Mount Rainier & St. Helens Hiking & Camping
5 days
From
$ 2299
Duration5 days
Enjoy the remarkable power of nature on a five-day adventure in two of Washington’s most beautiful locations. Wildflower meadows, arctic glaciers, and rushing waterfalls—Mount Rainier National Park is a playground for nature lovers and adventurers alike. Experience a wide range of outdoor settings on this thoughtfully crafted adventure, from the lush old-growth forests and rushing creeks of Rainier to the otherworldly geology of St. Helens. From our comfortable camp at Cougar Rock we explore the Sunrise, Paradise and Longmire regions of the park. Take a day hike among a series of pristine alpine lakes on a journey to Upper Palisades Lake. Enjoy a scenic out-and-back hike to High Rock Lookout. Along the way, our skilled guides share the natural and human history which makes this area such a diverse wonderland. Day four calls for a trip to Mount St. Helens, where we witness the incredible landscape that has risen in the wake of the historic eruption in 1980. This adventure—packed with two volcanoes, wildlife, camping and plenty of hiking—provides the perfect chance to get a taste of Washington’s boundless beauty. Traveling with kids under 18? Check out our Mount Rainier & St. Helens Family Adventure trip.
This tour is operated by
-
Duration: 5 daysService level: Standard
-
Physical Grading: Average
-
Ages: 18+
Tour Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1: Hike to High Rock Lookout; move into camp at Mount Rainier.
We meet our guides and fellow travelers at our host hotel near the Seattle-Tacoma Airport at 9am. We’ll have a brief orientation before loading up for the two-and-a-half hour drive to the High Rock Lookout Trailhead. The 3.4-mile out-and-back hike is moderately steep and takes us along the crest of Sawtooth Ridge before reaching a fire lookout cabin built in 1929. At an elevation of 5,685’, High Rock is dramatically higher than its surroundings and, on a clear day, provides stunning Mount Rainier views. Once we have completed our hike we travel an hour to our national park camp where our camp host is waiting with appetizers, eager to introduce us to our deluxe camping home for the next four nights. Once settled into camp, we break bread together and toast the start of our Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens adventure. Lunch and dinner included.Hiking 3.5 miles; 1,400’ elevation gain and loss.
Meals: D
Day 2: Hike to Upper Palisades Lake in Rainier’s Sunrise region.
After a satisfying camp breakfast, we make a lunch for the trail and load our daypacks 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 other volcanoes of the Cascade Range, Sunrise is a favorite destination for many park visitors. Today we hike among a series of pristine alpine lakes on our journey to Upper Palisades Lake. This seven-mile, out-and-back hike provides abundant opportunities to see the wildflowers the park is known for. We stop at Hidden Lake to enjoy a picnic lunch while marveling at the emerald green water. After our day on the trail, our camp host awaits us with another delicious dinner. All meals included.Hiking 7 miles; 1,800’ elevation gain and loss.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 3: Explore glaciers and Reflection Lake from Rainier’s Paradise region.
Today we explore the Paradise region of the park. After a filling breakfast and preparing our trail lunches, we take a 30-minute drive to Paradise Visitor Center. We explore the area on a series of trails thoughtfully stitched together by our guides to provide a full day of marvelous views from some of the park’s most celebrated viewpoints including Glacier Vista and Panorama Point. Along the way, our skilled guides share the natural and human history of this favorite national park. We'll make our way down to Reflection Lake where our van will be waiting for us stocked with refreshments. From here you can choose to ride back to camp in the van or hike to camp with our guides on a gentle 3.5-mile downhill hike along the famed Wonderland Trail. Tonight we toast to new friends and prepare for tomorrow’s journey to Mount St. Helens. All meals included.Hiking 6.3-10 miles; 2,000’- 4,000’ elevation gain and loss.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 4: Journey to Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.
After three days hiking on one volcano (Rainier), we journey out to view the remnants of another: Mount St. Helens. Its 1980 eruption was the most destructive volcanic event in U.S. history. After an early breakfast we make the two-and-a-half hour drive to Mount St. Helens’ Johnston Observatory. The beautifully constructed observatory provides incredible views of the result of the volcano’s 1980 eruption. From the observatory we hike along the ridge for remarkable views of the blast zone and the otherworldly geology left behind in the wake of the eruption. Along the mountains we can still see trees perfectly flattened by the volcanic blast almost four decades earlier. The visitor center provides wonderful resources for our guides to further explain the geologic forces that are still at work in this region. We enjoy a scenic drive back to camp for our final night together on this beautiful adventure.Hiking 3.5-5 miles; 1,000’ elevation gain and loss.
Day 5: Hike to Van Trump Park and Comet Falls before returning to Seattle.
After a final breakfast at camp we pack our bags and load up for our final hike. Today’s hike is to Comet Falls and Van Trump Park, located a short drive from camp. Our six-mile, out-and-back hike is along the Van Trump Creek through a beautiful forest with views of several waterfalls. Our hike begins at the often photographed Christine Falls, and the route climbs steadily as we make our way to Van Trump Park. Along the way we choose one of many flower-filled meadows to enjoy during our picnic lunch. On a clear day, we enjoy views of Mount 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