Yakima Park Highway: Cultural Landscape Inventory, Mount Rainier National Park, National Park Service

Barnes, Carrie

The Yakima Park Highway is a 15.335 mile road in the northeastern portion Mount Rainier National Park. The road is a linear landscape that was designed by landscape architects and civil engineers as a scenic drive through Mount Rainier National Park from Mather Memorial Parkway (Highway 410), to Yakima Park and the Sunrise Developed area. The road was originally part of the 1926 Mount Rainier Park master plan, which aimed to open up access to the northeastern portion of the park and thus alleviate visitation stress on other park areas. Ernest Davidson began formal planning of the roadway in 1927 incorporating the principles of rustic and naturalistic design. Construction was completed in 1931 following NPS and Bureau of Public Roads (BPS) standards. From 1933 through 1941, the CCC continued to maintain and improve the road corridor through revegetation and slope stabilization projects. The alignment of the Yakima Park Highway was carefully selected to showcase spectacular scenery, while carrying vehicles through the park up to Sunrise Developed Area. Starting at the wye intersection with Mather Memorial Highway, the road gently winds through the White River Valley (3,400’). The road then ascends through a series of tight radial curves up the White River Valley Incline gaining 1000’ of elevation in four miles. Winding through the Yakima Creek Drainage, up to Sunrise Ridge, the road gains still more elevation, and provides spectacular views. The final segment of the road is characterized by gentle curves, sub-alpine meadows and outstanding views of Mt. Rainier’s northeast side before finally terminating at Sunrise Village (6,400’). Along its route, the road provides access to White River Campground, the Wonderland Trail, multiple vistas and turnouts, and a number of backcountry trailheads. The Yakima Park Highway a nationally significant historic designed landscape. It is an example of an early national park scenic highway, and is an integral part of the extant early master plan for Mount Rainier National Park. The historic road is within the Mount Rainier National Historic Landmark District (NHLD). Designated in 1997, the NHLD is nationally significant for its association with the events of early National Park Service master planning (criterion A) and the design style of naturalistic landscape architecture (criterion C) perpetuated by the NPS in the period between World War I and II. The highway is distinguished by outstanding engineering achievements and features of naturalistic design. The period of significance for the Yakima Park Highway cultural landscape spans the years 1927-1941, reflecting the period when the NPS coordinated the design and construction of the road, and the Civilian Conservation Corps continued to improve the road corridor with revegetation efforts. The naturalistic and historic character of the road is evident in its remaining landscape characteristics: spatial organization, natural systems and features, circulation, topography, land use, buildings and structures, small scale features, views and vistas, vegetation and archaeological sites. These patterns and their surviving features continue to exist as originally planned, conveying the integrity of the road as scenic highway.

Yakima Park Highway: Cultural Landscape Inventory, Mount Rainier National Park, National Park Service

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