Located at the northwestern corner of Mt.
Rainier National Park, this easy trail traverses on a paved road for the first 3.
2 miles while the rest of the trail is on a well-maintained gravel path.
The road is better accessed during the months of July to October.
The round-trip is on a 21 mile stretch and can be done within an hour but can take longer if you visit the most scenic part of this trip at the lake and some hiking trails along the trail.
The brochure for this trail will suffice as your map.
Moreover for information about the weather and road condition on this trip, you may check it from a ranger stationed at the lake in the Mt.
Rainier National Park.
The best features on this trip are at the 4,929 foot Mt.
Rainier where a grand view of the 123-acre lake provides a scene of glacier topped high ridges and greenwood forests.
The lake was named after a Native American term for deer or animal.
On this lake, motor boats are not allowed in order to maintain a serene and peaceful atmosphere.
The rest stops are at the campground nearby the lake and the picnic areas by the lake and at the park's fee station just a few yards from the entrance.
Getting to the trailhead from Buckley, make your way to SR 165.
Move past Carbonado for about 3.
5 miles on the road and then the highway branches.
The left road takes you to the park's entrance at the Carbon River wherein the road switches into Carbon River Road.
On the other hand, the right branch on SR 165 leads you straight ahead onto the Mowich Lake where you pay a fee at the parking area.
This is where your trailhead stands.
Just right where a fee station a few meters from the park's entrance is situated.
The road toward the Mowich Lake passes through a scenic landscape of valleys where the Carbon River flows on its side.
The road also passes the Voight Creek before approaching a clear-cut mountain section.
From the junction with the Carbon River Road, the pavement ends around 3.
2 miles.
From the entrance the fee station is 0.
7 miles forward.
Within the protected national park, the place can be busy with visitors due to the several access points for hiking trails near the area.
Some popular hiking trails nearby is the 5,939-foot Tolmie Peak Lookout.