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Alpinejo.tripod.com: Backcountry Trails Guide
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Washington Backcountry Trails

Snow still around the lake

 

"Rainier Lake"

Rainier Lake

Definition of terms below
Location: Mt Rainier National Park
Directions: Head out Hwy 410 towards Chinook Pass, turn right on FS 73, at Y in road stay left, continue for a while just before you cross over Huckleberry Creek there is a pullout on the left, this is where the trail starts. 
Difficulty: Strenuous
Elevation +/- 4500 ft elevation gain
Distance: 11 miles round trip
Rating: 10 out of 10
Fishing: Great, take a raft the lake is big enough
Scenery: Huckleberry Creek, plenty of dense underbrush

 

This lake does not have a name, I found it on the map and bushwhacked up to it.  I did not see anyone else on the trail this day. You need a backcountry permit to stay the night out here.

The trail meanders through the forest along Huckleberry Creek for a few miles. This is the easy part of the hike. 

To get to the turn off "point" you hike along Huckleberry Creek watching for a stream coming down on your left side, then follow the stream up to the lake. It is a brutal bushwhack through devils club, dense underbrush and a few very steep scrambles and one small waterfall climb.

Once at the lake you forget all about all your hard work getting there, it is absolutely beautiful. The grassy shoreline the big Sourdough Mountains all around.

I fished the lake for awhile and caught so many fish I could not believe it. I had to put the pole down and check out the ridge behind the lake. It was well worth the extra energy also, from atop the mountain ole' Mt Rainier was magnificent. Over the back side or the ridge I seen another lake it probably has a name, but I don't know it.

I did this as a day hike, not a suggested way to do it. If I go back it will be for the weekend.

Fishing-I don't think this place has been fished in quite a few years. There are some nice fish here. I practiced catch and release here because the fishing was so so good and I did not want to change that.

Do it again? Yes

Please Note: There is not a trail to this lake, it may be a dangerous adventure if you are not an experienced backcountry nut and/or don't have the correct equipment.



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