National Park Service · Washington
Cougar Rock Group Campground
National Park Service · Washington, United States · in Mount Rainier National Park
- Sites
- 5
- Hookups
- 5 no hookups
- Group sites
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 3,199 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- AT&T good · T-Mobile none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Mount Rainier National Park
- Nearest town
- Longmire
- Address
- Longmire, WA, 98361
- Phone
- 360-569-2211
- Activities
- Amphitheater, Camping, Educational Programs, Hiking, Picnic Tables, Ranger Station
5 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Cougar Rock Group Campground, on the southwest side of Mt. Rainier National Park, is conveniently located near Paradise. Group campsite reservations can be made on this page. Individual campsites are reservable via Cougar Rock Campground.
Paradise is the most popular destination in the park, with a lodge and visitor center, many miles of hiking trails and a commanding view of the mountain. The main attraction at Mount Rainier National Park is the mountain itself, a glacier-clad volcano of immense proportions. At 14,411 feet, it dominates the skyline for hundreds of miles. Visitors travel through majestic old-growth forest, past tumbling waterfalls and historic buildings to reach sub-alpine meadows, where world-famous wildflower displays are seen through July and August. Popular activities in the park include sight-seeing, hiking, rock climbing and camping.
The Cougar Rock area is located at an elevation of 3,180 feet. Summers are dry and cool with daytime temperatures in the 60 to 80-degree range. Weather throughout the park can be variable, so visitors should come prepared.
Recreation
From the facility, experienced hikers and backpackers can access the well-known, strenuous but beautiful Wonderland Trail, which encircles the park for 93 miles. For those who enjoy learning more about the park's natural and cultural history, there is an on-site amphitheater where interpretive programs are held.
Facilities
The group campground has five campsites and is located within the general Cougar Rock Campground. Sites are relatively rustic, but have drinking water, flush toilets and picnic tables. All group campsites must be reserved. Visitors must use extra caution with food storage, as foxes and other animals have been known to frequent the campground looking for food.
Natural Features
The campground has one lookout point from which campers can view Mt. Rainier. Although it is peaceful now, the still-active volcano last erupted in the mid 1800s. The campground is adjacent to the Nisqually River and is surrounded by thick forests. A short drive to Paradise in summer reveals fields of lush wildflowers.
Nearby Attractions
Mount Rainier National Park is about 50 miles southeast of the Seattle-Tacoma metropolitan area.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 41° | 31° | 12° | 55° | 10 of 11 |
| February | 37° | 27° | 6° | 55° | 10 of 11 |
| March | 42° | 28° | 20° | 62° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 44° | 32° | 16° | 68° | 11 of 11 |
| May | 52° | 40° | 29° | 74° | 1 of 11 |
| June | 58° | 43° | 33° | 81° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 73° | 52° | 44° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 75° | 55° | 44° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 66° | 50° | 39° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 55° | 41° | 30° | 79° | 1 of 10 |
| November | 46° | 34° | 21° | 62° | 8 of 10 |
| December | 39° | 29° | 18° | 59° | 9 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Cougar Rock Campground · National Park Service · 0 mi · 184 sites
- Big Creek (Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA) · USDA Forest Service · 9 mi · 29 sites
- Ohanapecosh Campground · National Park Service · 11 mi · 192 sites
- Ohanapecosh Group Campground · National Park Service · 11 mi · 2 sites
- La Wis Wis Campground · USDA Forest Service · 12 mi · 113 sites
All public campgrounds in Washington · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.