Embark on a self-guided driving audio tour of Mount Rainier Park and explore its stunning landscapes, wildlife, and rich history. Discover hidden trails, majestic waterfalls, and breathtaking viewpoints. Download the Tour Guide App and start your adventure today!
Embark on a self-guided driving audio tour of Mount Rainier Park and explore its stunning landscapes, wildlife, and rich history. Discover hidden trails, majestic waterfalls, and breathtaking viewpoints. Download the Tour Guide App and start your adventure today!
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Nisqually Entrance - Welcome to Mount Rainier National Park! This archway offers a fantastic photo opportunity, so feel free to stop and take a moment. Just past the arch is the park’s entrance station.
Note: The tour spans over 70 miles, includes more than 85 audio stories, and takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete.
Purchase once and enjoy for…
- Nisqually Entrance - Welcome to Mount Rainier National Park! This archway offers a fantastic photo opportunity, so feel free to stop and take a moment. Just past the arch is the park’s entrance station.
Note: The tour spans over 70 miles, includes more than 85 audio stories, and takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete.
Purchase once and enjoy for a year! Perfect for extended visits and return trips within the next 12 months.
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Nisqually River - Continue driving while listening. We’re now in the lush shadows of Rainier’s forest. This greenery thrives thanks to the water flowing from Rainier. You might catch a glimpse of the Nisqually River to your right as we drive.
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Tahoma Creek - We’re about to cross Tahoma Creek. While it may not seem powerful, tributaries like these keep Mount Rainier verdant year-round. Tahoma Creek has its own history. For years, hikers followed its banks to reach a suspension bridge deep in the wilderness.
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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” describes a type of forest that’s rare in much of the United States.
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Longmire Museum - We’re nearing the Longmire Historic District, named after explorer and entrepreneur James Longmire. It’s a great place for a break, offering food, restrooms, and a small museum! It’s also the starting point for several trails, which will be discussed shortly. There’s a gift shop for the perfect souvenir from your visit!
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Carter Falls Trailhead - Just ahead is Carter Falls Trail, a moderate 1.5-mile trail leading to a beautiful waterfall nestled in Mount Rainier’s forests. If hiking isn’t your thing, this spot also offers a great view of the Nisqually River.
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Comet Falls - You might’ve heard the saying “don’t go chasing waterfalls.” But for Comet Falls, the advice is to chase away! The challenging 4-mile hike ahead leads to a 301-foot waterfall, one of the tallest in the park. People say the white flash resembles a comet’s tail!
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Christine Falls Bridge - We’re about to cross the Christine Falls Bridge. Built in 1927, this bridge showcases rustic stonework. The contractor designed it to blend with the landscape, following nature’s curves. While the bridge is eye-catching, its surroundings are even more captivating. A 60-foot waterfall plunges into the Van Trump Creek Canyon below.
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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 park’s most dangerous areas! It all began in 1910.
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Frog Heaven - We’re approaching the wetlands known as Frog Heaven. And no, that’s not a mistake. It’s a “ribbeting” stretch of road! The lakes here create a perfect habitat for Mount Rainier’s five frog species. These amphibians need moist ecosystems to lay their jelly-like eggs. Naturally, where frogs gather, predators that enjoy eating them also appear.
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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 this bend. Pinnacle Peak is to the left of Plummer Peak and is slightly taller at 6,562 feet. But hey, at least Plummer Peak has a unique name! It’s named after Fred Plummer, a cartographer for the Forest Service.
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Narada Falls - Once parked, hop out and follow the short trail to Narada Falls. While visible from here, the view is better from the trail! This 168-foot waterfall is named after Arthur F. Knight of Tacoma. Though he sounds like royalty, Knight led the Narada Branch of the Theosophical Society of Western Washington. You might wonder: What exactly is that?
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Unicorn Peak - To our left stands the mighty Tatoosh Range. Can you spot the tallest peak? It’s farther than most others but stands a couple of hundred feet above them. That’s Unicorn Peak!
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Puyallup - Who were the first inhabitants of this land? Among the tribes here were the Puyallup people. In their language, this name translates to “people from the bend at the bottom of the river.”
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Nisqually Vista Trail - We’re nearing the Nisqually Vista Trail. This 1-mile hiking path is a park favorite for its ease, quickness, and stunning views of Mount Rainier. The paved journey takes about 30 minutes. Park ahead to visit the trail. If full, more parking is available later. If you prefer to continue the tour, keep driving.
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Paradise - Paradise is just ahead. And yes, that’s literal! Here you’ll find snacks, water, and even a dining room. There’s additional parking for the Nisqually Vista Trail. Look ahead for the parking lot. From Paradise, you can also access the trail to Myrtle Falls.
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Inspiration Point - Coming up is Inspiration Point. It seems every national park has an Inspiration Point, but this one is special! This accessible vista offers impressive mountain scenery and a large parking lot! It’s recommended to stop in the lot ahead for some great photos.
