Discover Nature

Discover Nature

Discover Nature
5
Nature & Wildlife Tours
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About
Discover Nature/TourMtRainier offers you a personalized hike or hikes that are a fun, safe exploration of one of the most iconic mountain volcanoes in North America. I will happily help you choose and guide you on the best trail or trails to connect and appreciate this place of awe and wonder. This tour is perfect for people with their own vehicle as we will meet at a designated trailhead or park entrance. Bring your lunch to enjoy along the trail with some of the best surroundings. After our time together, you will have the time and ability to explore more of the park; perhaps even stay to enjoy the sunset or night sky! I am one of the few companies with a Commercial Use Permit from Mt. Rainier National Park which allows me to offer you hikes longer than 1 mile beyond a trailhead helping us get away from the crowds and increase your moments of Wow! All hikes are private from 1 – 5 people with a variety of meeting times. Hiking poles, snacks and the use of binoculars are provided.
Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles277 reviews
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808Momx2
Honolulu, HI216 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022 • Family
You will ALWAYS get more out of a place with a guided tour, whether it’s a college, city, or a national park.

This is what you get with Diann from Discover Nature: a PERSONALIZED tour designed for you/your family based on time, ability, where you’re coming from, and what you want to see. This is what truly sets this company apart from other tour companies in the area, and because Diann is always on the mountain she knows what things are changing each week (weather/bugs/road conditions) and can redirect your tour based on that!

1) Drive time. We drove from the SeaTac area and met her at a designated google map location. Diann picked the entrance for us that was closer to us and would have less traffic congestion and less people. I never would have picked this route on my own, as it didn’t even look like a place. Make sure you screen shot the place because cell reception is spotty.

2) Start time. She suggested a time that allowed us to find parking and even use the porta potty just after it was serviced. She brought binoculars for us to look for wildlife and we saw climbers on the summit.

3) Ability. We have teenagers which means they are quick and agile and we are not. I didn’t want to spend all day hiking. She picked a half-day hike which had some elevation gains and great views without being too treacherous on our old bodies. Could we have done a harder hike? Of course. Could we have done a longer hike? Of course, but why would we, it all looks the same after a while. Would we have picked this particular hike on our own? No. But it was perfect FOR US. Why? We saw all types of terrain, hiked some of the PCT, National forest, saw the summit, and then we were off to drive to the other side. The park is HUGE…we saw the crowded tourist visitor center and was glad we didn’t go on those hikes, and we even went to Northwest Trek animal preserve on our way back. Oh and I can still walk today.

4) Specifics. Depending on the time of year you go, things like mosquitos and weather conditions will affect what you wear. She specifically warned us about the bugs so we had bug spray, but ours didn’t work as well as hers, so thank goodness she lets us use hers. And coming from Hawaii, I really wanted to see some snow. In August. She made it happen. You can’t hike up the summit of Ranier without special permits and equipment but she knew where to take us that might still have patches of snow left. To put this in perspective, last week they had 105 degree heat waves for days so I didn’t really think any snow would be left, except at the summit, but we saw some!

We had a great experience, we got lots of pictures and we got to do other things after the hike. Highly recommend Discover Nature.
Written August 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello 808Momx2 and family!!! Wow! Wow! Wow! Thank you for the Five Star review :) I happily give your review 10 plus stars!! I truly appreciate the time and love you put into writing about your trip to The Mountain this August. I really enjoyed sharing the morning with your family and am grateful to know how valuable you found my offering. We certainly had a beautiful blue sky day with wildflowers and yes .... mosquitoes! I am glad my bug spray worked and you all were able to take the time needed to hike and enjoy the moments. It sounds like you had a very successful day and experienced a great taste of the PNW! Perhaps you will be back to visit your son in college if he chooses UofW!! Thanks again for your review and for choosing my day hike. Happy trails ~ Diann
Written September 30, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Holly
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Friends
My time exploring Mt Rainier National Park with Diann was fantastic. She exceeded my expectations. Diann provided an experience that was educational, enlightening, therapeutic, and entertaining! Not only did Diann allow for a first-time experience of snowshoeing which was awesome, but she also kindly offered me boots and socks to accommodate!

I researched many different options... needless to say, I highly recommend Diann with Discover Nature. I wouldn't change a single thing. You will be delighted.

