Right now
Right now as of Nov 3, 2026
- Permit No permit needed. Entry fee: $30 per vehicle (cashless).
Status note (Nov 3, 2026): Open, as far as we can tell. On Nov 3, 2026 the NPS Narada Falls page said "The Narada Falls parking and rest area is open year-round." NPS road status (updated Oct 29, 2026) lists Longmire to Paradise as open. It shows nightly gate closures since Oct 29. All vehicles must carry tire chains from Nov 1 to May 1. What the status labels mean
Narada Falls is a 168-foot waterfall on the Paradise River in Mount Rainier National Park, per NPS. It sits beside the Longmire to Paradise road, about 1 mile southwest of Paradise. A 0.2-mile trail drops 200 feet to the lower viewpoint, so the round trip is 0.4 mile. The parking area is open year-round, but winter brings nightly gate closures and required tire chains.
About Narada Falls
NPS calls Narada Falls a "168-foot-high waterfall" on the Paradise River. Wikipedia, citing the Northwest Waterfall Survey, gives 188 feet in total: a 168-foot upper tier and a 20-foot lower tier.
The falls are in Lewis County. NPS puts them about 17 miles east of the Nisqually Entrance. Paradise is 1 mile to the northeast. Ashford is the nearest town, outside the Nisqually Entrance.
Where the name comes from
Wikipedia says the falls were first called Cushman Falls. Arthur F. Knight renamed them Narada in 1893, after the Narada branch of the Theosophical Society. The name is often misspelled as Nevada Falls.
Seeing the falls without the hike
You don't have to take the trail to see Narada Falls. NPS says the upper pullout at the parking area gives a view of the top of the falls. The trail then leads down to a lower viewpoint.
Getting there and parking
Narada Falls is on the road from Longmire to Paradise, about 17 miles east of the Nisqually Entrance (NPS). Park at the Narada Falls parking and rest area, which NPS says is open year-round.
The lot has bus and RV parking and an accessible restroom, per NPS. The trail to the lower viewpoint leaves from here.
Entrance pass and timed entry
Mount Rainier did not require timed entry in 2026, per an NPS release of February 25, 2026. You still need an entrance pass. NPS charges $30 per private vehicle, $25 per motorcycle and $15 per person age 16 and older.
Each of those passes is good for 7 days, and the Mount Rainier annual pass is $55. Entrances are cashless. NPS lists November 11 as the last fee-free day of 2026.
Winter road hours
Winter changes the drive. NPS road status, updated Oct 29, 2026, says regular nightly closures of the Longmire gate began that day. Longmire to Paradise is open, but conditions change daily.
When the road opens, the gate opens at 9 a.m. The uphill gate closes at 3 p.m., and the downhill gate closes at 4 p.m. NPS asks drivers to leave Paradise by 3:30 p.m.
Crews assess the road each morning, so the gate may open late or stay closed. All vehicles, including 4WD, must carry tire chains in the park from November 1 to May 1.
Myrtle Falls is at Paradise, about 1 mile northeast of Narada Falls by the NPS figure, so the two pair well. Elsewhere in the state, see Snoqualmie Falls, Franklin Falls or our Washington waterfalls guide.
Map and nearby falls
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The trail to the Narada Falls viewpoint
Length: NPS says "The trail is 0.2-mile (0.4 mile round-trip) with a steep, 200-foot descent/ascent." It is short, but the climb back to the car is steep.
Footing: NPS warns that the path may be wet and slippery. Take the descent slowly, and save some energy for the walk back up.
Connections: the trail connects to the Wonderland Trail, according to NPS. If you continue past the viewpoint, carry a map and check trail conditions first.
Accessibility: NPS does not describe the trail's accessibility. With a 200-foot drop, the upper pullout is the easier option for anyone who can't manage steep ground.
Winter on the trail
NPS says the trail to the lower viewpoint is snow covered and hazardous during the winter. In those months, the view of the top from the upper pullout is the safer choice.
When to visit
The Narada Falls parking area is open year-round, NPS says, so you can stop in any season when the road is open.
Since October 29, 2026, the drive has run on winter gate hours. All vehicles must carry tire chains from Nov 1 to May 1. Check NPS road status on the morning you go.
