Mt. Rainier guided hike: Glaciers, falls, old forest

Glaciers, waterfalls and old-growth forest in one morning and afternoon

A guided hike in Mt. Rainier National Park starting from Seattle covers alpine meadows near Paradise, Narada Falls, Reflection Lakes and old-growth forest at lower elevation, with a 2-hour drive each way and shorter walks at each stop. Winter and spring trips (November–June) use snowshoes instead of hiking, with no experience required. Trekking poles, water, crampons and snowshoes are provided. You bring or buy your own lunch at a restroom stop.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hike and explore Mt. Rainier National Park

• Pick up in Seattle downtown
• Drive to Mt. Rainier National Park (2 hours)
• Hike about a mile near glaciers at Paradise
• Picnic near giant glaciers
• Hike back from Paradise
• Visit Narada Falls and hike to bottom
• See Reflection Lakes
• See Christine Falls under stone bridge
• Walk in old-growth forest near Longmire
• Drive back to Seattle

The experience

The day starts with a 2-hour drive from downtown Seattle to Mt. Rainier National Park, arriving at the visitor center at Paradise. From there you hike about a mile through alpine meadows toward the glaciers at 5,500 feet elevation, then picnic close enough to see them clearly before hiking back. The route then moves by vehicle to viewpoints and shorter walks: Narada Falls (a 168-foot drop near Paradise), Reflection Lakes where Mt. Rainier often mirrors in the water, Christine Falls under its old stone bridge, and old-growth forest near Longmire where trees are over a thousand years old. The whole trip runs 10 to 11 hours from pickup to drop-off.

From November through June, snow covers the trails, so you snowshoe instead of hiking: no prior experience is needed. Crampons and snowshoes are provided when necessary. In winter and spring, some park roads and viewpoints may close on certain days, which can limit which highlights are accessible. Summer and fall trips have full access to all stops and trails without snow gear.

Pickup and drop-off happen in downtown Seattle, or near the Space Needle if you request that location instead. The vehicle is air-conditioned, and trekking poles and bottled water come with the tour. You'll need to bring lunch or buy it to-go at a grocery store where the group stops for restrooms.

What’s included

• Trekking poles and bottled water.
• crampons and snowshoes (provided when snow is on the trails from November through June).
• all park fees and taxes.
• air-conditioned vehicle with driver for the 2-hour journey each way and all stops inside the park.

Information

Lasts 10h–11h, runs every day at 07:00 and 08:00, from US$ 179 per person, in groups of up to 14 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00 and 08:00Another time? ›

GroupUp to 14

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.4 with pickup ›

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 to 85 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (2 to 12 years) · Infant (under 2)

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by WOW Nature Tours - Susan Hill

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see multiple Mt. Rainier landscapes (glaciers, waterfalls, old forest and alpine views) in a single day without driving yourself. The long day and modest hiking distance suit travelers who want variety and access over strenuous distance, and the snowshoe option (November–June) means winter visits don't require hiking experience.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (2 to 12 years); Infant (under 2).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How much actual hiking is involved on this Mt. Rainier tour?

You hike about a mile near the glaciers at Paradise and another mile back, plus shorter walks at Narada Falls, Reflection Lakes, Christine Falls and the old-growth forest. The rest of the day is spent driving to viewpoints and walking between them. Total hiking is modest. The day emphasizes diverse landscapes rather than distance.

What happens if I visit Mt. Rainier in winter?

From November through June, snow covers the trails, so you snowshoe instead of hiking. Crampons are also provided when needed. No snowshoe experience is required. Some park roads and viewpoints may be closed on certain days during winter and spring, which can affect which stops the tour reaches.

What's included in the tour price?

Trekking poles, bottled water, crampons, snowshoes (when needed), all park fees and taxes, and an air-conditioned vehicle with driver are included. You bring your own lunch or buy it at a grocery store where the group stops.

Where does the tour pick me up in Seattle?

Pickup and drop-off are in downtown Seattle by default. If you request it, the driver can pick you up and drop you off near the Space Needle instead.

What are the thousand-year-old trees you mention?

The old-growth forest near Longmire in the lower elevation part of Mt. Rainier National Park contains trees that are over a thousand years old. You walk among them as part of the tour's forest section.

Is this tour physically demanding?

The hikes are shorter (about a mile near the glaciers and shorter walks at other stops), but the day is long (10 to 11 hours total) and includes elevation gain at Paradise (5,500 feet). You should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, knee or hip problems, or poor cardiovascular health, or for pregnant travelers.