Mount Rainier Inn Based Tour
Seattle, WA
4.8 (4 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Iconic Views
- Waterfalls & Glaciers
- Spectacular Wildflowers
- Delicious Meals
- Unique Natural and Cultural History
- Stunning Alpine Landscapes
- Historic Lodging
Description
Our 3-day, 2-night Mount Rainier Inn-based Tour is an opportunity to experience the best of Mount Rainier National Park and to do it with a high level of comfort and style. On our hikes we explore shimmering alpine lakes, abundant wildlflower blooms, and tumbling waterfalls on the shoulders of North America’s most famous volcano. Mt. Rainier stands at 14,411 feet tall, and is the most heavily glaciated peak in the contiguous United States. In the evenings we will dine in style and relax in comfort at a historic park lodge, and enjoy three hand-picked hikes that represent the best Mount Rainier has to offer. We circumnavigate the mountain and enjoy views from every side on this three day adventure.
$1915 Per Person
$250 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 2
Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult
This trip follows mostly well maintained trails and requires carrying a light (~10lbs) day pack, but does offer the opportunity to gain significant elevation in a day. Although we’ve rated the max elevation at 1,800+ feet, our hike to Camp Muir on Mount Rainier can include as much as 4,600 feet of elevation gain if we’re able to reach the famous mountaineer’s camp.
Hiking Distances:
4-8 mi
Backpack Weight:
8-12 lbs
Terrain:
Moderately Rugged
Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:
1800-4600 ft
Heights Exposure:
Light
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
- Hiking uphill or downhill with a 8-12 lb backpack for 5-7 hours
- Maintaining balance and footing on moderately rugged terrain
- Hiking in snow may be required in the early season
SOLITUDE LEVEL 2
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude
We rate this Mount Rainier National Park tour a solitude 2. You can expect to have as much as an hour of solitude at a time.
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 Capital Aeroporter and costs $30-$45 per person each way. Go to www.capair.com/olympia or call 800-962-3579 to make reservations.
Private Trips
Travel in perfect company by booking a private trip exclusively for your group!
Our sliding scale for private trips is based on the final number of guests in your group. Rates are per person and do not include sales tax, national park fees or guide gratuity. The final rate is based on the actual number of guests on the trip and may adjust based on cancellations or additions.
Please Note: you can also enjoy a private trip at our normal scheduled rates by filling any empty tour to capacity. However, if group members drop from the tour those spots will automatically become available on our website for instant booking. By purchasing a private trip at the rates listed below, your trip will remain exclusive to your group regardless of cancellations.
Private Rates FOr This Trip
- 2 People: Rate x 2.5
- 3 People: Rate x 2
- 4 People: Rate x 1.5
- 5+ People: Rate x 1.15
*all rates are per person and single supplements apply
Learn About Our Private Trips
View Private TripsItinerary
Day 1
- Shuttle to trailhead: 2 hours
- Hiking Mileage: 4-8 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 1700-3000 feet
- Accommodations: Historic National Park Inn
This Mount Rainier hiking tour begins with pick up at your hotel in Olympia. From there we’ll shuttle to Mount Rainier for an amazing first day! Today we explore shimmering alpine lakes, abundant wildlflower blooms, and tumbling waterfalls on the shoulders of North America’s most famous volcano. Mount Rainier stands at 14,411 feet tall, and is the most heavily glaciated peak in the contiguous United States.
We will start our hike near scenic Narada Falls, before climbing gradually through gentle forests and abundant blueberry bushes. We’ll climb past the beautiful Reflection Lakes, aptly named for their stunning mirror image reflection of Mount Rainier, up to Faraway Rock with panoramic views of lakes and mountains below. After wrapping up our hike we’ll check in to our lodging at the historic National Park Inn, and then have time to stroll down the Wonderland Trail just outside the door, or to relax on the veranda with views of Mount Rainier. After a delicious dinner, we’ll enjoy the stars outside or take in a ranger talk at Longmire or Paradise.
Day 2
- Hiking Mileage: 6+ miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,800+ feet
The second day’s hike takes us through the famous Paradise Meadows of Mt. Rainier, a sub-alpine wonderland of flowers and fragile meadows. We’ll head up the Skyline Trail towards Glacier Vista, with its panoramic views of the Nisqually Glacier, and then continue upward. Our goal is to get past the dramatic views of Panorama Point and as close to Camp Muir as possible, possibly even reaching the famous mountaineering basecamp itself. On our way we’ll keep an eye out for marmots, pikas, mountain goats, and more, while soaking in views of Mt. Rainier and beyond. If the weather cooperates, we could get views of Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, and Mt. Adams, three of the other major stratovolcanoes in the Cascades range. The Paradise area of Mt. Rainier is full of human history, and we’ll have a chance to explore some of it as we poke around the Paradise Lodge and the Visitors’ Center.
Day 3
- Hiking Mileage: 4.7 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 700 feet
- Shuttle to Olympia: 2.5 hours
Our final day includes both our highest point on the trip and the least elevation gain. We’ll drive counter clockwise around Mt. Rainier until we reach Sunrise, the highest point accessible by car. With stunning access of the northeastern side of the mountain, rare tundra, and abundant views, Sunrise is not to be missed. We’ll head out towards the Burroughs Mountains, a series of three mountains on a ridge just below Rainier, and hike past alpine lakes and dramatic overlooks of the Emmons Glacier. We’ll keep our eyes peeled for parties of climbers traversing the glacier in the distance. Delicate plants and snowfields that remain through late summer accompany us back to the car. We’ll enjoy a final picnic lunch during our hike or at a scenic locale on our way back to Olympia. Eventually we’ll return you to your hotel in Olympia and say our good-byes, knowing we’ve had an unforgettable 3 days!
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.
TRIP DATES & BOOKING
AVAILABLE TO BOOK
This trip is available and bookable online! Click on the date to register now or contact us online to book through our award-winning customer service team!
GOING FAST
This trip has 1 or 2 spots remaining and is bookable online! Click on the date to book now or contact us online to book through customer service.
REQUEST A RESERVATION
This trip is exclusively booked through customer service due to logistics with lodging, permits, staffing, availability, or something else. Please contact us online or call us at 800-715-HIKE (4453) to request a reservation.
Don't see your dates? Call us! We may be able to add new trip dates.
800-715-HIKE (4453)Trip Details
What's Included
- 2 nights of lodging (double occupancy) at historic national park lodges (Lodging Details)
- Top-of-the-line daypack and trekking poles
- All meals are included from breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day
- A professional, knowledgeable, certified Pacific Northwest hiking guide
- Transportation for the duration of the trip starting from and ending at your hotel in Olympia, Washington
- Entrance fees and national park permits
- Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device (InReach Explorer or satellite phone)
- A Lifetime Hiking Membership entitling you, your spouse and dependents to a discount of 10% off any Wildland hiking trip after your first one (must book directly with us to receive the discount)!
What's Not Included
- Clothes, raingear, and footwear (see recommendations)
- Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
- Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
- Alcoholic beverages
- Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about what to pack.
Meals: What to Expect
We provide all your meals from breakfast the first day through lunch the last day. Your guide will prepare breakfasts and lunches with a variety of hot and cold meals that are appropriate for the day’s activities. Feel free to tell us about your food preferences, as we’re more than happy to tailor the menu to your needs/desires. For dinners, we’ll visit local restaurants you’re sure to enjoy!
Gear We Provide
We provide all group gear which includes the following:
- Deuter or Osprey backpacks
- Leki trekking poles
- Company-issued first-aid kit
- Emergency communication device(s)
What Gear to Bring
We ask that you supply a couple of gear items on your hiking tour. These items are two 1-liter water bottles per person and basic items like sunscreen, bug repellent (where and when applicable), lip balm, and toiletries are also important.
