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Tatoosh Peak

Just south of Mount Rainier National Park is Tatoosh Peak, the southernmost peak in the Tatoosh Range. Tatoosh is within the Tatoosh Wilderness which is part of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Because its distance from other peaks in the range and with the access well outside the National Park, it is much less climbed than the other Tatoosh Range peaks. What Tatoosh offers is a nice trail hike up to a superb summit that once had a lookout tower. You can also access Tatoosh Lakes, likely a local fishing favorite.

Distance: 4.5 miles
Summit Elevation: 6,310 feet
Elevation Gain: 3,600 feet
Access: Gravel, rough if not graded recently

From Packwood on Hwy 12, drive 4 miles on the paved Skate Creek Road and turn right onto FS 5270, a gravel road. Continue 5.8 miles to a junction with 5270-990... stay to the right at the junction and drive another 1.5 miles to the trailhead on the right. Road can get rough at the end. For access from the trail near Packwood, once you cross over the Cowlitz, 1/2 mile from Packwood on the Skate Creek Road, turn right onto Cannon Rd. Continue upriver (the road becomes FR 5290 shortly) for 9mi. On arriving at an intersection, turn right and continue on 5290 for another 1.2mi to the trailhead near Hinkle Tinkle Creek.

Route

South Rainier Trails

Access

The Tatoosh Trail starts out in the trees climbing around 16 switchbacks, then traverses to a trail fork where you can pick the peak or the lakes. To the peak, the trail winds around several grassy basins below the summit, eventually reaching the ridgeline. Snowfields can last into July here. The trail than takes the ridge to the summit. In route, you can take a short side trip to a saddle 100 feet above the trail that gives a view of Tatoosh Lakes which are not visible from the summit.

Mount Rainier from Tatoosh Peak

Tatoosh Lake below with Cowlitz Chimney on the horizon

Tatoosh Peak trail with peak 6050 in distance

Trail traversing the basins below the summit

East side of Mount Rainier National Park & Mount Stevens in center

Looking south from the summit with Butter Peak at the end of the ridge and Mount Adams in the distance

Looking south to the Goat Rocks

Dropping from the summit directly down to the trail

Looking northwest

Former Lookouts

Lookout History

In 1930, Tatoosh started as a camp.
In 1931, in early August, the observer was Clarence Thompson who had to go home from the Tatoosh lookout when he hurt his knee.
In 1933, a lookout building was built, an L-4 cab.
In 1934, panoramic photos were taken from the lookout.
In 1946 the USGS placed a benchmark stamped TATOOSH three feet south of the lookout. Tatoosh Lookout became famous that year as well with Martha Hardy's book, "Tatoosh", published by Macmillan in 1946. It was about the day-to-day life as a firewatcher women. For some reason, the used book is super expensive to purchase.
In 1954, the lookout to be stationed at Tatoosh was from Hawaii, Gilbert Lee.
In 1966, the building was destroyed.

Rick Larson contributed several photos on this page from when his parents (Alfred & Rose Marie) served as lookouts in the 1940s.