Day Hike - Eunice Lake & Tolmie Peak Lookout

Trip Report

This was part of the Tacoma Branch Lookouts and High Places series of day hikes. Our goal was the weathered yet well-cared-for tower constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933, and one of only four remaining lookout towers in Mount Rainer National Park.

We carpooled from Bonney Lake and arrived at 7am on Saturday. We were able to park right next to Tolmie Peak Trailhead (our exit point). The road and parking areas between here and the campground were mostly full, but there were still quite a few empty spaces. Upon leaving at 12:45pm, the road became filled with cars all the way down to the hairpin turn. We also passed many cars still coming up, so this is obviously very popular on weekends.

The weather was beautiful all day. Not too hot and only a few mosquitoes. There was a bit of slight haze on upper Mount Rainier. I’ve been here before with clearer sky, but we still had a great view.

We walked along the road to Mowich Lake Campground, where we met another Mountaineers group getting ready to scramble Echo and Observation Rocks via Knapsack Pass. We began with a short detour to visit the Mowich Lake Patrol Cabin, where I talked about Wonderland Trail resupply and the Tacoma Branch Rainier Patroller award badge.

The Wonderland Trail meanders along the western shoreline of Mowich Lake. At 1.5 miles, we reached Ipsut Pass where we took a short break to see views of Gove Peak and distant Tirzah and Wallace Peaks.

We turned onto the Tolmie Peak Trail and climbed up to sapphire Eunice Lake, where we detoured slightly to explore the shoreline.

We then climbed along open, subalpine slopes to the lookout tower.

Some in the group felt a little more adventurous, so we followed the ridge out to Tolmie Peak (5920’ and a Rainier 100).

We enjoyed a longer lunch break at the lookout tower before heading back down.

5:17 c2c, 7.5 mi, 1831’ gain

Map