We found no NPS statement on the best month for flow. In winter, the trail to the lower viewpoint is snow covered and hazardous, so plan to view from the top.
| Height | 168 ftNote: per NPS; Wikipedia, citing the Northwest Waterfall Survey, gives 188 ft in total: a 168 ft upper tier and a 20 ft lower tier |
|---|---|
| Trail | 0.2 mi one way (0.4 mi round trip) from the Narada Falls parking area to the lower viewpoint, with a steep 200 ft descent and climb back. It connects to the Wonderland Trail (NPS) |
| Difficulty | Short but steep; NPS gives no difficulty rating. Expect a 200 ft descent and ascent on a path that may be wet and slippery; snow covered and hazardous in winter (NPS) |
| Entry fee | Mount Rainier entrance pass: $30 per private vehicle or $25 per motorcycle (7 days), $15 per person age 16+, $55 annual park pass. Cashless at entrances (NPS). |
| Permit / reservation | No timed entry in 2026; entrance pass required |
| Parking | Narada Falls lot, open year-round |
| Hours / season | Winter road hours since Oct 29, 2026 (NPS): the Longmire gate opens at 9 a.m. The uphill gate closes at 3 p.m. and the downhill gate at 4 p.m. |
| Dogs | Not allowed on park trails (NPS) |
| Swimming | No rule found; view the falls from the trail, the lower viewpoint or the upper pullout |
| Wheelchair / stroller | Partly: the parking area has an accessible restroom, and the upper pullout shows the top of the falls. NPS does not describe the trail's accessibility; it drops 200 ft |
| Walk behind the falls | No |
| Restrooms | Accessible restroom at the Narada Falls parking and rest area (NPS) |
| Best time to visit | No official best month; NPS says the viewpoint trail is snow covered and hazardous in winter |
| Managed by | National Park Service, Mount Rainier National Park |
Safety and swimming
NPS warns that "The path may be wet and slippery," with a steep 200-foot descent and climb. Wear shoes with good grip, and hold children's hands on the steep sections.
In winter, NPS calls the trail to the lower viewpoint snow covered and hazardous. View the falls from the upper pullout instead.
We found no swimming rule for Narada Falls. Stay on the trail and at the viewpoints.
Pets are not allowed on park trails, per NPS. All vehicles must carry tire chains from Nov 1 to May 1, so check road status before you drive. More tips are in our waterfall safety guide.
Conditions change: confirm with NPS before you go.
Where to stay near Narada Falls
Compare hotels, cabins and rentals close to the falls around Ashford.
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Photos
Narada Falls FAQ
How long of a hike is Narada Falls?
0.2 mile one way, or 0.4 mile round trip, to the lower viewpoint, per NPS. The trail has a steep 200-foot descent, so the walk back up is the hard part.
Can you drive to Narada Falls?
Yes. The Narada Falls parking and rest area on the Longmire to Paradise road is open year-round, NPS says. From the upper pullout you can see the top of the falls without hiking.
Where is Narada Falls?
In Mount Rainier National Park, about 17 miles east of the Nisqually Entrance on the road to Paradise. NPS says Paradise is 1 mile to the northeast.
Do you need a timed-entry reservation for Narada Falls?
Not in 2026. Mount Rainier did not require timed entry this year, per its February 25, 2026 release. You still need an entrance pass, such as the $30 private vehicle pass.
Is Narada Falls open in winter?
The parking area is open year-round, per NPS. Since October 29, 2026, the Longmire gate closes nightly, with the uphill gate closing at 3 p.m. All vehicles must carry tire chains from Nov 1 to May 1. NPS calls the viewpoint trail snow covered and hazardous in winter.
How tall is Narada Falls?
168 feet, according to NPS. Wikipedia gives 188 feet in total, counting a 20-foot lower tier below the 168-foot upper tier.
Nearby waterfalls
Myrtle Falls1 mi straight-lineOpen60FT
Franklin Falls47 mi straight-lineOpen135FT
Snoqualmie Falls53 mi straight-lineOpen268FT
Moulton Falls72 mi straight-lineOpen10FT
City guides: Waterfalls near Seattle, WA
Sources
- NPS Mount Rainier: Narada Falls (read Nov 3, 2026)
- NPS Mount Rainier: Road status (updated Oct 29, 2026; read Nov 3, 2026)
- NPS Mount Rainier: Alerts & Conditions (updated Oct 19, 2026; read Nov 3, 2026)
- NPS Mount Rainier: Fees & Passes
- NPS: Mount Rainier will not require timed entry reservations in 2026 (Feb 25, 2026)
- NPS: Day Hiking at Mount Rainier
- Wikipedia: Narada Falls
Last verified Nov 3, 2026 by The Waterfall Guide editorial team. Conditions change: confirm with National Park Service, Mount Rainier National Park before you go. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.