Mount Rainier National Park Tour

8:00 AM

Pick-Up

Easy

Intensity

Lunch and Drinks Included

Meals

April 15 – October 15

Dates

Our Mount Rainier tour from Seattle provides an up-close exploration of the subtle and dramatic features of this towering Cascade volcano. At 14,411 feet (4,392 m), Mount Rainier is the tallest peak in the Cascade Range and forms a visible and constant presence in the lives of Washingtonians. The snowcapped peak, encased in over 35 square miles (91 km²) of ice year-round, is endearingly referred to locally as “The Mountain” and is a must-visit Seattle day trip.

“We’ve got mountains like Iowa’s got flat. And yet the local vernacular admits only one ‘Mountain,’ and when Rainier rises we tell each other, ‘The Mountain is out.'”

– Bruce Barcott, Measure of a Mountain: Beauty and Terror on Mount Rainier

Come join one of our professional local guides as we uncover the many layers of nature, geology, and history in the park. As we drive into and through the park, watch the scenery change as we pass through many distinct ecological zones. Arriving above the forest line, marvel at the massive awe-inspiring glaciers that continue to carefully sculpt the mountain. This tour truly has it all: we’ll see pristine alpine meadows, wander through magical old growth forests, watch roaring glacial waterfalls crash into rugged canyons, and witness stunning mountain vistas.

PICK-UP AND RETURN

Your Seattle or Seattle airport hotel or vacation rental

DEPARTURE TIME

8:00 AM

GROUP SIZE

Minimum 2, Maximum 7

Traveling solo? Please contact us for small group tour availability.

INCLUDED

Small group experience

Hotel pick-up and drop-off in our luxury Mercedes van

Gourmet lunch with a selection of local beverages

Complimentary coffee, water, and snacks

Park entrance fees

Professional local guide

Guided nature walks

All physical abilities welcome

WHAT TO BRING

Comfortable closed-toe walking or hiking shoes

Jacket for wind and high-elevation conditions

Sunglasses and/or hat

Sunscreen

Camera

Necessary medications

Small daypack (optional)

PRIVATE TOURS

We offer private Mount Rainier National Park tours year-round. Click “Private Tour” below for availability April 15 to October 15. For private tour availability outside the summer season, please contact us.

Book Online Private Tour

We want you to have the best experience possible, so we optimize every tour based on the season, weather conditions, and guest interest. Here’s an example of a typical itinerary at Mount Rainier:

8:00 AM: Pick-Up

Morning pick-up at your Seattle or Seattle airport hotel or vacation rental in our luxury Mercedes van.

9:30 AM: Arrival at Mount Rainier National Park

We’ll start our day at Longmire, the site of the first park headquarters and designated as a National Historic District. Here we’ll learn about the history of the Mount Rainier area, including early homesteaders, pre-National Park tourism, and the mountain’s time as America’s fifth National Park. Trails around Longmire showcase this long history and include beautiful old growth forest. We’ll also make stops along the way at some of the park’s most impressive waterfalls.

11:00 AM: Paradise

Famous for its gorgeous wildflower meadows, Paradise is a clear highlight of the park. Weaving paths through this alpine environment offer fantastic views of Mt. Rainier, which towers above the wildflower-filled meadows. We’ll take a one-mile (1.6 km) guided walk to Myrtle Falls, a 72 ft (22 m) waterfall tumbling into a rugged gorge in the shadow of the peak.

1:00 PM: Lunch and Drinks

Your guide prepares a gourmet family-style lunch served with a selection of local beverages.

2:30 PM: Grove of the Patriarchs

Continuing from Paradise, we’ll pass Reflections Lake to snap the perfect photo of Mount Rainier reflected in the glacial lake. Farther down the mountain, we’ll walk amongst giants at the Grove of the Patriarchs. This area contains some of the most spectacular old growth forest along the banks of the Ohanapecosh River. A lovely optional 2-mile (3.2 km) guided nature walk leads to some of the largest trees in the park.