Mather Memorial Highway Snowshoe

The White River Snowshoe follows the Mather Memorial Highway (SR 410) through a snowy river valley in Mount Rainier National Park. What is a bustling highway in summer becomes a quiet snowshoe ramble in the winter. 

Start from the Silver Springs sno-park just before the park entrance. Follow the obvious tracks out toward the highway, which will be closed off to cars and snow-covered if your timing is right. The entrance to the national park is clearly marked by an arch over the road. 

Carry on down the snowy corridor, weaving closer then farther from the White River over the first couple miles. After this the road veers away from the river scenery but holds its straight course through the valley. 

The next landmark reached is the Crystal Lakes Trailhead, followed shortly by the turn-off for Sunrise Road. So far the way has been through safe avalanche terrain. If you’d like a little more distance and avalanche conditions are good, go another 0.4 mile but no further, as the avalanche conditions become unsafe past this point.