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Reflection Lakes - Coming up: Reflection Lake! At this reflective body of water, you’ll see double. This glacial lake is pristine and often acts as a natural mirror. As you gaze across Reflection Lake, you’ll look directly at Mount Rainier’s summit. 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!
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Stevens Peak - The mountain peak ahead is Stevens Peak, standing at 6,560 feet! It’s named after Hazard Stevens, the first European to summit Mount Rainier with P.B. Van Trump. And honestly, if my first name was “Hazard,” I’d probably become a mountain climber too!
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Snow Lake Trail - Look out for Bench and Snow Lake Trail. This moderately challenging hike stretches 2.2 miles round trip and takes just over an hour. It’s a bit steep, but at the end, you’re rewarded with two pristine wilderness lakes!
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Picture Frame Falls - 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?
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Box Canyon - We’re approaching The Box Canyon Trail, a half-mile, paved loop. Though short, the path offers a spectacular view of a great rift formed by shifting glaciers. For a challenge, the Box Canyon Loop connects to the famed Wonderland Trail. Spanning 93 miles, this trail encircles the entire park.
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Wonderland Trail - Wonderland has far exceeded its original purpose. Construction began in 1907 to address a major oversight in the park’s infrastructure: a lack of fire roads. With drier seasons and large forest areas unprotected, rangers needed a trail to reach the park’s most remote areas.
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Backbone Ridge - We’re nearing 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 rough terrain.
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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 taking 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 prestigious as it sounds. After plans to gather Asian foliage for London’s gardens fell through, Douglas found himself in the Pacific Northwest instead.
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Ohanapecosh Visitor Center - Welcome to Ohanapecosh, named by the Taidnapam tribe. Ohanapecosh means “standing at the edge”—likely because it borders the river. This is also where James Longmire discovered hot springs.
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Shriner Peak Trailhead - Ahead is Shriner Peak Trail. Known as one of Mt. Rainier’s loneliest trails, the steep climb is a no-go in summer. But in autumn, the challenging 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 hosts the park’s oldest fire lookout.
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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 spot some trout. These trout didn’t always inhabit Tipsoo. In fact, none of Mt. Rainier’s lakes originally hosted trout.
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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.
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Owyhigh Lakes Trail - The Owyhigh Lakes Trail is coming up soon. This 7-mile hike takes about four hours, but it’s level and shaded. 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 ongoing conflict between his people and the US.
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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 recover during the Great Depression. These young men were hired by national parks to combat high unemployment rates.
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Sunrise Rim Trail - The one-mile Sunrise Rim trail is a nice warm-up or cool-down hike. For more of a challenge, 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!
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Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
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- 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!
- Park Passes
- Park Passes
Mount Rainier Park showcases Pacific Northwest’s legacy. Traverse Nisqually Twin Firs Trail by Tahoma Creek. Longmire brims with pioneers & wildlife. Discover Tatoosh Range, Christine & Comet Falls. Uncover tales of John Muir & the pioneering woman climber. Gaze stars at Sunrise Point, Ohanapecosh, Tipsoo Lake. Start a collective journey via app;…
Mount Rainier Park showcases Pacific Northwest’s legacy. Traverse Nisqually Twin Firs Trail by Tahoma Creek. Longmire brims with pioneers & wildlife. Discover Tatoosh Range, Christine & Comet Falls. Uncover tales of John Muir & the pioneering woman climber. Gaze stars at Sunrise Point, Ohanapecosh, Tipsoo Lake. Start a collective journey via app; remember park entry rules & timings. visit ancient burial grounds, and really get to know this island’s rich culture.
Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together!
After booking, check your email to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. These steps require good internet/Wi-Fi access. From there, follow the audio instructions and the route.
New, extra validity — now yours for an entire year! Use multiple times over multiple trips!
This isn’t an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
- How To Access: After booking, you’ll get an email and text with setup instructions and password (search “audio tour” in emails and texts). • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password sent by email and text. • MUST download the tour while in strong wifi/cellular. • Works offline after download.
- How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
- Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
- Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
- Savings tips: Driving tours: purchase just one tour for everyone in the car
- New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
- 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.
- Audio Setup: Connect your phone to your car’s stereo system using Bluetooth, USB, or AUX. For the best experience, consider using headphones for walking tours. Audio playback is compatible with Apple CarPlay, with navigation features coming soon. Support for Android Auto is also on the way.
- For the best experience, please use an iPhone running iOS 15 or later, an Android device running version 9 or later, or an iPad/tablet with GPS and cellular connectivity, as these are recommended for navigation.
- Important Notice: From September 2–30, 2025, Stevens Canyon Road (intersection to SR 410) and SR 123 will be closed, causing a 3–4 hour detour for travelers between Stevens Canyon Entrance and White River Entrance / Sunrise Corridor; for more details, visit the Park Construction page.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.