Ultimate Mount Rainier National Park Self-Guided Driving Tour
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. Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months. This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
Departure Point
- After booking the tour, search your emails for "self-guided tour." Your tour is VALID FOR ONE YEAR so follow these instructions NOW to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Do NOT wait until you are onsite.
Return Details
- This tour will end at the Sunrise Visitor Center on Sunrise Park Road in Ashford, Washington, next to the Sunrise Comfort Station.
Duration
2 hours - 3 hours
Languages Available
- Audio guide - English
Points of Interest
Stop At: Nisqually Entrance
Eatonville, WA 98304
Here we are, Mount Rainier National Park! This arch is a great photo op, so feel free to pull over and pause ahead. Just beyond the arch is the park’s entrance station. Note: This 91-mile-long tour covers the essentials of Mount Rainier in 3-4 hours. Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Nisqually River
Continue driving as you listen. We’re now in the verdant shadows of Rainer’s lush forest. All of this greenery is thanks to the water flowing down from Rainer. In fact, you can probably catch a glimpse of the Nisqually River to your right as we drive.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Longmire Museum
Tahoma Woods, Star Route, Longmire, Washington
We’re about to cross over Tahoma Creek. While it might not look particularly powerful, tributaries like these are what make Mount Rainier so verdant year-round. Tahoma Creek has its own story as well. For years, hikers trekked along its banks to reach a suspension bridge deep in the wilderness.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Carter Falls Trailhead
Packwood, WA 98361
Up ahead is the Twin Firs Loop Trail. This easy half-mile loop takes only ten minutes and serves as a great introduction to the old growth forest of Mount Rainier. “Old growth” is a term used to describe a particular kind of forest that’s hard to find in much of the United States.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Comet Falls
Washington
We’re approaching the Longmire Historic District, named for explorer and entrepreneur James Longmire. This is a great place for a pit stop, and you’ll find food, bathrooms, and even a little museum here! It also serves as the starting point for a couple different trails, which I’ll talk about in a moment. There’s also a gift shop if you need the perfect souvenir from your visit!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Christine Falls Bridge
Comet Falls-Van Trump Trail, Ashford, WA 98304
Just ahead is Carter Falls Trail, a moderate 1.5-mile trail to a gorgeous waterfall tucked into the forests of Mount Rainier. If you don’t feel like hiking, this spot also features a great overlook of the Nisqually River.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Ricksecker Point
Packwood, WA 98361
You might’ve heard the adage “don’t go chasing waterfalls.” But when it comes to Comet Falls, my advice is to chase away! The challenging, 4-mile hike up ahead leads to a 301-foot waterfall that’s one of the tallest cascades in the park. People claim the flash of white resembles the tail of a comet!
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Narada Falls
Paradise Rd, Paradise, Washington
We’re about to cross the Christine Falls Bridge. Built in 1927, this bridge is a masterful display of rustic stonework. The contractor designed the bridge to blend into the landscape, taking on the curves of nature. Though the bridge itself is an eyecatching site, what surrounds it may be even more alluring. A 60-foot waterfall plummets into the Van Trump Creek Canyon below.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Puyallup
Puyallup, Washington
Up next is Ricksecker Point—a fantastic overlook with views of Mt. Rainier and the surrounding forest. Pull into the parking area coming up on our right and stop. Right now, 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.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Paradise
Paradise, Washington
We’re approaching the wetlands known at Frog Heaven. And no, I didn’t misspeak. It’s a “ribbeting” bit of road! All the lakes in this area make it a perfect habitat for Mount Rainier’s five species of frogs. All these amphibians need moist ecosystems to lay their jelly-like eggs. Of course, anywhere that attracts frogs also attracts predators that like to eat those frogs.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Reflection Lakes
Washington
Mount Rainier is the tallest mountain here, but what about these other peaks? Well, directly ahead of us 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 it’s also a little taller, standing at 6,562 feet. But hey, at least Plummer Peak has a more unique name! It gets it from Fred Plummer, a cartographer who worked for the Forest Service.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Snow Lake Trail
Washington
Once you’ve parked, hop out of the car and follow the brief walking 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 gets its name from someone with an even loftier title: Arthur F. Knight of Tacoma. Though he may sound 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?
