Volcanoes Scenic Flight Tour with Kenmore Air

There are landscapes that move you, and then there are landscapes that reshape the very definition of awe. The Pacific Northwest is home to the latter—wild and raw places where fire, ice, and time have sculpted a topography so dramatic, it feels almost mythological. Nowhere is this more evident than in the glacier-laced crown of Mt. Rainier and the scarred bowl of Mt. St. Helens. And while trails and overlooks offer a taste, there’s only one way to take it all in: from the sky.

Kenmore Air’s Volcanoes Scenic Flight Tour is a two-hour aerial expedition over some of the most breathtaking and geologically significant peaks in North America. Departing from Boeing Field just south of downtown Seattle, this high-altitude experience delivers something few adventures can promise: a front-row seat to the epic scale of nature’s power seen from above.

Flying Eye-to-Eye with Mt. Rainier

You’ll begin your journey at Kenmore Air’s private terminal—a boutique alternative to the hustle of Sea-Tac (from which a shuttle transport option is offered). After a safety briefing and pilot meet-and-greet, you’ll board a high-performance Cessna Caravan aircraft —known for their smooth ride and panoramic windows for maximum sightseeing.

Then, the magic begins.

Moments after liftoff, Seattle shrinks beneath you—Elliott Bay glinting under the sun, ferries tracing lines across Puget Sound, and the Space Needle just a toy on the skyline. You’ll bank south and head for the lush quilt of the Cascade foothills. As the city fades, the wilderness takes over. The horizon opens, and there she is: Mt. Rainier, standing alone like a frozen sentinel at 14,410 feet.

Rainier isn’t just a mountain—it’s a force. A stratovolcano cloaked in glaciers, wrapped in stories, and revered by climbers around the world. Each year, nearly 10,000 climbers attempt to summit the peak, most via the Disappointment Cleaver or Emmons Glacier routes. From the air, you see the full expanse of this legendary giant—its crevasses and cornices, lava ridges and ancient ice fields—far beyond what’s visible from the ground.

And like any living mountain, Rainier transforms with the seasons. In spring, snowfields stretch across her flanks like silk, pierced by dark volcanic ridgelines. In summer, deep blue crevasses open in the glaciers, and rocky shoulders emerge near the summit. Autumn dusts her crown in gold as surrounding forests shift color, while winter returns her to her full snow-globe splendor—imposing, silent, and surreal.

From a plane, you get a sense of the sheer scale of Rainier, not just the summit, but the surrounding valleys, the flow of the glaciers, the shadow the mountain casts.

The Resilient Beauty of Mt. St. Helens

About 50 miles south, the story shifts dramatically. If Rainier is the Pacific Northwest’s queen, Mt. St. Helens is its wild younger sister—a volcano that famously blew its top in 1980, forever altering the region and its people. Flying toward it, the landscape tells the tale. Forest becomes wasteland. Ridges fold inward. Then, the caldera comes into view: a massive open crater, like the earth itself has inhaled.

The plane dips lower here, circling slowly. From this vantage point, you can see into the heart of destruction—and rebirth. Steam occasionally curls from vents, and the dome inside the crater continues to grow, a reminder that the mountain sleeps, but it is not dead.

Climbers now ascend the rim of St. Helens year-round, a stark but rewarding summit that offers sweeping views of the blast zone, the Cascade Range, and on clear days, even Rainier herself in the distance. The mountain’s appearance changes drastically with the seasons—snow often fills the crater in winter, giving it a smooth, ghostly veneer. In summer, wind-scoured slopes reveal the crater’s jagged interior, and new vegetation becomes visible along the edges of the pumice plain, where life is slowly reclaiming the land.

On a clear day, you might also spot Spirit Lake—its surface still dotted with the ghostly trunks of trees flattened by the blast more than 40 years ago. It’s a sobering, beautiful sight. A juxtaposition of raw geology and the tenacity of life, creeping back into a scarred world.

Bucket List Worthy Seattle Tour

What makes Kenmore Air’s Volcanoes Tour so unforgettable isn’t just the destinations, it’s the way you get there. With an itinerary shaped by the weather and personalized by your pilot, no two flights are exactly the same. Every seat is a window seat, and every minute is filled with wonder.

Kenmore Air limits passenger capacity on these tours to ensure both comfort and unobstructed views. That exclusivity, combined with the chance to ask questions before and after the flight gives the experience the intimacy of a private charter.

For locals, it’s a chance to see their home from a new angle, to gain a deeper appreciation for the land beneath their feet. For visitors, it’s the ultimate introduction to the Pacific Northwest—a vertical story told through snowcaps and lava fields, crater lakes and glacial tongues.

Best of all, it’s accessible year-round. While each season offers its own palette—spring’s meltwater cascades, summer’s alpine clarity, autumn’s golden fire, winter’s snowbound drama—the flight remains stunning in any weather. Even cloud-filtered light adds a moody, cinematic atmosphere unique to the Pacific Northwest.

A Timeless Enriching Experience

There’s something timeless about watching mountains from the sky. Something elemental. It strips you of pretense. It rewires scale. For a brief two hours, you are part of the sky’s great hush—witness to eons of geologic drama, all unfolding below your wings.

Kenmore Air’s Volcanoes Scenic Flight Tour doesn’t just show you the Pacific Northwest. It immerses you in it. It offers what so many travel experiences strive for: perspective, beauty, and a deep sense of place.

If you’ve ever stared up at Mt. Rainier from a Seattle street corner and wondered what it looks like up close—really up close—this flight is your answer. If you’ve marveled at the power of Mt. St. Helens’ eruption and wanted to understand its legacy, this flight is your classroom. And if you’re simply looking for something unforgettable to do in the Pacific Northwest—something to remind you why we live here, or why you came—this flight is your moment.

Up there, it’s just you, the mountains, and serene PNW beauty. And it’s perfect.

Pro Tips for First-Time Flyers

Book Early: While weather dependent, flights can sell out during peak summer weekends. Advance reservations are strongly recommended.

Dress Smart: While the cabin is climate-controlled, layers are always wise. Polarized sunglasses also help cut glare for better photos.

Bring Your Camera (or Don’t): The views are spectacular, but don’t get lost behind a lens. Snap a few shots, then let yourself just… observe.

Ask Questions: The pilots are not only top-notch skilled aviators—they’re also expert guides, happy to share facts, history, and personal stories about the mountains you’ll see before or after the flight.

How to Book

The Volcanoes Scenic Flight Tour departs from Kenmore Air’s Boeing Field Terminal, just 15 minutes from downtown Seattle. Free parking is available on-site, and pre-flight check-in is seamless.

To reserve your seat or gift this experience to someone else (trust us: it makes a very good gift), book online or call 866-435-9524.