• Nisqually Entrance - Welcome to Mount Rainier National Park! This archway is a perfect spot for photos, so feel free to stop and take a break. Just past the arch is the park’s entrance station.

Note: This 91-mile tour highlights the key attractions of Mount Rainier in 3-4 hours.

• Nisqually River - Keep driving as you listen. We’re now in the lush shadows of Rainier’s forest. All this greenery is thanks to the water flowing down from Rainier. You might catch a glimpse of the Nisqually River to your right as we drive.

• Tahoma Creek - We’re about to cross Tahoma Creek. While it might not seem powerful, tributaries like these keep Mount Rainier green year-round. Tahoma Creek has its own history. For years, hikers followed its banks to reach a suspension bridge deep in the wilderness.

• Twin Firs Loop Trail - Ahead is the Twin Firs Loop Trail. This easy half-mile loop takes only ten minutes and is a great introduction to Mount Rainier’s old growth forest. “Old growth” refers to a type of forest that’s rare in much of the United States.

• Longmire Museum - We’re nearing the Longmire Historic District, named after explorer and entrepreneur James Longmire. This is a great place for a break, with food, bathrooms, and a small museum! It’s also the starting point for a couple of trails, which I’ll mention soon. There’s also a gift shop for the perfect souvenir!

• Carter Falls Trailhead - Just ahead is Carter Falls Trail, a moderate 1.5-mile hike to a beautiful waterfall nestled in Mount Rainier’s forests. If you’re not up for hiking, this spot also offers a great view of the Nisqually River.

• Comet Falls - You might’ve heard the saying “don’t go chasing waterfalls.” But for Comet Falls, I say go for it! The challenging 4-mile hike ahead leads to a 301-foot waterfall, one of the tallest in the park. People say the white flash looks like a comet’s tail!

• Christine Falls Bridge - We’re about to cross Christine Falls Bridge. Built in 1927, this bridge showcases rustic stonework. The contractor designed it to blend into the landscape, following nature’s curves. While the bridge is eye-catching, the surrounding area is even more captivating. A 60-foot waterfall plunges into Van Trump Creek Canyon below.

• Ricksecker Point - Next is Ricksecker Point—a fantastic overlook with views of Mt. Rainier and the surrounding forest. Pull into the parking area on our right and stop.

Currently, a rock wall and guard rails separate drivers from the cliff’s edge at Ricksecker Point—but that wasn’t always the case. In fact, Ricksecker Point used to be one of the most dangerous areas in the park! It all started in 1910.

• Frog Heaven - We’re approaching the wetlands known as Frog Heaven. And no, I didn’t misspeak. It’s a “ribbeting” bit of road! The lakes here make it a perfect habitat for Mount Rainier’s five species of frogs. These amphibians need moist ecosystems to lay their jelly-like eggs. Of course, where there are frogs, there are also predators that like to eat them.

• Tatoosh Range - Mount Rainier is the tallest mountain here, but what about these other peaks? Directly ahead are Pinnacle Peak and Plummer Peak. They’ll be on our right after we round this bend. Pinnacle Peak is to the left of Plummer Peak and is a bit taller at 6,562 feet. But hey, at least Plummer Peak has a more unique name! It’s named after Fred Plummer, a cartographer for the Forest Service.

• Narada Falls - Once you’ve parked, hop out and follow the short 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 is named after Arthur F. Knight of Tacoma. Though he sounds like royalty, Knight was actually a leader of the Narada Branch of the Theosophical Society of Western Washington. You’re probably wondering: Okay, what the heck is that?

• Unicorn Peak - To our left stands the mighty Tatoosh Range. Can you spot the tallest peak? It’s farther away than most of the others but stands a good couple hundred feet above them. That’s Unicorn Peak!

• Puyallup - So who were the first inhabitants of this land? Among the tribes that lived here were the Puyallup people. In their language, this name translates to “people from the bend at the bottom of the river.”

• Nisqually Vista Trail - We’re approaching the Nisqually Vista Trail. This 1-mile hike is a crowd favorite because it’s easy, quick, and offers amazing views of Mount Rainier. The paved trail takes about 30 minutes to complete. Park just ahead to visit the trail. If it’s full, there’s more parking later on. If you’d rather continue the tour, keep driving.

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

• Inspiration Point - Coming up is Inspiration Point. It seems like every national park has a place called Inspiration Point, but that doesn’t make this one any less special! This accessible vista offers impressive mountain scenery and a large parking lot! I recommend stopping in the lot ahead to take some great photos.

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

• Stevens Peak - That mountain peak straight ahead is Stevens Peak, standing at 6,560 feet! It’s named after Hazard Stevens, the first European man to summit Mount Rainier alongside P.B. Van Trump. And hey, I’ll be honest: If my first name was “Hazard,” I’d probably become a mountain climber too!

• Snow Lake Trail - Keep an eye out for Bench and Snow Lake Trail. This moderately challenging hike is 2.2 miles round trip and takes a little over an hour. It’s a bit steep, but at the end, you’re rewarded with two pristine wilderness lakes!

• Picture Frame Falls - Up ahead you’ll see the next stop perfectly framed by vegetation—Picture Frame Falls! The name is more of a placeholder. This no-name cascade isn’t technically a real waterfall. How can that be?

• Box Canyon - We’re approaching The Box Canyon Trail, a half-mile paved loop. Though it’s a short walk, the path offers a spectacular view of a great rift formed by shifting glaciers. If you’re 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 Trail - Wonderland has far exceeded its original purpose. Work began on the trail in 1907 to address a major oversight in the park’s infrastructure: a lack of fire roads. With seasons growing dryer and large areas of forest left unprotected, rangers needed a trail to reach the most remote areas of the park.

• Backbone Ridge - We’re approaching Backbone Ridge, a strenuous trail offering amazing views for experienced hikers. This 6.6-mile round trip overlooks Tatoosh Wilderness, but be prepared for a 3-hour journey with plenty of rough terrain.

• Grove of the Patriarchs - The Grove of the Patriarchs is just ahead. This 1-mile trail through a wonderland of huge old-growth trees is an easy walk that takes under an hour. Unfortunately, it’s 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 London—yes, it was as fancy as it sounds. After plans to gather Asian plants for London’s gardens fell through, Douglas found himself in the Pacific Northwest instead.

• Ohanapecosh Visitor Center - Welcome to Ohanapecosh, named by the Taidnapam tribe. Ohanapecosh translates to “standing at the edge”—likely because it’s near the river. This is also where James Longmire discovered hot springs.

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

• Tipsoo Lake - Tipsoo Lake is just ahead. The loop around this lake is a great spot to pause and enjoy the flowers. If you stand at the lake’s edge and look into its glassy surface, you might see some trout. These trout didn’t always live in Tipsoo. In fact, none of Mt. Rainier’s lakes originally had trout.

• White River - The river we’re driving alongside is called White River. It’s said you never step into the same river twice, and that’s especially true of the White River, whose flow has been altered by nature and humans for centuries.

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

• Sunrise Point Lookout - We’re approaching Sunrise Point. At 6,120 feet, it’s 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 part of the New Deal, which aimed to help Americans during the Great Depression. These young men were hired by national parks to combat high unemployment rates.

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

• Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
• Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
• Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
• Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
• Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
• Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
• Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
• Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!

• Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations