Tolmie Peak Lookout
Sunset hikes + wildflowers + mountain views = the perfect way to start the month of August. I know I’m not alone when I say that summer has gone by quickly and it feels like everyone is busier than ever. With more people vaccinated (yay!) and resurrecting their long-awaited travel plans, it’s been hard to find time to be in the mountains as much as I’d like. Layered on top of that is, as a Washingtonian, summers often feel shorter because the weather is so variable in June and September. But enough griping about time flying and weather we can’t control - where I’m going with this is that I felt like I was truly absorbed in a perfect summer day when I hiked up to the Tolmie Peak Lookout with 2 friends on the first day of August. I’m obsessed with historic fire lookouts and I was thrilled to check a new one off my list!
about the hike:
Tolmie Peak Lookout is located in the Northwest corner of Mount Rainier National Park, known as the Carbon River area of the park. Pets are not allowed and the lookout is not available for overnight use. I’d rate this trail as moderate, clocking in at 7.5 miles roundtrip and 1,100 ft of vertical gain. From the Mowich Lake Campground parking lot, you’ll start off on a gently graded and well-maintained trail through the forest canopy. Wildflowers and rock columns will greet you as you make your way to Eunice Lake. From Eunice, you’ll spot the Tolmie Peak Lookout on the hillside. Just shy of a mile left to go and a bit more climbing, you’ll be awarded with 360 degree views of Mount Rainier, Eunice Lake and surrounding peaks. You’ll also be surrounded by a million mosquitoes on the hike, but don’t let that damper your experience! The views are completely worth the bites in my opinion.
about the journey:
My friends and I set out to do this hike for sunset, beginning the hike around 6pm. We stopped many times to take photos, especially at Eunice Lake where the meadows were in their prime!! I was not expecting to see this volume of wildflowers, and combined with the evening light - agh, it was a photographer’s paradise. As we began to climb up to the lookout, we started to gain better views of Mount Rainier as golden hour lit up the sky. We reached the lookout around 8pm and settled in, eating dinner, meeting fellow hikers and soaking in the beauty of the Mountain before us. After the sun officially set, we switched on our headlamps and hiked the 3.5 miles back to the car. It was a long ride home but made easy with sharing stories, snacks and living off the high of the experience!
know before you go:
I highly recommend this trail at sunrise or sunset when crowds are fewer and you’ll have better lighting for photos. As always, please leave no trace and stay on trail. The meadows are beautiful, and also extremely fragile. And if you’re looking for more hikes to do in Mount Rainier National Park, check out my Mount Rainier Travel Guide!
Thanks for reading and drop any questions you have in the comment box below!
