Ultimate Mount Rainier National Park Self-Guided Driving Tour

Overview

Itinerary

• Here we are, Mount Rainier National Park! This arch is a great photo op, so feel free to pull over and pause ahead. Just beyond the arch is the parku2019s entrance station.nnNote: The tour is over 70+ miles long, with more than 85+ audio stories, and takes about 2-3 hours to complete.nnNew, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.

• Continue driving as you listen. Weu2019re now in the verdant shadows of Raineru2019s lush forest. All of this greenery is thanks to the water flowing down from Rainer. In fact, you can probably catch a glimpse of the Nisqually River to your right as we drive.

• Weu2019re about to cross over Tahoma Creek. While it might not look particularly powerful, tributaries like these are what make Mount Rainier so verdant year-round. Tahoma Creek has its own story as well. For years, hikers trekked along its banks to reach a suspension bridge deep in the wilderness.

• Up ahead is the Twin Firs Loop Trail. This easy half-mile loop takes only ten minutes and serves as a great introduction to the old growth forest of Mount Rainier. u201cOld growthu201d is a term used to describe a particular kind of forest thatu2019s hard to find in much of the United States.

• Weu2019re approaching the Longmire Historic District, named for explorer and entrepreneur James Longmire. This is a great place for a pit stop, and youu2019ll find food, bathrooms, and even a little museum here! It also serves as the starting point for a couple different trails, which Iu2019ll talk about in a moment. Thereu2019s also a gift shop if you need the perfect souvenir from your visit!

• Just ahead is Carter Falls Trail, a moderate 1.5-mile trail to a gorgeous waterfall tucked into the forests of Mount Rainier. If you donu2019t feel like hiking, this spot also features a great overlook of the Nisqually River.

• You mightu2019ve heard the adage u201cdonu2019t go chasing waterfalls.u201d But when it comes to Comet Falls, my advice is to chase away! The challenging, 4-mile hike up ahead leads to a 301-foot waterfall thatu2019s one of the tallest cascades in the park. People claim the flash of white resembles the tail of a comet!

• Weu2019re about to cross the Christine Falls Bridge. Built in 1927, this bridge is a masterful display of rustic stonework. The contractor designed the bridge to blend into the landscape, taking on the curves of nature. Though the bridge itself is an eyecatching site, what surrounds it may be even more alluring. A 60-foot waterfall plummets into the Van Trump Creek Canyon below.

• Up next is Ricksecker Pointu2014a fantastic overlook with views of Mt. Rainier and the surrounding forest. Pull into the parking area coming up on our right and stop.nnRight now, a rock wall and guard rails separate drivers from the cliffu2019s edge at Ricksecker Pointu2014but that wasnu2019t always the case. In fact, Ricksecker Point used to be one of the most dangerous areas in the park! It all started in 1910.

• Weu2019re approaching the wetlands known at Frog Heaven. And no, I didnu2019t misspeak. Itu2019s a u201cribbetingu201d bit of road! All the lakes in this area make it a perfect habitat for Mount Rainieru2019s five species of frogs. All these amphibians need moist ecosystems to lay their jelly-like eggs. Of course, anywhere that attracts frogs also attracts predators that like to eat those frogs.

• Mount Rainier is the tallest mountain here, but what about these other peaks? Well, directly ahead of us are Pinnacle Peak and Plummer Peak. Theyu2019ll be on our right after we round this bend. Pinnacle Peak is to the left of Plummer Peak, and itu2019s also a little taller, standing at 6,562 feet. But hey, at least Plummer Peak has a more unique name! It gets it from Fred Plummer, a cartographer who worked for the Forest Service.

• Once youu2019ve parked, hop out of the car and follow the brief walking trail down to Narada Falls. Sure, we can see them from up here, but the view is much better from the trail! This 168-foot waterfall gets its name from someone with an even loftier title: Arthur F. Knight of Tacoma. Though he may sound like royalty, Knight was actually a leader of the Narada Branch of the Theosophical Society of Western Washington. Youu2019re probably wondering: Okay, what the heck is that?

• Off to our left stands the mighty Tatoosh Range. But can you spot the tallest of these mountain peaks? Itu2019s farther from us than most of the others, but stands a good couple hundred feet above them. Thatu2019s Unicorn Peak!

• Weu2019re coming up on the Nisqually Vista Trail. This 1-mile hiking path is a crowd-favorite in the park because itu2019s easy, quick, and features amazing views of Mount Rainier.n The paved journey takes about 30 minutes to complete. Park just ahead to visit the trail. If itu2019s full, thereu2019s more parking later on. If youu2019d rather continue the tour, keep driving.

• Paradise is just ahead. And yes, I mean that literally! Here you can find snacks, water, and even a sit-down dining room. Thereu2019s also additional parking for the Nisqually Vista Trail. Keep an eye out just ahead for the parking lot. From Paradise, you can also access the trail to Myrtle Falls.

• Coming up is Inspiration Point. It seems like every national park has a place called Inspiration Point, but that doesnu2019t make this one any less special! This accessible vista features seriously impressive mountain scenery and a large parking lot to boot! I recommend stopping in the lot ahead and get some pretty cool photos.

• Coming up: Reflection Lake! At this reflective body of water, youu2019ll be seeing double. This glacial lake is pristine and acts like a sort of natural mirror most of the time. As you gaze across Reflection Lake, youu2019ll be looking directly at the summit of Mount Rainier. The views are best when thereu2019s no wind, so the water is perfectly still. When that happens, you can see not one Mount Rainier, but two!

