The southern portion of the Park--the only part developed at
present--is reached from Ashford, 6-1/2 miles from the Park, on the
Tacoma Eastern Railroad, a branch line of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St.
Paul. The round-trip fare from Tacoma to Ashford is $4.00. From
Ashford automobile stages of the Rainier National Park Company run to
the principal points on the south side--Longmire Springs, 6-1/2 miles
from the Park entrance; the camp at Nisqually Glacier; and the new
hotel and camp at Paradise Valley, in the very shadow of the mountain.
This company also operates public automobiles from Seattle and
Tacoma.
_Automobile transportation rates_
Seattle to Longmire Springs and return $9.50
Seattle to Paradise Valley and return 12.50
Tacoma to Longmire Springs and return 7.00
Tacoma to Paradise Valley and return 10.00
Ashford to Longmire Springs and return 2.00
Ashford to Paradise Valley and return 5.00
The northern portion of the Park is reached from Fairfax and Enumclaw,
on the Northern Pacific Railway. The round-trip fare from Tacoma is
$2.50 to Fairfax, and $2.00 to Enumclaw. There are no transportation
lines that operate on this side of the Park and arrangements must be
made for pack-horses and camp outfits.