Mount Rainier Basecamp Tour
Camping Hiking Tours
4 Days, 3 Nights 19+MI / 30KM
Trip Highlights
At night, we’ll unwind in comfortable campgrounds, enjoy delicious outdoor meals, and gather around campfires (weather permitting) to soak up the great outdoors.
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Mount Rainier National Park
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Dramatic Landscapes
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Waterfalls & Wildflowers
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Wildlife Habitat
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Pristine Alpine Lakes
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Old Growth Forests and Glaciers
Book This Trip
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Trip Details
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Trip Type
Camping Hiking Tours -
Trip Length
4 Days, 3 Nights -
Daily Hiking Distance
4-8 mi -
Group Size
2-10 Guests
- day by day itinerary
- logistical and travel information
- gear and clothing lists and more
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Is This Trip Right For me?
Many of our hikes on this tour are on well-established trails. Hiking can be rocky, muddy, on slick moss-covered rocks, and other types of rugged terrain. The max elevation gain and loss is at 1,600 feet with light heights exposure.
Please Note: Terrain, Elevation Gain and Heights Exposure ratings reflect the section or day of the trip with the maximum difficulty of each. Much of the trip is at easier levels. See the trip itinerary for more detailed information.
Difficulty Level
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Solitude Level
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Trip Itinerary
Please Note: We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however it can change occasionally based on temporary access restrictions, weather, lodging/campground availability, guest ability/injury, natural events like fires and flooding, and other potential causes. Normal terms and conditions apply to trips with itinerary changes.
Day 1
- Shuttle Duration: 2 hours
- Hiking Mileage: 5 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,150 feet
Day 2
- Shuttle Duration: 20 minutes
- Hiking Mileage: 4.5 – 5 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 1600 feet
Day 3
- Shuttle Duration: 1.5 hours
- Hiking Mileage: 6 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,500 feet
After an energizing camp breakfast, we’ll hit the road for a scenic drive to reach our trailhead. This alpine loop kicks off at the Sunrise Visitor Center, following the Sunrise Rim Trail to the Wonderland Trail past tranquil Shadow Lake. From there, ascend the rugged Burroughs Mountain Trail to Second Burroughs for jaw-dropping views of Mount Rainier’s glacier-clad summit.
Stopping for another amazing trail lunch, we’ll loop back via First Burroughs, then reconnect with the Wonderland Trail. We’ll finish the hike with a mellow descent along back to vehicle. This route blends high alpine terrain, panoramic vistas, and serene lakeside stretches.
Day 4
- Shuttle Duration: 2 hours
- Hiking Mileage: 3.5 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,300 feet
Our final day takes us up past a series of torrential waterfalls and a beautiful creek, ending by the magnificent 300-foot drop of Comet Falls. Delicate ferns & subalpine plants, whitewater spray, and polished rock accompany us on this short but steep trail to one of Rainier’s hidden gems.
We will continue up and on towards Van Trump Park, a beautiful alpine meadow filled with flowers and open vistas. We’ll enjoy a final picnic lunch, keep an eye out for any last wildlife sightings, and eventually head back to the car. A two-hour drive will have us back at your hotel in Olympia where we’ll say our goodbyes.
Trip Dates
Click on a date to register. You can also click here to request new dates or book through customer service.
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What's Included
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All meals are included from breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day
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Comprehensive, roundtrip transportation from your hotel in Olympia and back
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Top-of-the-line tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, and day pack
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All entrance fees, permits and passes
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Use of trekking poles
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Trained hiking guide(s) with years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. See Guide Bios.
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Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device
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Mandatory 3% national park fee that passes through directly to Olympic NP
What's Not Included
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Clothes, raingear, and footwear -
Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
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Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
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Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Accommodations
Premier Campgrounds
3 NIGHTS
On our basecamp tours we hand pick wonderful campgrounds that put us right in the action for exceptional hiking and camping vacations. They may be national park, state park, or private vehicle-accessible campgrounds. They may vary by trip date depending on availability and seasonality.
Fantastic Meals
10 MEALS
Basecamp trips include meals for the duration of the tours beginning with breakfast the first day through lunch the final day. Meals are prepared by your guide(s) using fresh ingredients, exclusive Wildland recipes, and we adhere to all department of health outdoor cooking codes.
All of our hiking and backpacking tours include a diversity of tasty meals packed full of critical carbohydrates, proteins and fats. We carry foods that travel well in the backcountry – rice, pastas, lentils, beans, couscous, packaged meats, nuts, breads, oatmeal, granola, and more.
For optimal taste and energy, we supplement all our meals with spices, herbs, oils, cheeses, butter, sugar, and fruits and vegetables (fresh and dried). In addition, we provide you with with an assortment of trail mix, snacks, and dried fruits to eat at your own discretion.
We regularly accommodate vegan, vegetarian, kosher and non-gluten diets and will make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests may require an additional fee.
Comfortable Camping
CAMPING AMENITIES
What amenities do basecamp tours include? Cold and hot drinks, campfires (where/when allowed), camp chairs, fresh food, roomy tents, comfortable sleeping pads, comfy sleeping bags, camp pillows and more! Camp comfortably, eat like royalty, and hike til your heart’s content!
Trip Logistics & FAQs
Where Do We Meet?
Your guide will conduct a virtual orientation meeting (via conference call) at 5:00 PM the evening before your trip begins to review the packing list, communicate the first day’s logistics and answer any last minute questions you have. Your guide will give you the phone number for this call during the pre-trip contact approximately 10 days before your trip start date.
Early on the morning of Day 1 your guide will pick you up from your accommodations in Olympia, WA.
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.
How do I get to Olympia, WA?
The most common way to reach Olympia is by flying into Seattle and renting a vehicle or shuttling to Olympia (approximately 1 hour). SeaTac (Seattle-Tacoma) Airport is one of the most easily accessed destinations in the country. Many major cities in the United States and internationally offer direct flights into Seattle.
The shuttle to Olympia is provided by Premier Airport Shuttle. Go to https://premierairportshuttle.com/olympia/ or call 800-962-3579 to make reservations.
What are the Start and End Times?
Your guide will inform you of the first day’s pick-up time at the orientation meeting. Generally, you can expect it to be between 5 and 8 am, although the exact time will depend on current weather and road conditions. We will drop you off at your hotel on the final day normally before 5 PM (this time is not guaranteed, as a variety of circumstances can influence our exact return time).
Are there any Safety Precautions?
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.
If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
What are the Age Restrictions?
Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:
- 12 and older to join scheduled tours (mixed groups)
- 5 and older to join private tours, with final approval and specific logistical requirements (such as porter or stock assist) determined on a case by case basis
Reviews
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Sharon M
1 year agoThis was a great experience
The beauty of the area speaks for itself. We were gifted with the clouds moving past so we could see Mt. Ranier. I would go on a hike anywhere if Tyler was leading. He was calm, flexible, funny and an amazing cook on a camping stove. Healthy and delicious food. We had the challenge of rain on some days and I learned new skills dealing with it. I was slower than my hike mates and it wasn’t a problem. I hadn’t camped in 10 years and this was a great experience.
Charlotte Y
1 year agoA Wonderful Week and Guide
Second trip with Wildland and it exceeded expectations in every way possible! Our guide Lindsey was the BEST EVER, always making sure everyone in our group was comfortable and going the extra mile (incl. a surprise early birthday celebration & boiling water to keep me warm at night). And the hikes and views were priceless. Thank you from me and my mom
Richard F
1 year agoTrip was Excellent
Another great trip with Wildland. Tyler are guide was excellent. Tyler was fairly new to both Wildland and the Pacific Nortwest, but he did his homework in advance and was very knowledgeable. The food as always very good, especially breakfast and dinner. Despite the rain, we had a good time. The group was fun and we all got along well. The only draw back to this trip are the long rides to trail heads and between parks. But even those were enjoyable with the make up of our group.
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