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Tolmie Peak Trail

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One of the best tourist hikes in Mount Rainier National Park is the hike to Tolmie Peak from Mowich Lake. The elevation gain is pretty tame for a mountain that affords dramatic views from Mount Rainier in one direction to Seattle/Tacoma in the other. Everyone will love to inspect the lookout on the summit, one of four left in the park. The trail also passes Eunice Lake, a pretty alpine lake perfect for pictures and swimming.
Mt. Rainier Hikes
Distance: 2.5 miles one-way
Summit Elevation: 5,940 feet
Elevation Gain: 1,000 feet
Access: Gravel Road (any vehicle slowly)
Tolmie Peak Lookout History
My 1991 visit to Tolmie Peak
Access:
Route:
Use a map to get you to Route 165 and pass through Carbonado. Soon you cross over the Carbonado Bridge and just beyond is a Y intersection. Go uphill right onto the Mowich Lake Road. Follow for 11 miles to the Mount Rainier National Park Entrance. Another 6 miles gets you to Mowich Lake. Any car can get to Mowich Lake but the dirt road is long and sometimes bumpy.
Look for the trail just before the parking area that stays west of the lakeshore. This is part of the Wonderland Trail so it is well marked. The trail meanders through forests up to near Ipsut Pass. The Wonderland Trail turns right going a short bit up to Ipsut Pass before the long drop down to the Carbon River Valley. Continue on the Tolmie Peak Trail (dropping a bit to get under some cliffs) before the final climb up to Eunice Lake. From the lake, views start and it is a nice meadow walk around the lake climbing up to the summit of Tolmie Peak.
Florance Peak Eunice Lake Eunice Lake Eunice Lake Eunice Lake Mt. St. Helens Trail Tolmie Peak Mount Rainier tolmie peak view Rainier view Tolmie Peak map Old Baldy Tolmie Peak ridge Tolmie Peak trail Trailhead fire lookout
Tolmie Peak Trailhead
Trail along Mowich Lake
Eunice Lake
Eunice Lake and Mount Rainier
Arriving at the fire lookout
Tolmie Peak trail
Eunice Lake
Eunice Lake
Eunice Lake
Trail and first view to the west on the ridge
Looking south toward a distant Mt. St. Helens
Rainier view from the lookout
Mount Rainier
The true summit of Tolmie Peak is another 10 minute easy scramble from the fire lookout
From the lookout toward Old Baldy Mountain
View Southwest
Tolmie Peak Lookout from the true summit
From Tolmie Peak looking at Howard Peak, Alki Crest to Florance Peak
There are two trailheads at the lake that will get you to Tolmie Peak