Hike around Mowich Lake
Details
Distance
2 miles
Elevation Gain
300 ft
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Added by Andy Merkel
A wonderful, yet somewhat quiet place in Mt. Rainier National Park!
No need to for an entire day hike to enjoy wonderful reflections, crystal clear water, and beautiful scenery a few hundred feet from the parking lot!
Park at the Mowich Lake Campground parking lot and follow signs for the Wonderland trail. You will begin your hike on the south side of the lake and follow it clockwise up until you start to ascend onto the Tolmie Peak Trail. This is approximately a 2 mile out and back trail from the main beach at the lake.
You will find many people swimming, hiking, posing for photos, and watching as the colors light up the surrounding mountains.
Mowich Lake Road is closed during the Winter, so plan accordingly!
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this area is beautiful and popular
very popular spot, especially since it is only open a fraction of the year. either get there very early or in late afternoon after others have started to leave or you will be parking far down the road and starting your hike much sooner than expected. the lake is fairly large(biggest in mt rainier) and is extremely clear(I think it has the record for secchi disk clarity in WA). swimming or paddleboarding can be a little eery since you can see so deep and view the huge logs that pile the bottom. There are some fish but no stocking and remains of crawdads are sometimes visible so maybe catch your lunch or dinner. If the campground is full there is camping at the Orv trailhead just outside the park boundary.
5.0
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Nearby Adventures
Hike to Tolmie Peak's Fire Lookout
Hike to Spray Park
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Hike to Rainier NP's Ranger Falls
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