Olympic & Rainier 4 Day National Parks Tour

Day 1: Seattle Ferry, Hurricane Ridge, Lake Crescent, Quinault Lake

Premium Lodging:  Lake Quinault Lodge, Lake Quinault WA

We will take the iconic Seattle Ferry across the bay to the Olympic National Park while giving guests an intimate
view of Mt. Rainier as it looms over Seattle. Our first stop will be among the glaciers and alpine walking trails at Hurricane Ridge.  Leisure strolls and more active hiking adventures are available to those that want to stretch their legs, but the beauty can be captured right from the Visitors Center for those that wish to stay close. Our scenic drive along the 101 will give up-close views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Lake Crescent, which is an amazing alpine lake surrounded by Washington’s treasured trees. The days scenic tour will end when we arrive at the Quinault Lodge which is listed on the National Historic Registry and was built in 1926. The lodge was made famous by a 1937 fact finding visit by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt who, nine months later, created Olympic National.  Uniquely situated on Lake Quinault, the lodge is surrounded by hiking trails and beautiful scenery for you to explore during the early afternoon and morning.

Day 2:  Hoh Rainforest, and Wine Pairing Dinner at Ruby Beach

Premium Lodging:  Lake Quinault Lodge, Lake Quinault

Our exploration of this amazing region continues with a visit to the Hoh Rain forest and the lush landscape that
makes it so unique.  The leisure trails, good for all activity levels, introduces visitors to one of the most serene and peaceful destinations on earth.  The star attraction is the amazing trees.  The dominant species are Sitka spruce and western hemlock, but other conifers and several deciduous species grow as well. Many are 100's of years old and can reach 250 feet in height and 30 to 60 feet in circumference.  The stroll to the Hall of Mosses is especially unique and makes this temperate Rain forest a must-see when visiting the Pacific Northwest. Just a short drive down the road is one of the most remote and peaceful beaches you will ever find.  Completely void of any buildings, telephone wires or human intervention, Ruby Beach is one of the most relaxing places on earth to explore the tides, sea birds, driftwood, monolith rocks and lush foliage.  Our Hospitality Guide will prepare wine pairing dinner while guests explore the beach and then we will dine on the banks of the Pacific Ocean to the sounds of waves crashing on the sand.

Day 3: Mt. Rainier National Park

Premium Lodging: Cedarbrook Lodge, SeaTac Washington

We will rise early and get our start on the three hours’ scenic drive to Mt. Rainier National Park for a day of
exploration of this majestic volcano.   We will arrive at the Paradise Inn where lunch will be served by our chef and multiple scenic options are available.  For those who want to hike at Paradise Inn on Mt. Rainier, there is
something for all activity levels.

Easy Trails

Nisqually Vista Trail. 1.2 miles round-trip. 200' elevation gain. Average hiking time: 45 minutes. The trail
head is located at the northwest end of the lower parking lot. Suitable for families with strollers.

Skyline Trail to Myrtle Falls. 1 mile
round-trip. 100' elevation gain. Average hiking time: 35 minutes. The trail
head is located on the north side of the upper parking lot, next to the visitor
center. Suitable for wheelchairs with help, and strollers.

Moderate Trails

Deadhorse Creek Trail and Moraine Trail. 2.5 miles round-trip. 400' elevation gain. Average hiking time: 1 ¾
hours. The trail head is located at the northwest end of the lower parking lot. For excellent views, continue up the Deadhorse Creek Trail to Glacier Vista and return via the Skyline Trail.

Alta Vista via the Alta Vista and Skyline Trails. 1.75 miles round-trip. 600' elevation gain. Average hiking
time: 1 ¼ hours. Begin at the trail head located at the entrance to the lower parking lot, or at the trail head on the north side of the upper parking lot, next to the visitor center.

Bench and Snow Lakes. 2.5 miles round-trip. 700' elevation gain. Average hiking time: 2 hours. The trail head
is located on the south side of the road, 1.5 miles east of Reflection Lakes. The trail is a succession of gradual ups and downs as it crosses a series of low ridges. The path first reaches Bench Lake after 0.75 mile, then continues another 0.5 mile to Snow Lake. The lakes may not melt out until late July.

Strenuous Trails

Pinnacle Peak. 3 miles round-trip. 1150' elevation gain. Average hiking time: 3 hours. The trail head is located southeast of Paradise, across the road from Reflection Lakes.

Panorama Point via the Skyline and Golden Gate Trails. 4 miles round-trip. 1700' elevation gain. Average hiking
time: 3 hours. The trail head is located on the north side of the upper parking lot, next to the visitor center. Alternatively, you may take the Deadhorse Creek Trail from the north end of the lower parking lot and intersect the
Skyline Trail near Glacier Vista. We will then make our way down the mountain and stop for dinner at one of our favorite scenic lookouts which will cap the day on this majestic volcano perfectly.  We will then make our way to SeaTac Washington and the Cedarbrook Lodge for a restful night.

Day 4: Boeing Tour and then Homeward Bound

We will depart early for an optional visit to Seattle’s Museum of Flight. Travel through time and space! The Museum
of Flight is full of an incredible collection of aircraft, spacecraft, artifacts, galleries, exhibits, facts and stories that embody the past, present and future of flight. This tour will take between 2 and 4 hours depending on the guest’s interest for exploration.  If a guest chooses not to participate, your Tour Specialist will reduce the cost of admission from your National Park Travel Club trip cost, and a transfer to the airport is free from the Cedarbrook Lodge.