Mount Rainier & St. Helens Family Adventure
5 days
From $ 2299
Duration5 days
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  • Etepia
  • Mount Rainier & St. Helens Family Adventure

Spend five family-filled days hiking in Mount Rainier National Park and Mount St. Helens. The beauty of Washington in the summertime is best witnessed from two of the state’s most spectacular settings—Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens. This trip takes us to a spectacular national park and an active stratovolcano, providing a wonderful chance for you and your family to bond over a joy in the discovery of nature. This trip delivers opportunities for both learning and adventure. Our friendly guides offer fun and creative ways to engage young explorers in volcanology, camping basics, and an essential understanding of Pacific Northwest wildlife. Explore noteworthy trails while taking in the delicate balance of ecosystems within the area. Enjoy the tranquility of Reflection Lake and the grandeur of Comet Falls during day hikes in the national park. Visit Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument to see the dramatic impact of the volcanic explosion in 1980. Back at camp, our host handles everything from comfortable accommodations to delicious food, freeing you to spend time creating lasting memories with family and new friends. Kids get an REI day pack — Kids traveling on our Family Adventures will receive an REI day pack for their adventure! Kids age 8-17 will receive the REI Flash 18 Pack (while quantities last, colors may vary). Learn more about REI Family Adventures. Not traveling with kids under age 18? Check out our Mount Rainier & St. Helens Hiking & Camping trip or inquire about a private departure of this itinerary.

This tour is operated by

  • Duration: 5 days
    Service level: Standard
  • Physical Grading: Average
  • Ages: 18+
Mount Rainier & St. Helens Family Adventure - Tour Map

Itinerary

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Day 1: Meet fellow adventurers and hike Rampart Ridge.
Meet your guides and fellow travelers at our host hotel near the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport at 9am for a brief orientation. We then load up for our two-hour drive to Longmire Visitor Center in Mount Rainier National Park. We begin our hike on Trail of the Shadows, hiking past a preserved historic cabin and spring. Along the next two miles, we climb steadily to the ridge. The ridge trail is actually the remnant of an ancient lava flow from Rainier. As we traverse a lava flow within view of a volcano, our guides give us insight into the forces that worked to create the park and the areas we will explore over the course of our adventure. After our hike, we make the short transfer to our deluxe camp home where our camp host is waiting with snacks and drinks to welcome us. Lunch and dinner included.Hiking 5 miles; 1,300’ elevation gain and loss.
Meals: D
Day 2: Hike to Shadow Lake and Frozen Lake in Rainier’s Sunrise region.
After breakfast we load our day packs for a trip to the Sunrise area of the park. At an elevation of 6,400’, Sunrise is the highest point that can be reached by vehicle in Mount Rainier National Park. Known for vibrant wildflower meadows and 360-degree views of surrounding valleys and volcanoes of the Cascade Range, Sunrise is a favorite area of the park for many repeat visitors. This area provides some of the best opportunities to view the park’s wildlife such as deer, picas, and marmots. This four-mile, loop hike takes us to beautiful Shadow and Frozen Lakes, then back to the visitor center along the Sourdough Ridge Trail. Along the trail we have magnificent views of Rainier and the North Cascades. After a day on the trial, our camp host is waiting with a delicious meal. All meals included.Hiking 4 miles; 1,000’ elevation gain and loss.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 3: Waterfalls and wildflowers—explore Paradise and Golden Loop Trail.
Enjoy a filling breakfast and pack your trail lunch before we make the transfer to Paradise Visitor Center. While on our trail, we are surrounded by a splendor of color with wildflowers. Along the hike we take in Myrtle Falls and Myrtle Creek, a beautiful sight with Rainier framed perfectly in the background. Further along the trail we pass a monument to the mountain’s first climbers. Our guides inspire your future mountain climbers with tales of how the climb was completed in the early days of mountaineering and how climbers train for the challenge today. On the drive back to camp we stop at Narada Falls to view the park’s most popular waterfall. From here hikers can choose to ride in the van back to camp or hike an additional three miles back to camp with our guide. The trail back to camp is a gentle descent along the famed Wonderland Trail. All meals included.Hiking 4-7 miles; 1,100’- 2,000’ elevation gain and loss.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 4: See and learn about the explosive power of Mount St. Helens.
After spending three days enjoying the diverse beauty of Mount Rainier, it can be easy to forget that we have been hiking on a now-resting volcano. Our visit to Mount St. Helens brings us back to the reality of the region’s volcanic potential. The Johnston Observatory has done an incredible job documenting the experience of the St. Helens’ 1980 eruption as well as providing interactive experiences to better explain this volatile region of the world commonly referred to as the “Ring of Fire.” Our time spent in the visitor center transitions to time hiking on the ridge where we can view both the lasting damage of the eruption as well as the resurgence of life to the area. Our drive back to our Mount Rainier camp is filled with conversation about the incredible power of Mother Nature. At our final dinner at camp we celebrate our time together in this unforgeable place. All meals included. Hiking 3.5-5 miles; 1,000’ elevation gain and loss.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 5: Hike Christine Falls to Comet Falls then journey back to Seattle.
After a final breakfast at camp we pack up our bags and prepare for the last hike of our Adventure. We have saved one of the best trails in the park for last. Today’s hike is to Comet Falls and Van Trump Park, located a short drive from camp. Our six-mile, out-and-back hike starts with the often photographed Christine Falls and the climbs steadily as we make our way to Van Trump Park. Along the way we find a flower-filled meadow in which to enjoy our picnic lunch. On a clear day we enjoy views of Rainier and St. Helens as well as ample views of the Kautz and Van Trump Glaciers. After our descent we complete the final leg of our journey back to Seattle. We anticipate arriving back to the host hotel near the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport between 6pm and 7pm.Hiking 6 miles; 2,200’ elevation gain and loss.

Inclusions

Included

  • Any park or other admission fees or permits, local taxes
  • guide leadership and camp host support
  • roundtrip transportation from Seattle, Washington, to all destinations visited during the trip
  • tents
  • extra-thick sleeping pads
  • all group camping equipment
  • meals as noted in the daily itinerary
  • beverages including coffee, soda, water, flavored drink mix, electrolyte drink mix, hot tea and hot chocolate.

  • Accommodation

    Deluxe camping, 4 nights

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