Special to the Mountain News:

Mount Rainier Acting Superintendent Randy King advises that park visitors will once again be able to utilize the free visitor shuttle for transportation into the park from Ashford, Longmire and Paradise during the 2012 summer season running for 10 weekends beginning Friday June 29 through Sunday September 2.  

 On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays the shuttle will run daily between Longmire and Paradise with stops at Cougar Rock and Narada Falls on the uphill run, and stopping at Comet Falls (pending status of the damaged and currently closed trail) and Cougar Rock on the downhill run.

 At Longmire, visitors will board the shuttle at the historic Longmire Gas Station.  On Saturdays and Sundays only, visitors can board the shuttle in Ashford at Whittaker’s Summit Haus (on SR 706), connecting with the Paradise Shuttle in Longmire.  An additional shuttle will transport visitors to and from the Paradise Valley Road, where overflow parking will be directed, and the Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center during periods of peak demand.

 For shuttle schedules and other park information, check the park’s web page at www.nps.gov/mora