Trading Up for White River
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We did not have timed entry reservations for the Sunrise side of Mount Rainier. That meant the only way into the park before 5 p.m. was to arrive before 7 a.m., and after the previous day’s travel and campsite scramble, neither of us was interested in doing that.
Antique Truck at Wapiti Outdoors
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So instead, we started the day in a abandoned lot off Chinook Pass Highway, where we could let the camper solar panels soak up some much needed sun. Cell service was very spotty along that road, but this was one of the few places where we could get any. While we waited there, I managed to grab a reservation at Silver Springs Campground for the next three nights, which at least gave us a real place to stay.
Before heading to the campground, we checked out a few shops up the road, including Wapiti Outdoors, where an old red Chevy truck parked out front added some extra character to the stop. We also topped off the tank at the nearby gas station before continuing on to Silver Springs.
Our campsite was a beautiful spot just a few steps from the White River. We took a short stroll along the rocky sandbar beside the river until the water cut us off. Back at camp, I sat and watched the bird activity around us right from the campsite, including a Chestnut-backed Chickadee, an Audubon’s Yellow-rumped Warbler, and a Brown Creeper.
While relaxing there, I had a thought: maybe we could still score a first come, first served site inside the park at White River Campground. It felt like a long shot since we would not be heading in until after 5 p.m., but it seemed worth trying.
Once timed entry ended for the day, we headed into the park to see if we could snag a site. Turns out luck was on our side. Sunday was a good turnover day, and there were several open spots. We quickly paid for one, staked our claim with the small tent we keep on hand, and then drove back out to retrieve the camper.
So much for my Silver Springs reservation, but staying inside the park was worth forfeiting it. We traded one beautiful riverside campsite for the chance to stay inside Rainier and be much closer to our trailhead for the next morning's hike.
Before heading to the campground, we checked out a few shops up the road, including Wapiti Outdoors, where an old red Chevy truck parked out front added some extra character to the stop. We also topped off the tank at the nearby gas station before continuing on to Silver Springs.
Our campsite was a beautiful spot just a few steps from the White River. We took a short stroll along the rocky sandbar beside the river until the water cut us off. Back at camp, I sat and watched the bird activity around us right from the campsite, including a Chestnut-backed Chickadee, an Audubon’s Yellow-rumped Warbler, and a Brown Creeper.
While relaxing there, I had a thought: maybe we could still score a first come, first served site inside the park at White River Campground. It felt like a long shot since we would not be heading in until after 5 p.m., but it seemed worth trying.
Once timed entry ended for the day, we headed into the park to see if we could snag a site. Turns out luck was on our side. Sunday was a good turnover day, and there were several open spots. We quickly paid for one, staked our claim with the small tent we keep on hand, and then drove back out to retrieve the camper.
So much for my Silver Springs reservation, but staying inside the park was worth forfeiting it. We traded one beautiful riverside campsite for the chance to stay inside Rainier and be much closer to our trailhead for the next morning's hike.