*This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may get paid or receive a commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase anything through my link! Read more about it here*

To end the tours on a good note, the third day of my trip to Seattle was a day trip to Mt. Rainier National Park! Washington has a lot of beautiful parks and mountains, so I knew visiting one of them was a MUST. Since Mt. Rainier National Park is somewhat close to Seattle, and there were small day trip group tours offered for this park, I opted to go for a tour of Mt. Rainier. I knew this was going to be a good tour and hike from the beginning!

What is the Mt. Rainier NP Tour?

On Viator, the Mt. Rainier National Park tour and hike is a day trip from Seattle, Washington where you get a tour of certain areas of the park and hike on a trail to see Mt. Rainier. It’s an all day affair, so there’s a fair bit to see and do.

This tour and hike includes hiking to see Mt. Rainier, hiking on a heavily forested trail, seeing some waterfalls, and other areas of the national park. Lunch is provided on this tour but feel free to also bring your own snacks and drinks with you. In case there’s snow on the ground (depending on the time of year you visit), the tour guide has snow shoes and other equipment. So, you won’t miss anything even if the weather is less than ideal.

And, there’s also opportunities to use the restroom as well. Super important when you’re in nature. At the start of the Skyline trail, there a decent size parking lot with whole bathrooms. That’s right, full bathrooms with a stall and running water. So you’re covered at the start or end of that trail. This small group tour thought of everything we’d need for a day trip like this, so it’s definitely a good one to do!

Don’t worry, the full itinerary will be in the post! Just keep on reading.

Should you visit Mt. Rainier National Park?

Should you visit Mt. Rainier National Park? Absolutely! This is a well known and beautiful park to visit. Whether you’re going on a day trip to hike like myself or you’re doing something more intense, it’s still worth the trip out here.

Thankfully, when I visited the park in November 2023, there were barely other people there. There were a few folks there, don’t get me wrong. But there was no crowd whatsoever. Plus, there was no snow on the ground and the weather conditions were very good for that time of year! It was a beautiful day, not too hot or cold, with very little people on the trail. This just made the experience better.

So, yes you should definitely visit Mt. Rainier National Park for some amazing views and hikes! If you’re able to time it just right, or have insane luck like I did, go at a time of year where there’s less crowds and ideal weather conditions.

How much does it cost?

When I purchased this tour on Viator, it cost $179. That includes the entrance and tour of the park but also lunch, snacks, drinks (water, coffee, etc.), equipment (trekking poles, snowshoes), and an air-conditioned vehicle.

How long is the tour?

This is an all day tour which lasts from 9am to about 7 or 8pm. So, it’s about an 10 to 11 hour day tour. Quite a long day, I know. But trust me, it’s so worth it!

What is the tour itinerary?

Since this is a day tour, we had an itinerary outlined of the trails and pit stops we’d visit. Here is what the itinerary looked like.

pick up from the starting point
Starbucks/bathroom break
spot #1: Skyline Trail (lunch is included at a point on the trail with amazing views!)
spot #2: Glacier Vista
spot #3: Narada Falls
spot #4: Random stop (I don’t remember the name of the area)
spot #5: Pristine Waterfall
spot #6: Forest walk
journey home

When you return to Seattle, it’s about 7pm. If you have an evening tour, dinner reservations, want to explore some more, or just eat dinner and rest like I did, you have some time to do that!

Do I recommend this tour?

Is this tour worth it? Do I recommend it? The answer is…YES! I highly recommend this tour to anyone, as long as you’re reasonably fit or are able to walk on trails and inclines. The scenery is beautiful, Mt. Rainier is just stunning, and I promise it’s worth it. Especially if you’re into hiking and beautiful mountains like I am.

Plus, another great thing about this tour is that it’s a small group. There were a variety of people who were at different fitness levels and experience. No one was pressured to do the hikes or to push beyond their limits. The tour guide, and everyone else in the group, were very friendly and helpful. The other solo traveler I met on this tour was awesome at supporting me, and even taking breaks with me, when I had to pace myself and stop because of my asthma.

Not to mention that lunch, snacks, water bottles, and bathroom stops are included on the tour. It’s great value for your money and Mt. Rainier is a popular park to visit when you’re in Washington. Again, I can’t recommend this tour enough!

Tips for hiking in Mt. Rainier National Park

If you’re doing a day trip to Mt. Rainier National Park, then here are a few tips to help with your day hike. Keep in mind that although you will be with a tour guide and group, it’s still important to keep these tips in mind to help with your overall hiking experience!

Remember to eat a filling and nutritious breakfast before hand
Bring water and snacks with you
Wear good hiking boots or shoes
Bring trekking poles (the guide has some if you don’t have any on hand)
Snowshoes (if you’re hiking during late fall/winter. The tour group provides these though)
Bring layers of clothing, hat, and gloves
Download the trail offline (in case you get lost)
Pace yourself (there’s some steep inclines)
Take breaks when needed
It’s ok to stop and turn back (a few people did this due to the incline, elevation, or their own personal medical limits)
Take lots of pictures! The landscape is beautiful

These tips will surely help you when you go on any of the trails in Mt. Rainier National Park! But don’t worry, the tour guide (the female I had) is amazing and experienced in hiking. Especially in Mt. Rainier National Park, as she had been with the tour company for years and has done this hike many times.

They’re very knowledgable and prepared, and they have your back. They were also very encouraging and understanding if people decided to not continue with the hike. It was always a point the tour guide made; go at your own pace but be mindful of your timing, know your limits, it’s ok to turn back if it’s too much, and to enjoy the natural beauty of Mt. Rainier National Park!

Touring and Hiking in Mt. Rainier National Park: Is this tour worth it?