Information about this hike provided in partnership with Mountaineers Books.
Copyright © Dan A. Nelson/The Mountaineers Books

Deer Creek to Tipsoo Lake

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Featured In: Day Hiking: Mount Rainier National Park Trails, by Dan A. Nelson and Alan L. Bauer.
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You start low, strolling up a deeply forested river valley, but end up in broad meadows with stellar views of Mount Rainier. The trail gets very little hiking pressure, so you're almost certain to have the route to yourself. The trail parallels the highway, but most of the way, the road is well out of both sight and hearing of the trail. Look for weasels and martens along the river--as well as dippers and other water-loving birds.

Descend the Deer Creek Trail, passing the Deer Creek Falls at 0.25 mile, before reaching the Eastside Trail at Deer Creek Camp. Cross Chinook Creek on a footbridge and turn right onto the Eastside Trail; the left-hand trail goes up Kotsuck Creek as it heads up the Chinook Creek valley.

The trail stays close to the creek for the first 0.5 mile past the camp before climbing the valley wall to ascend the valley well above the creek itself. At 3.3 miles, the trail approaches the head of the Chinook Creek valley and climbs out onto the Cayuse Pass Highway-State Route 123. Cross the road and immediately rejoin the trail on the north side of the road.

From here, the trail continues to climb as it swings east around the upper reaches of the headwall of the valley. The trail skirts around a loop of the Chinook Pass Highway-SR 410 before slicing up through heather meadows to the flank of Naches Peak. Here, you can cross SR 410 to rest and relax at Tipsoo Lake. You find grand flower meadows with stunning views of Rainier around the shores of the roadside lake. Return the way you came or, if you have two vehicles, set up a vehicle shuttle to this upper trailhead.

Driving Directions:

From Enumclaw, drive east about 47 miles on State Route 410 to the junction with SR 123. Stay right (straight ahead) to merge onto SR 123-Cayuse Pass Highway. Find the trailhead on the right about 4.5 miles farther south. Note: SR 123 was severely damaged by the November 2006 floods. Although the road has been reopened, call to check on road conditions.