The opening of Mowich Lake road, the most popular attraction at this entrance each summer, is a big deal. It's even bigger this year since the other 3 park entrances of Mount Rainier instituted timed entry reservation requirements, and the Carbon River entrance is wide open, no reservations required. The Carbon River entrance is just about one hour from Tacoma and an hour and twenty minutes from Seattle. While the Wilkeson-Carbonado area has many year round hiking areas, rivers, creeks and offroading places to explore, the road's annual summer opening is highly antricipated. It brings extra travelers Simple Goodness Soda Shop, which sits just down the road from the Carbon River entrance to Mount Rainier. At the Soda Shop, we love serving farm to glass drinks, ice cream sodas and fresh lunch and dinner to guests after a day (or a few, there is a campground!) exploring the mountain and hearing about their adventures, from peaceful blackbear sightings at dusk in Spray Park to paddle boarding on Mowich Lake.

When we visit with our own families we love the Carbon River entrance to Rainier because it is far less crowded and there is no lodge or parking lots, just a lot of nature to explore. Mowich Lake is located in the northwest corner of the park and is reached via the scenic Carbon Glacier highway, State Route 165. The road to the lake is unpaved after the first three miles and gets rough. It’s rugged and while Belinda hates the deep divots and pot holes on the steep unpaved road to Mowich Lake, the crystal clear water, wildflowers, and cooler summer temperature (often ten degrees less than down below) are worth the adventurous drive. Potholes or not, where else can you drive right up to a wilderness view like this?

To have this kind of access to a mountain vista without a hike required is rare and makes Mowich Lake a great day trip for anyone with accessibility issues.

Plan your trip:

It will take you about 45-60 minutes to reach the lake from the Simple Goodness Soda Shop in Wilkeson. Wilkeson is the last town, and while it does not have a gas station, it does have free public parking, shops and restaurants, playgrounds, and the Wilkeson Bacon & Eggs skatepark, making it a great stop to get the wiggles out on a daytrip from Tacoma or Seattle. There is a public restroom at the Wilkeson Town Hall parking lot, and two restaurants including our own, the Simple Goodness Soda Shop. We have free wifi as well, if you need to study a trailhead location on your phone, or pick up one of the official printed Mt Rainier maps while ordering a latte.

Visit the Simple Goodness Soda Shop:

Here, you can grab a coffee, homemade soda with our handcrafted syrups, or a picnic lunch for fuel on your way up. After a hike or a swim, return for a hearty dinner and drinks to celebrate your day of adventure and maybe catch one of our live music events. Our restaurant is family friendly with games and toys for kids, a kids menu and seating area, and ice cream treats. See our upcoming events to plan your trip!

When to Come:

Mowich Lake Road is open to vehicles during the summer only, typically from mid-July to mid-October. It opens July 12th for 2024. During the winter, hikers and snowshoers can still use the road but there is a gate blocking vehicles.

What to do:

Set in a glacial basin surrounded by fragile wildflower meadows, Mowich Lake is the largest and deepest lake in Mount Rainier National Park. If you have one, bring a paddleboard. We set up a picnic and wade in the water. Mowich Lake is one of the few lakes in the park where visitors can enjoy non-motorized boating. The lake is also open to fishing. The Mowich Lake Campground is a rustic wilderness campground located near the parking area. The subalpine meadows surrounding the lake are very sensitive to disturbance, so please, don’t be a jerk- please stay on the trails at all times. Keep an eye out for Cascade frogs, birds, and other wildlife.

Hiking

Our favorite hike is off the southeast side of the Mowich Lake campground, and one we can do with our kids for a quick out and back. We take the Spray Park Trail just as far as Eagle’s Viewpoint to see a gorgeous view of the Mountain and hike over some log bridges and past wildflowers and streams on the way. Then we return for a swim at the lake, but if you continue, just 1.9 miles in is Eagle’s Roost Camp, with a few backcountry campsites to pitch a tent for a night under the stars.

If you continue, the Spray Park Trail (6 miles roundtrip) leads east for two miles to a spur trail junction to view Spray Falls. The trail then climbs a series of switchbacks to the first meadows of Spray Park. Eventually the Spray Park trail connects to the Wonderland Trail near the Carbon River Glacier.

Tolmie Peak Trail (6.5 miles roundtrip) climbs to one of the park's four historic fire lookouts. The trail begins on the north side of Mowich Lake.

The Wonderland Trail also passes by Mowich Lake. To the north, the trail descends Ipsut Pass to Carbon River. To the south, the trail connects to the Paul Peak trail and continues towards Golden Lakes.

Trail info courtesy of the National Park Service.