Cougar Rock Campground

Cougar Rock is a developed campground at 3,180 feet in a steep, evergreen-covered valley between Longmire and Paradise. It works well as an overnight base for the south side of Mount Rainier: both Longmire and Paradise are less than a 15-minute drive away. The Wonderland Trail is across the main road. Choose Cougar Rock for forested campsites and trail access, not for a wide-open mountain panorama; Rainier shows through the trees from only a few spots.

Individual campsites occupy loops A through E, with five group sites on loop F. The amphitheater between loops C and D hosts interpretive programs. Thick trees screen many sites, but sizes and privacy vary, and some campers find the sites close together. Campground roads and parking spurs are paved; individual site surfaces are packed dirt or gravel.

Check the site dimensions before booking if you have a larger vehicle. The loops have sharp turns and few pull-through spaces; vehicles longer than 35 feet for RVs or 27 feet for trailers are not allowed.

Seasonal potable water and flush toilets are spread through the loops. There are seven restrooms, including accessible facilities, and four accessible campsites; the amphitheater has a wooden ramp. Campsite surfaces can be dirt or gravel. There are no showers, laundry, or electrical, water, or sewer hookups.

There is no camp store or cafe, though firewood is sold seasonally. Food-storage lockers are seasonal, and foxes and other animals come through looking for food, so secure yours and follow park food-storage rules. Cell coverage is unreliable and varies by provider, and there is no internet connection. Pets must be restrained and stay in campsites, on vehicle roads, or in parking areas; they are not allowed on trails, vegetation, or in the amphitheater.