Trip Report: Summit Lake, Mt. Rainier National Forest
When: 08/30/2017
Location: Summit Lake, Mt. Rainier National Forest
Conditions: Sunny and a refreshing 65-70
Duration: Three hours
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Kid Friendly: Yes
Pet Friendly: Yes
Useful links: www.wta.org
The Full Report:
We headed out around 10:00am from Tacoma, taking about an hour and 45 to the trailhead.
Note: it would take roughly 3 and a half hours from Portland.
The last 5 miles of the drive are on a very poorly maintained forest road but you can do it if you drive slowly in any car during the summer.
At the trailhead, you need a parking pass (I used my NW Forest service pass). The trail gains about 1300 feet of elevation so there are many switchbacks for the first few miles.
Mt. Rainer will peak through the trees here and there but the real views are after the lake.
Once you arrive at the lake you can choose to go left or right around. We went right, admiring all the awesome looking campsites for backpacking.
The trail becomes significantly steeper for the final climb to a viewpoint but it is so worth it, amazing views of Rainer!
We loved this hike and would 10/10 recommend it. Total it's about a 6-mile journey round trip and a perfect day hike.
The Full Report:
We headed out around 10:00am from Tacoma, taking about an hour and 45 to the trailhead.
Note: it would take roughly 3 and a half hours from Portland.
The last 5 miles of the drive are on a very poorly maintained forest road but you can do it if you drive slowly in any car during the summer.
At the trailhead, you need a parking pass (I used my NW Forest service pass). The trail gains about 1300 feet of elevation so there are many switchbacks for the first few miles.
Mt. Rainer will peak through the trees here and there but the real views are after the lake.
Once you arrive at the lake you can choose to go left or right around. We went right, admiring all the awesome looking campsites for backpacking.
The trail becomes significantly steeper for the final climb to a viewpoint but it is so worth it, amazing views of Rainer!
We loved this hike and would 10/10 recommend it. Total it's about a 6-mile journey round trip and a perfect day hike.