Holly
Written May 23, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Much gratitude for your selection in my tour option Holly and for taking time to write a review! I loved creating a day that met your needs and it was so much fun sharing it all with you! Yay for first time snowshoeing and another National Park!! Happy adventuring ~ Diann
Written May 24, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

l0ngd0g
Fountain Valley, CA1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021
The highlight of our Seattle trip was our hike at Mt Rainier. We were clueless as to what to do so we researched for a tour; however, we wanted a private tour catered to our expectations. We were so happy we found Diann. She was awesome. She was attentive, kind and had tons of patience. She knows Mt Rainier very well so she took us on hikes with beautiful waterfalls and answered all our questions. We highly recommend Diann as she made Mt Rainier an unforgettable experience for us.
Written October 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Well this thank you is way overdue :) I am not receiving notices that a review has been written anymore. Perhaps because I am not selling my tours through their platform. Anyway! "0ngd0g" I appreciate you taking the time back in October to write of your travels with my company to the beautiful Mt. Rainier National Park. We truly had a beautiful day to explore and I am glad you found your time with me unforgettable. I hope you have many more amazing adventures!!! happy travels ~ Diann
Written February 18, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Tara H
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022
I never write reviews but just had to this time. Our hike with Diann was absolutely amazing. We are a family of four, pretty good hikers and very much enjoy the outdoors. we were looking for a moderate to rigorous hike of Mt Rainier. We wanted a guide so that we could truly experience the mountain and not worry about getting lost. This hike truly exceeded our expectations. Diann loves what she does and caterers to what you need and want in a hike. She would stop along the way to explain what we were looking at in the mountains, landscape, flowers, animals etc. Having Diann we were able to explore parts of the mountain we probably would not have done ourselves. Post this hike, we went on an Alaskan cruise, which was also wonderful, but our most favorite part of the trip by far was the hike with Diann. Thank you for the wonderful experience!
Written August 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HCtravel-1 I am smiling from ear to ear and my heart is bouncing with joy after reading your review :) Another reminder of why I do what I do :) Thank you so much for deciding to and for taking the time to write a review. Spending the day with the four of you was an absolute joy! I loved everyones sense for adventure and curiosity. We certainly had some magical moments with The Mountain playing hide and seek! Oh and being on the snow in July!! I am glad you enjoyed your Alaskan cruise and am deeply touched that your time on my guided hike was your highlight :) many, many thanks for sharing nature with your wonderful boys!!! Keep on exploring!! Diann
Written August 3, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Meredith S
5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2020
Having a guide makes ALL THE DIFFERENCE. If I could give Diann 100 stars I would! She rocks! I am a recent transplant to the Pacific Northwest; I wanted to visit Mt. Rainier National Park but didn't feel confident in my hiking or map reading skills to go alone. In my research, I found Discover Nature, which specifically leads hiking tours on Mt. Rainier. After speaking with Diann directly to chat about her services, I was sold! She was knowledgeable and enthusiastic and incredibly helpful in guiding me through the planning process of picking a date. In the weeks leading up to the hike, Diann was great about listing out tips and helpful information links to make my outing a success. She even lent me an extra pair of walking sticks for that day. I didn't own any and was curious to try them out! ( They were awesome and saved my knees!) Her directions were clear about where to meet early that morning. We spent a glorious day hiking through Mt. Rainier National Park. I trusted her to pick the trails that would be best suited to my hiking levels. I am in decent shape but I am not someone that goes hiking often. These trails were perfect for me. The weather cooperated. We walked at a moderate pace and she definitely accommodated me and encouraged breather breaks when we were on an incline, especially given the change in elevation. The scenery was SO AWESOME!! I could not stop saying "WOW!"

Diann was a great companion and fabulous guide for the day: patient, knowledgeable, helpful, and interesting conversationalist without being overbearing. Having someone else lead the way allowed me to focus (mentally and with the camera, both) on the experience and views without being concerned with safety, distance, directions, etc. I am delighted with the photos and the suggestions from Diann for special shots. I enjoyed hearing about the history of the park, the topography, neighboring mountain ranges, and all learning about the flora and fauna.

Diann walked me through the old part of the forest and showed me various plants and tree types, and identified markings of a pileated woodpecker, as well as the call of a very specific type of wren. I could not believe that some of the trees were 800 years old! Then, we drove to the next area called "Paradise". Along the way we stopped a few times, and took in the views at some of the scenic look outs. It was super laid back and felt like I was just hiking with an old friend (who happened to know a lot about the hike).