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Picture Frame Falls
Packwood, WA 98361
Off to our left stands the mighty Tatoosh Range. But can you spot the tallest of these mountain peaks? It’s farther from us than most of the others, but stands a good couple hundred feet above them. That’s Unicorn Peak!
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Wonderland Trail
So who were the first inhabitants of this land? Among the tribes which lived here were the Puyallup people. In their language, this name actually translates to “people from the bend at the bottom of the river.”
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Grove of the Patriarchs
Washington
We’re coming up on the Nisqually Vista Trail. This 1-mile hiking path is a crowd-favorite in the park because it’s easy, quick, and features amazing views of Mount Rainier. The paved journey 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.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Ohanapecosh Visitor Center
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. Keep an eye out just ahead for the parking lot. From Paradise, you can also access the trail to Myrtle Falls.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Shriner Peak Trailhead
Naches, WA 98937
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 features seriously impressive mountain scenery and a large parking lot to boot! I recommend stopping in the lot ahead and get some pretty cool photos.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Sunrise Point Lookout
Sunrise Park Road, Ashford, WA 98304
Coming up: Reflection Lake! At this reflective body of water, you’ll be seeing double. This glacial lake is pristine and acts like a sort of 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!
Duration: 5 minutes
Additional Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email and text with instructions: • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password • Download the tour MUST DO 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
- Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
- 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!
Exclusions
- Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations
Redemption Instructions
Set your tour up NOW ahead of your trip, while in wifi/cell signal. Do not wait until your travel date, your tour is VALID FOR ONE YEAR.
1. Find The Setup Instructions NOW:
- Email: Search for “Action Tour Guide” with a subject line "Your tour operator sent you a message.". Check All Mail and Spam.
- Text: Search for “Action Tour Guide” sent from 14159804997.
- Viator App Messages: Viator App > Bookings > View Voucher > Contact Tour Operator
- TripAdvisor App Messages: TripAdvisor App > Account > Messages
Can’t find it? Ask Action Tour Guide to resend: actiontourguide.com/redeem/
2. Download The Tour NOW:
You MUST follow the instructions and download your tour BEFORE traveling to the site over WiFi/cellular. Do NOT wait until your travel date to download the tour.
3. Audio Tour Tips
Not familiar with Action Tour Guide’s audio tours? Watch a short video: actiontourguide.com/tutorial
CarPlay and Android Auto are not yet supported. Connect your phone via Bluetooth, USB, or Aux for audio. Use the phone speakers if needed.
Valid For One Year: Use your audio tour anytime, any day over the next 12 months. No need to change your booking if your travel date changes.
Support: Action Tour Guide is here to help! For quick answers read the Action Tour Guide website FAQs at actiontourguide.com/faq. For further help, call Action Tour Guide at 1315-291-0634, chat online at actiontourguide.com, or email support@actiontourguide.com.
⚠️ Important Note:
Timed reservations are required to enter the Paradise and Sunrise section during specific dates and times.
Vehicle Reservation Link: https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10101917
Paradise Corridor Timed Entry Reservation: https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10101917/ticket/10101919
Sunrise Corridor Timed Entry Reservation: https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10101917/ticket/10101918
Voucher Info
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
The tour identified in this promotion is made available through Viator. Groupon is not affiliated with or sponsored by the Adventures with Action in connection with this deal. Please contact Groupon customer service for all inquiries related to this offer. Inquiries placed to Viator will be directed back to Groupon.
This offer is not eligible for promo codes.
Need To Know Info
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services. Offer is not eligible for our promo codes or other discounts. Learn about Strike-Through Pricing and Savings