The Only Rainier Tour Allowed More Than a Mile from the Road: Ten People Max

The National Park Service restricts how far commercial groups can go from the park road. Evergreen Escapes holds the permit that lets its guides take you further, which is why its competitors run what it calls road tours. The guides are TripAdvisor Hall of Fame and describe themselves as nature educators rather than drivers. The group is capped at ten. No two departures follow the same plan. The itinerary is built on the day around what the park is doing and what the group wants, so any list of stops is an example rather than a promise. What those stops tend to be: old growth forest near Longmire, Christine Falls at the end of a short walk, Narada Falls, Myrtle Falls with the peak in view for most of the trail, the Trail of the Shadows among giant spruce and mineral springs that bubble, Twin Firs, and the Reflection Lakes. Paradise changes with the season. In summer the sub-alpine trails have wild berries on them to pick. In winter there is an introductory snowshoe trail, and the snowfall Paradise is known for, with far fewer people in it. The day is all-inclusive, and drop-off is where you were collected or somewhere nearby that suits you better. Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund.