Packwood Lake

June 22, 2016

I found myself in the position of needing to take some unplanned vacation days, thus scheduled a few mid-week days off in upcoming weeks. I was faced with a choice of catching up on house and yardwork, or hiking ... suffice it to say it took me a nanosecond to decide - I would be answering the call of the trail. My first mid-week hike found me driving southeast to the sleepy little town of Packwood, Washington. I would like to interject here that if you are not a Verizon customer, you will have no cell phone service. This posed a wee problem, as I needed to access directions to the trail. I am usually better prepared, but my previous download of trail info had failed and I was at a loss. If you ever find yourself in Packwood, please stop at Blanton's Market and throw a little business their way. Their employees are some of the friendliest folks you will ever meet - my checker gave me directions, current road/trail conditions, and advised an alternate route to the lake that would give me good views along the way. They also provide free maps of the area.

Once I was on my way, I found myself on one of the nicest forest roads I think my poor Mustang has ever travelled down. The parking area was large, giving hint to how popular this trail likely is on weekends. Even mid-week there were a half dozen cars in the lot. Zillah and I relieved ourselves in our respective toilets (Zillah pees on bushes, I tend to prefer outhouses), then followed the advised route out of the parking lot to the livestock/motorized vehicle trailhead. The trail here followed an old roadbed thus was wide, well maintained, and reported to have easier gain. 

Greenery along the Packwood Lake trail



The scenery on the lower trail was gorgeous. Zillah and I walked through greenery of every shade and hue. There were small waterfalls along the way, which likely dwindle and dry to nothingness later in the season but flowed freely for us. There were peek-a-boo views of Mount Rainier and some of the other local peaks. Off in the distance we could hear the running water of a creek. We encountered four other hikers along the way, one with a young dog in training, otherwise had the trail entirely to ourselves. It was bliss.



Cable car suspended over the creek



Before long the trail carried us closer to the stream that had been talking to us along the way. Zillah waded in it, drinking and splashing in the coolness of its water. She can be so silly and puppy-like! As we walked along the creek, we encountered a suspended wooden cable car, which is used to transport supplies and equipment across waterways via a pulley system. Just a short way past that, we came to a small dam, which warranted some closer investigation.

The outlet from the lake was the most spectacular shade of turquoise green. A wooden bridge crosses where it exits the lake, making for a beautiful image. As beautiful as this sight was, it didn't prepare me for what lay beyond. We walked around the corner and over a small rise and ... Wow. Just wow.

Packwood Lake



I stood there, immersed in wonderment and awe at the landscape before me. Packwood Lake was an indescribable shade of green. There is an island in the center that is bursting with evergreens. Snow-topped Snyder Mountain rises behind, offering itself as a majestic backdrop to the grand image.

After eating our lunch on the shores of the lake, Zillah and I explored the area. The wooden bridge I had seen earlier, crosses the outlet and connects hikers with the trail to Lost Lake - an adventure to be had another day. There is a circa 1910 Ranger station there that is in the restoration process. I was saddened to see someone had broken out a few of the windows and had pried locks in an attempt to break in. I don't know what's wrong with youth today, but their lack of respect angers me.

 

The mosquitos had turned out in force, so I sprayed myself with the last of my DEET in an effort to stall their attacks. Zillah was busy chasing a chipmunk that had the wherewithal to actually run across her tail. A gentleman rode past with his horses, reminding me that this is a true multi-use trail. Although I was enjoying the solitude, it was nice knowing we weren't the only ones out there. I donned my pack, whistled for Zillah, and headed up the upper trail.

Any elevation on the trail to Packwood Lake will be found on the upper trail. We started out climbing up and away from the lake, and headed into the Goat Rocks Wilderness; an area I can't recall having ever hiked before. The trail here totally differed from that of the lower trail. It was rockier and not as lushly green as its lower counterpart. The mosquitos were thick and only slightly deterred by my repellent. The air felt drier. As we hiked, the forest grew thick enough that it blocked the light, casting the understory into near darkness. Only filtered rays made it through, giving the trail the feel of enchantment. Few birds chirped high above us and, somewhere off in the distance, we could faintly hear frogs. On the lower trail our faces had been kissed with a gentle breeze; up here the air didn't move. It was an odd contrast.

We made it back to the parking lot, now all but empty. I poured Zillah some water before we climbed into the Mustang, shutting the doors and putting her into drive. I don't solo hike often. I was so happy to have chosen such a nice trail to venture out on alone, just Zillah and I. With the minimal elevation of the trail, it was exactly the break my body needed - I have been pushing myself pretty hard lately. It was a wonderful way to spend a vacation day, and I look forward to returning to explore the area further.

Hike 30 of 52.

Distance: 10 miles
Elevation gain: 600'
Max elevation achieved: 3200 ft.