Two World Hikers

“You’re off to great places, today is your day. Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way.” – Dr. Seuss

Tolmie Peak Lookout hike is unforgettable! Mount Rainier towers 14,411ft above and Eunice Lake sparkles directly below! The trail is tucked in the northwest corner of Mt. Rainier National Park. This epic hike journeys through evergreen forest, subalpine lakes, meadows, and ends at a historic fire lookout tower. If you are looking for a less crowded hike with spectacular vistas, read on to learn more about this top-rated Washington State day hike!

What to Expect:

Total Distance: 6.6 miles round trip

Difficulty: Moderate

Elevation gain: 1,010ft

Time: 3-4 hours

Route type: out-and-back

Availability: best to visit June-September

Cost: Mt. Rainier National Park Pass (buy via recreation.gov), America the Beautiful Pass, or self-pay station

Views of Mt. Rainier and Eunice Lake

Getting there:

From Buckley WA, take SR-165 to Mowich Lake Rd. The drive is about 17 miles along this dusty and bumpy gravel road until it ends at Mowich Lake Campground. Tolmie Peak trailhead is located at Mowich Campground to the left of the lake. The parking lot at the campground has about 50 spots. We recommend you arrive early and/or plan to camp. If the lot is full, parking is available along the road.

Description:

Tolmie Peak trail begins at the north side of Mowich Lake

Mowich Lake peeking out from behind cedar and fir trees

Enjoy the level and shady first mile

From Mowich Campground, follow the signs for Eunice Lake and Tolmie Peak. The first section of the trail is well-wooded with Mowich Lake peeking out from behind the trees. The trail is relatively level for the first mile (enjoy it while it lasts!).

After about a mile, the trail has some switchbacks and becomes hillier. Beautiful old-growth cedar and fir trees conveniently shade the first two miles of the trail.

Eunice Lake

Fire lookout spotted from Eunice Lake, get ready to hike up to there!

At nearly 2 miles, you will reach Eunice Lake. Take some time to enjoy this crystal-clear lake with gorgeous surrounding mountains. From Eunice Lake, you can spot the fire lookout atop the ridgeline. Get ready to hike up that hill!

Sneak preview of Mt. Rainier and Eunice Lake on the ridgeline leading to the summit

The final mile to the fire lookout is a steep climb. While the switchbacks are challenging and in direct sunlight, the vistas of Mt. Rainier and Eunice Lake make the uphill trek well-worth the effort!

Overlook of the Carbon River Valley

Just before reaching the fire lookout, there is a great overlook of the Carbon River Valley to the northside of trail. So gorgeous!

Tolmie Peak fire lookout tower

We made it! Tolmie Peak!

Once at the Tolmie Peak fire lookout tower, the in-your-face views of Mt. Rainier are incredible! Eunice Lake glistens below and the Olympic Mountains linger in the distance. We spent a good amount of time enjoying the spectacular scenery! Don’t forget to take a peak inside of the historic fire lookout. Note: overnight stays are not allowed at the fire lookout and backcountry camping is not permitted along this trail.

Selfie at the peak!

The views at Tolmie Peak are unbeatable!

Accommodation recommendation:

A best kept secret: Mowich Lake Campground has free parking and tent camping for day hikers (shhh…don’t tell anyone!). There are no additional fees outside of the national park passes already needed for accessing the trails. The majority of campers were backpackers trekking along the famous Wonderland Trail which is 93 miles and encircles Mt. Rainier (major bucket list item for me!). Mowich Lake is the largest and deepest lake inside Mt. Rainier National Park. Non-motorized water activities are allowed such as paddle boards and floaties. We camped here in mid-August and couldn’t have asked for better weather! It was so relaxing jumping in and out of the crystal-clear water to cool off, laying in the sun, and paddling on floaties with stunning views of Mt. Rainier from across the lake!

Mowich Lake Campground

Mowich Lake

Our campsite next to Spray Park trailhead

Final thoughts:

Mowich Lake Campground is so nice and relaxing surrounded by trees and mountains! It is conveniently located by several day hikes. We had time for Tolmie Peak and Spray Park trail during a long weekend get-away. I definitely plan to visit this mountain paradise again!

To learn more about the Tolmie Peak trail, check out this link to Washington Trails Association.

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