Rare Earth Adventures - Tours in the Pacific Northwest

From backpacking along the Pacific Crest Trail to climbing Mount St. Helens to snowshoeing by moonlight on Mount Hood, Rare Earth Adventures (REA) offers one-of-a-kind experiences in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

Plan Your Adventure

Rare Earth Adventures is a fully licensed, insured, and registered Oregon Guide Company that has been creating unique outdoor experiences in the Cascades and beyond since 2006.

We are permitted through the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service throughout the Pacific Northwest.

World Class Guides

Rare Earth Adventures (REA) guides provide the safety, knowledge and passion to give you a once in a lifetime experience. Our expert guides are compassionate outdoor professionals, certified in wilderness medicine to ensure your adventure is as safe as it is exciting.

Inspiring Journeys

Whether summiting Mt. Adams or backpacking along the iconic Pacific Crest Trail, REA takes you to the region’s most beautiful places. Our sought after permits allow access where few others can go. We have tours for all skill and experience levels and are also happy to plan a custom trip for you in any of our permit areas.

Essentials Included

Visiting from out of town? Checking experiences off your bucket list? REA provides the permits, planning, transportation, meals and professional equipment to make the most of your trip. If you have specific needs, we are happy to offer guidance and assistance.

Summer Excursions

Make the most of your summer with an exciting adventure in a breathtaking Pacific Northwest destination.

Pacific Crest Trail Backpacking
Hiking
Mountaineering

Rare Earth Adventures - Exploring the PNW

Women’s PCT Backpacking

Women’s Mount Adams Summit

PCT Backpacking

Mount St. Helens Day Summit

Mount Adams Summit

LGBTQ PCT Backpacking

Winter Excursions

Get off the beaten path and explore a Pacific Northwest winter wonderland.

Snowshoeing
Winter Backcountry Camping
Backcountry Skiing/Splitboarding

Tom, Dick and Harry Mountain Snowshoe

Mount St Helens Winter Camping

Moonlight Snowshoe Hike

Intro to Backcountry Ski & Splitboard

Intro to Alpine Skills

Crater Lake Winter Camping

FAQ

What will happen to my trip if the weather is bad?

Rare Earth Adventures strives to make every trip memorable. A factor we can not control is the weather. We can say some of our greatest and most memorable trips have been during “unfavorable” weather events. As much as we would like to have each trip conducted in optimal weather conditions it is unrealistic here in the Pacific Northwest. The only time we will cancel a trip for weather is if we deem weather or conditions unsafe, and this call will be made prior to the trip going out the door. Once a trip does go out, refer to our policy on a cancellation during a trip.

Can I leave bags/luggage in your office during my adventure?

Yes, you can leave any bags or luggage in our office for the duration of your trip.

Do you recommend getting travel insurance?

Yes, we highly recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect your trip cost. Rare Earth Adventures is not responsible for costs you may have put into your trip. This includes your flights and lodging. Travel insurance could protect you against unplanned emergencies that may disrupt your travel plans including illness, natural disasters such as wildfire, cancelled flights, or lost luggage.

When should I schedule my flight back home?

While exact return time largely depends on group pace, we highly recommend booking your flight back home the day after an adventure ends.

None of the dates offered work with my schedule. Can I request an alternate date?

Yes, we would love to work with you to create a customized trip for you and your group.

More About Us

See Adventures

Good Vibes from Adventurers

Wonderful experience

I just completed a 4-day hike of the PCT in Oregon with guides Kaylee and Nastia. I was apprehensive about this hike because I only started preparing a few months before the trip. Both Kaylee and Nastia were extremely encouraging, knowledgeable, and looked out for my safety. They both were also fun, interesting and a blast to get to know. I also really enjoyed hanging out with the other 9 women on the trip who ranged in age from 17 to 67 and were all from different parts of the US and from different walks of life. I highly recommend Rare Earth Adventures!

– Jessica Taylor

Encouraging and Supportive

The guides for our trip were so incredibly knowledgeable, not just about backpacking and general outdoors education, but about the forest, the trees, the plants, the animals, everything about the area we were hiking in. […] Rare Earth as an organization was great in preparing us for the experience, communicating effectively, and setting us up for success on our first backpacking experience. I couldn’t have asked for more and will definitely come back for another adventure!

– Shirley Blake

Amazing, Fun, and Knowledgeable

Just went on an awesome 4-day backpacking trip on the PCT with REA. REA was so helpful in the planning and preparing for the trip – everything from training hike suggestions to a packing list (and they had some gear to borrow if you didn’t have everything!). The guides on the trail were amazing, fun, and knowledgeable – especially Misha! I highly recommend REA for any short or long hiking, backpacking, or climbing trip you might be considering in their area!

– Shannon Moore

Feel More Confident Backpacking

This was a wonderful way to feel more confident backpacking. It was a lot of work and very rewarding. I had Alexis as my guide. She was helpful and full of information. Always watchful if you needed help, there to answer any questions (and we had a lot), connected with each of us. I was a single traveler. I felt very comfortable and included in all aspects of the trip. The portion of the PCT we did was spectacular.

– Outdoors Walker