Did I mention the wildlife?! I was lucky enough to see bears ( from a safe distance), mountain goats, marmots, pikas, a hawk and a bald eagle. It was great! I simply could not stop gaping at the stunning snow covered Mt. Ranier! After the hike, Diann recommended a few other places for me to check out on my own before leaving the park.

I am so happy that I booked my tour with Discover Nature. Diann was the best! I look forward to booking with her again!
Written September 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Meri and wow! Thank you so much for your stellar review! It was such a pleasure to share the beauty of Mt. Rainier National Park with you on your private tour. I am soooo glad you were able to get an opportunity to explore the area and now know more about where to go next time. We certainly had an amazing day of discoveries! I will always remember your first "WOW" face! I am glad to know your tour made a difference in how you explored the Park. Keep on being amazed and I look forward to another opportunity to hike with you and share more of the Park in another season :) Safe and happy travels ~ Diann
Written October 12, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Brandye F
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021
This was our family's first trip to the Pacific Northwest. We are from Florida, so mountains are definitely not in our vocabulary! Diann planned the perfect day - while the hike was strenuous for us flat-landers, the views we were rewarded with were simply breathtaking. She was so incredibly patient with the less athletic of us (okay, it was me) and took great care of every detail. She gave us so much information about the plant life, animals and eco-system of the area. We wouldn't have gotten that from just setting off on our own. I highly recommend Diann/Discover Nature!!
Written August 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hey Brandy and family! Thank you so much for taking the time to write about your hiking adventure with me last summer. We certainly had a great weather day and you all did wonderfully well for "flat-landers"! :) We had lots of great laughs and moments of awe for sure :) Glad to know you saw more than you would have on your own as that is truly one of my goals! Keep on climbing and enjoying life!!!! ~ Diann
Written February 18, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Wander59433177533
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022 • Family
What a wonderful, memorable visit to Mt Ranier thanks to Dianne. Her cheerfulness, kindness, and love for the mountains were so contagious. Thanks to Dianne we were able to experience the mountain by snowshoes was such a unique adventure. We are so thankful for the time we spent with our guide
Written May 31, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you Wander59433177533 for taking the time to review your Mountain adventure! I am glad you caught the Mountain Love and wish you many more amazing adventures!! Thanks for sharing a snowshoe with me! I am so happy that the experience added to your ability to enjoy Mt. Rainier National Park more. I hope to see you all another season! happy travels ~ Diann
Written July 7, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Beebe59
17 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021 • Family
We had a great day hiking Mt Ranier. Diann did a great job of planning a trip that allowed us see and hike a variety of areas and environments. Additionally, she provided us knowledge about Mt Ranier that we would not have known without her. I recommend this company if you want to hike and learn about Mt Ranier.
Written June 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your review and sharing what you enjoyed about my day hiking tour at Mt. Rainier. It was really fun to meet all of you and share a variety of trails, even some with a good deal of snow! I appreciate your photos as well. Thank you for your recommendation and for sharing the day with me! happy and safe travels ~ Diann
Written August 5, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

tilleyfrontporch
Mooresville, NC36 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022 • Family
Diann was extremely accommodating to our family. Earlier in the week my hubby developed a knee issue which affected our original plans with Diann.

She immediately offered alternatives which were excellent. We started out doing a little snowshoeing that morning. Afterwards she took our 17 & 18 year old daughters to the Summerland trail. They loved it.

Diann seems easy going and extremely knowledgeable about the surrounding area and safety.

We will definitely be back and would love to use her services again.

Tilley Family
Written July 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Tilley Family :) What a delight to read your review of our time together at Mt. Rainier National Park! Sharing the Park with families is such a joy and the private tour helps with making adjustments for sure! I am glad you were all pleased with the different plan! The Mountain sure was glowing along with all your smiles!! Looking forward to another adventure with you as well! Happy and safe travels ~ Diann
Written July 7, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

David_Wilderness
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024
We had a great time hiking along Mt Rainier trails with Diann. She was polite, friendly, and knowledgeable. Well prepared, she brought along accessories such as snowshoes so we could enjoy hiking across the snow fields and binoculars so we could spot the wildlife. Views and vistas of the mountains were inspiring. Very pleased to recommend, David – Cambridge (UK)
Written September 10, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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