• That mountain peak dead ahead is Stevens Peak, standing at 6,560 feet! It gets its name from Hazard Stevens, the first European man who summited Mount Rainier alongside P.B. Van Trump. And hey, Iu2019ll be honest: If my first name was u201cHazard,u201d Iu2019d probably become a mountain climber too!

• Keep an eye out for Bench and Snow Lake Trail. The moderately challenging hike stretches 2.2 miles out and back and takes a little over an hour. Itu2019s a bit steep but at the end, youu2019re rewarded with two pristine wilderness lakes!

• Up ahead youu2019ll see the next stop perfectly framed by vegetationu2014Picture Frame Falls! The title, however, is more of a placeholder. This no-name cascade isnu2019t technically a real waterfall. How can that be?

• Weu2019re approaching The Box Canyon Trail, a half-mile, paved loop. Though itu2019s a short walk, the path offers a spectacular view of a great rift formed by shifting glaciers. If youu2019re up for a challenge, the Box Canyon Loop also connects to the famed Wonderland Trail. Spanning 93 miles, this trail wraps around the entire park.

• Wonderland has far exceeded its original purpose. Labor began on the circuit in 1907 as a solution to one yawning oversight in the parku2019s infrastructure: a total lack of fire roads. With seasons growing dryer and large swaths of forest left unprotected, rangers needed a trail that could take them to the most deserted areas of the park.

• Weu2019re approaching Backbone Ridge, a strenuous trail offering amazing views for the experienced hiker. This 6.6-mile round trip overlooks Tatoosh Wilderness, but be prepared for a 3-hour journey with plenty of rough terrain along the way.

• The Grove of the Patriarchs is just ahead. This 1-mile trail through a wonderland of huge old-growth trees is an easy jaunt that takes under an hour. Unfortunately, it is currently closed for maintenance. The Grove of Patriarchs was once the playground of Scottish botanist David Douglas. Douglas worked as a botanical collector for the Royal Horticultural Society of Londonu2014yes, it was as hoity-toity as it sounds. After plans to gather Asian foliage for Londonu2019s gardens fell through, Douglas found himself in the Pacific Northwest instead.

• Welcome to Ohanapecosh, named by the Taidnapam tribe. Ohanapecosh translates to u201cstanding at the edgeu201du2014likely because it brushes against the river. This is also the area where James Longmire discovered hot springs.

• Up ahead is Shriner Peak Trail. Dubbed one of the loneliest trails in Mt. Rainier, the steep upward climb is a no-go in the summer months. But in the autumn, the difficult 8.5-mile hike is worth the six hours of sweating. The view from the top offers incredible panoramas. That also makes it perfect for a fire lookout! The peak is home to the oldest fire lookout in the park.

• Tipsoo Lake is just ahead. The loop around this lake is a great spot to pause and smell the flowers. If you stand at the lakeu2019s shoreline and peer into its glassy surface, you might spot some trout. These trout didnu2019t always have a home in Tipsoo. In fact, none of Mt. Rainieru2019s lakes originally hosted trout.

• The river weu2019re driving alongside is called White River. Itu2019s been said that you never step into the same river twice, and thatu2019s especially true of the White River, whose flow has been changed by the elements and humans for centuries.

• The Owyhigh Lakes Trail is coming up soon. This 7-mile hike takes about four hours, but it covers level ground and has plenty of shade. Owyhigh Lakes was named after Yakama Chief Owhi, a warrior who pushed back against a military expedition in the 1858 Battle of the Spokane Plains. When Chief Owhi led an attack against a military unit marching through his territory, it sparked an ongoing struggle between his people and the US.

• Weu2019re approaching Sunrise Point. At 6,120 feet, itu2019s perhaps the best spot in the park to watch the sunrise. The Civilian Conservation Corps built this overlook. The brainchild of President Roosevelt, the CCC was born of the New Deal, which attempted to get Americans back on their feet during the Great Depression. These young men were hired by national parks to counteract tragic unemployment rates.

• The one-mile Sunrise Rim trail can be a nice warm-up or wind-down hike. If youu2019re looking for more of a challenge, you can bypass the Rim and head toward Wonderland on the Mount Fremont Trail. Itu2019ll carry you through five and a half miles of uphill terrain in just under three hours.

Good to know

• Public transportation options are available nearby

• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

• Kindly note that Mt. Rainier National Park requires a standard entrance pass, and some roads may need seasonal reservations. These are not included with this tour.

• Easy to use: GPS-triggered audio plays automatically along the route for a hands-free experience.

• Private tour: Explore in your own vehicle without crowded buses or large tour groups.

• At your own pace: Start anytime and pause for hikes, picnics, photos, or scenic stops.

• Works offline: Once downloaded, the tour works using GPS without Wi-Fi or cellular service.

• Good value: One purchase covers everyone in your vehicle, not each person separately.

• More ways to save: Choose a single tour, a nearby bundle, or access to 200+ tours.

• Download in advance: Download the Tour Guide app by Action and tour while connected to Wi-Fi or a strong cellular signal.

• Follow the route: Begin at the suggested starting point or join anywhere along the route shown in the app.

• Lifetime access: Preview the tour before your trip and revisit the stories, photos, and details afterward.

• Supported devices: iPhone with iOS 15+, Android with version 9+, or a GPS-enabled iPad/tablet with cellular capability.

• The appu2019s audio will play through your caru2019s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto display, while the appu2019s map will display on your phone. You can connect your phone to the car via Bluetooth to listen to the commentary through the car stereo.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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