Packwood Lake

Trip

Day Hike - Packwood Lake

Experience one of the most popular hikes in the Goat Rocks Wilderness, hiking through a forest canopy to a magnificent lake with views of Mt. Rainier enroute. If the weather permits, time will be allowed to swim in the lake during our lunch break there.

  • Moderate
  • Moderate
  • Mileage: 8.0 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 1,500 ft
  • High Point Elevation: 3,200 ft
  • Pace: 2.0 mph

Meet at 9 AM at the Mountain Goat Coffee Shop, 105 Main St., E, Packwood, located on SR 12 near the center of town.  For most people, the fastest driving route will be through Enumclaw on SR 410, right at Cayuse Pass onto SR 123, right onto SR 12 at the T junction and left at Main Street in Packwood.  For those driving from the Olympia area, the fastest driving route will be south on I-5, east on SR 12 and right at Main St in Packwood.

Restrooms and breakfast food are available at the Mountain Goat Coffee Shop.  If you want to eat there, arrive early.  We will caravan from there the short distance  to the trailhead parking lot, where there is ample parking space.  A restroom is located there.  The hike to Packwood Lake is on a good trail almost entirely under the cover of an evergreen forest and gains 1200 feet before gradually dropping 300 feet to the lake.  There is an outhouse near the north end of the lake, where the trail arrives and where we will have our lunch and a swim, if the weather permits.

We'll hike out on the same route we hiked in on, so it will involve a 300 feet gain in the beginning.  After the hike we'll have an optional refreshment stop in Packwood before heading home. 

Route/Place

Packwood Lake


Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

The Ten Essentials

  1. Navigation
  2. Sun protection
  3. Insulation (extra clothing)
  4. Illumination
  5. First aid supplies
  6. Fire
  7. Repair kit and tools, including knife
  8. Nutrition (extra food)
  9. Hydration (extra water)
  10. Emergency shelter
Trip Reports