Tatoosh Peak Backpack

Activity Notes

This is a weekday overnight backpack to Tatoosh Peak near Packwood, Washington. Just below the summit of Tatoosh Peak on the north side is a nameless hanging lake with a small camping area on a knob overlooking the lake.  Because of the northern aspect, the lake is frozen until late in the summer when the flowers on the slope are in full bloom and the mosquitoes have completed their life cycle.  It's one of the prettiest locations I have ever visited, and I want to share it with you! We will approach via the Tatoosh trail #161(south trailhead) and will have an opportunity to scramble up Butter Peak enroute. There is the option of hiking out the other section of the trail to the north trailhead and using a car shuttle.  The views of Mt Rainier and surrounding mountains are splendid. Some of the local terrain is glacier scoured rock that provides fun exploratory scramble possibilities.  Trip will be app 13 miles and 4500 feet elevation gain.