west sides of the park through Stevens Canyon until this repair work is completed in mid-August.

The park is working in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration, which will administer the contract to repair storm damages at Glacier Hill and Stevens Canyon. The damage occurred in early January 2009.

The Sunrise Road will open to the public by noon June 26.

Mowich Lake Road is scheduled to open by noon on July 3.

The White River Road to the campground parking lot is tentatively scheduled to open May 20, however a great deal of snow remains in the area and opening may be delayed.

Facilities

The new Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center at Paradise is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends). The visitor center offers information, exhibits, movies, book sales, food service and gifts.

The historic Paradise Inn is scheduled to reopen for the season at noon Friday, providing lodging, dining and gifts. The National Park Inn at Longmire is open year-round, also offering lodging, dining and gifts. For reservations call Mount Rainier Guest Services at 360-569-2275.

At Ohanapecosh Campground Loops A, B and C only will open at noon May 22 in time for the Memorial Day Weekend. Available sites will be limited.

White River Campground is scheduled to open at noon June 26.

Sunrise Visitor Center and Sunrise Lodge will open for the season on July 3.

For additional information and conditions, visit the park’s Web page, www.nps.gov/mora or call

360-569-2211 for recorded information.