Rainier question - camping near Paradise

[Bigtree]

Some friends and I are heading down to Rainier June 12th for what seems to be turning in an annual event for us. We're driving down from Vancouver and usually camp at Cougar Rock for our first night before getting our permits the next day at Paradise and heading up. This year we would like to try something a bit different and tent near Paradise to help with aclimatization; however, we don't want to run afoul park rules. So, I would appreciate if anyone can advise if its cool to hike a couple of hundred metres up the trail beyond the parking lot and tent for the night. We would plod back down to the visitors centre and grab our permits first thing the next morning and go.

 

Thanks.

[mtngt]

It is most definitely NOT OK during spring/summer to camp just above Paradise, stay w/your original plan and stay at Cougar Rock.

[BirdDog]

As far as acclimatization goes, you'd be better to hike/climb above Paradise during the day, and sleep at a lower elevation anyway.

[Bigtree]

Thanks for the responses. I spoke with a ranger this morning at Longmire and he said camping was fine, but only once on Muir snowfield. Too far for us, so down to Cougar again.