Tolmie Peak a Great Local Place to Hike This Time of Year

Tolmie Peak and Eunice Lake are two of the prettiest places to hike at Mount Rainier National Park.

For that reason it’s a good idea to get an early start as summer has finally arrived and hikers are taking advantage of every hour that
remains before fall sets in.

It’s a long drive to Mowich Lake where the hike begins but the road is fine for passenger cars. The hike starts at that lake (Wonderland
Trail) near the parking area. There are 2-3 short spurs that drop to the lake and those have signs.

Once you reach the emerald-green lake you’ll begin to run into wildflowers though the main flower displays lie ahead. Don’t be surprised to find odd mixes of flowers this year – spring flowers are still blooming and late-summer flowers are blooming as well due to
the late melting of snow (there were even a couple of snow patches near the trailhead but not enough to matter).

After contouring the lakeshore the trail climbs to a signed junction; here the Wonderland Trail goes to Ipsut Pass and drops down to Ipsut
Creek. That’s a long steep descent, and that’s not where you want to go if Tolmie Peak lookout is your goal. But it’s only a hop, skip and jump on The Wonderland to Ipsut Pass and worth the extra steps for a look down into that deep valley.

After skirting the cliffs (right) the trail begins to climb through a mostly forested stretch, and here you will begin to see avalanche lillies, bear grass, even glacier lillies. You’ll cross a few snow patches as Eunice Lake comes into view. Look up to the ridgeline above the lake and you’ll also get a view of the lookout (it’s not as far away as it
looks). As of mid-August there were still snow-fields above the lake but a path has been beaten in down to the lake as well as the main trail. By the time this article appears most – if not all of the snow – at the lake should be melted.

After skirting the lake the trail climbs through a forested patch then moves out into the open with views down to the sparkling lake and
Mount Rainier. In addition to views there are the flowers – phlox, shooting stars, avalanche lillies, lupine and bear grass.

The trail ducks back into the forest briefly before it reaches the lookout (about a mile hike from the lake); this is the ideal spot for lunch and a turnaround. At times the lookout is open but if not, you can walk around the perimeter and peer through the window to get an idea of what it’s like to be inside a lookout.

The true summit of Tolmie Peak is farther out along the ridge. Though you cansee the path from the lookout it is not recommended for
hikers, though some with mountaineering skills can follow it as far as they feel safe. It is not a place you want to fall!

Though we were in clouds most of the day we could look down to Eunice Lake and at times the clouds would part for views of Mount Rainier. As for those wildflowers, they are beautiful no matter the weather.

Statistics: The hike to Tolmie Peak lookout is 7.2 miles round trip with 1,400 feet of gain, including ups and downs. The map is Green Trails No. 269S Mount Rainier Wonderland.

To get there: From Wilkeson drive to the Mowich entrance of Mount Rainier National Park and continue to the end of the road, facilities, campground and trailhead parking. Park entry fee (or pass) required.