What Clothes to Bring
When you register for this tour you’ll receive access to a printable, downloadable trip information packet with detailed guidance about what clothes to pack (click here to see it now.) All trips require a sturdy pair of hiking shoes or hiking boots, rain gear, and our recommended clothing system. A minimum of three pairs of wool or synthetic hiking socks are also required.
Trip Logistics
How Do I Register?
Reserve your spot today! In the Trip Dates & Booking section of this page, the green and red dates are bookable online by simply clicking on the date, and blue dates must be booked through our customer service team for a variety of possible reasons. To email our customer service team, you can click here to get the ball rolling. Our adventure consultants will confirm availability, and if you’re ready to register we’ll email you a link to a registration profile. You’ll have 72 hours to complete your profile (and that of any dependents) and pay the deposit.
Feel free to call us for more info – we’re here 7 days a week!
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.
Start/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 no later than 7 PM.
Safety Considerations
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. We’ve developed comprehensive risk management protocols that our guides adhere to in case of an emergency, and all tours carry an emergency communication device. If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
Guides
Your tour will be led by a trained, experienced professional with a solid guiding background, years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. Check out our Meet Our Team page for staff bios.
Guide Working Parameters
Guides are required to take 8 hours off each 24-hour period to sleep, recuperate, take personal/down time…etc. In addition, as part of the 8 hours off they must sleep/rest or be in their tents/rooms uninterrupted for a minimum of 5 hours each night. We ask guests to respect these requirements and to not interrupt guides’ off time and sleep time unless there is a true emergency.
Group Size and Age Restrictions
The standard group size on this trip is 6 guests, with a maximum of 9 guests. If you have more questions about group size, please give us a call at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) and we’ll answer all your questions.
Age restrictions 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
Weather in The Pacific Northwest
This trip is primarily at altitude in the alpine zone of Mount Rainier. Below are the average high and low temperatures in different parts of the Pacific Northwest, however on this tour the “Mountain” temperatures are the relevant ones to take into account:
| Average Temperatures (Fahrenheit) | ||||||||
|
Month
|
Coast
|
Mountains
|
||||||
|
hi
|
low
|
Precip
|
hi
|
low
|
Precip
|
|||
|
June
|
66°
|
47°
|
3.8 in
|
53°
|
36°
|
3.9 in
|
||
|
July
|
70°
|
50°
|
2.8 in
|
62°
|
42°
|
2.1 in
|
||
|
August
|
72°
|
50°
|
2.8 in
|
63°
|
43°
|
2.2 in
|
||
|
September
|
69°
|
47°
|
4.4 in
|
57°
|
39°
|
4.7 in
|
||
|
October
|
42°
|
59°
|
11 in
|
47°
|
32°
|
8.5 in
|
||
Accommodations
National Park Inn
2 NIGHTS
Nestled in the trees of the historic Longmire District on Mount Rainier, and a short distance from the Paradise area, this iconic lodge offers a tranquil place to relax and unwind after our hiking excursions.
*These exact accommodations are not guaranteed. In some instances alternative accommodations of similar quality and location may be used
Trip Reviews
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Alexandra L
Amazing
This trip was more than I could have ever anticipated. I had such a wonderful time! Our guide was truly amazing. Her knowledge of the area added so much to the experience. The views from our hikes were breathtaking. I cannot wait to return to Mount Rainier in the future.
Arthur Y.
Magnificent Mount Rainier
The inn based tour of Mt. Rainier exceeded my expectations. Our guide, Frankie, was pressed into service at the last minute when the scheduled guide took ill. Because of resurgent Covid the inn closed its restaurant. And then there was an extended power outage at the inn. Lots of challenges for Frankie, yet she managed it all with little impact to the group. We all thoroughly enjoyed Rainier. It didn’t seem possible that the second day could be better than the first, yet it was. I’ve hiked Yellowstone and now Mt. Rainier with Wildland and in both cases got more than my moneys worth. I’ll be back.
Marjaneh H
Mount Rainier is Amazing
Views are breathtaking, hikes are just amazing , our guide was very informed of the area. This season was the best as wildflowers are out and just made it so much more special.
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