Information about this hike provided in partnership with
Mountaineers Books.
Copyright © Dan A. Nelson/The Mountaineers Books Packwood Lake
Sometimes, even the most gung-ho hiker needs a break-just a gentle walk through the woods, followed by a leisurely swim and a relaxing afternoon alongside a cool lake. Packwood Lake is the perfect place to practice this laid-back trail lifestyle, especially late in the spring and early in the autumn when the hordes of summer hikers have gone home, freeing up the lake's popular campsites and excellent fishing opportunities.
The Packwood Lake Trail (No. 78) weaves through old second-growth forests for 4 miles along a deep river valley, with views limited to the trees around you. As the trail nears this broad, low-elevation lake, you'll find peek-a-boo views up the valley to the jagged crest of Goat Rocks. At 4.6 miles, the trail reaches an old ranger station at the west end of the lake (2900 feet). A wide wooden bridge crosses the outlet stream. You'll pass the campground just after crossing the bridge. The trail continues around the end of the lake and leads east along the north side of the mile-long lake. Many campsites can be found along the lake, with great views up onto the Goat Rocks peaks.
Driving Directions:
From Packwood, follow U.S. Highway 12 to the east end of town and turn south-east onto Forest Road 1262 (next to the former USFS Packwood Ranger Sta-tion). Continue southeast on FR 1262 for 6 miles to the trailhead parking lot. Recent Trip Reports
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Day hike
Issues:
Blowdowns | Mud/Rockslide
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Road and parking lot clear. very few patches of ice on the trail, some small blowdown and 2 large tr...
Road and parking lot clear. very few patches of ice on the trail, some small blowdown and 2 large trees on the trail, 1 small rock slide. not passable for horses. The Lake shore is free of snow, water level is pretty low for this time of the year. 3 otters playing in the outlet by the dam. great day hike for early season. 9 miles round trip.
Packwood Lake
— May 15, 2009
— Devin119
Multi-night backpack
Features:
Wildflowers blooming
Issues:
Mudholes | Water on trail | Snow on trail
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Headed out to Packwood lake Friday afternoon for a weekend trip with my dog. Road to the parking lot...
Headed out to Packwood lake Friday afternoon for a weekend trip with my dog. Road to the parking lot is perfect. Beautiful the entire weekend, almost no clouds and 70's! The hike in was superb, great views of the valley and the mountain. Took the lower trail to the lake. About a third of the way in there was snow, but it was avoidable. 2/3 of the way in you have to hike through it, but it isn't bad. I sank, but not deep. The lake is gorgeous as always. Only a couple other groups made the trek that I saw all weekend. The hike out was just as awesome as the hike in, and the snow is melting fast.
Day hike
Issues:
Bugs
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The hike in to Packwood Lake is as easy a four miles as you'll find anywhere, and at the lake the tr...
The hike in to Packwood Lake is as easy a four miles as you'll find anywhere, and at the lake the trail continues flat all the way round to the inlet. Upper Lake Creek is also remarkably flat and goes on like that for miles, but once it finally starts heading up it gets mercilessly steep, but that's elevation for you. There are no camps at all past the lake until just below Packwood Saddle, a nice spot by a babbling stream, and another right at the saddle. Either would make an excellent base camp for exploring south into the high country of the Goat Rocks.
Packwood Lake #78
— Jul 12, 2008
— Bev
Day hike
Issues:
Bugs
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Well, for the first time in 30 years, we had a mess of mosquitoes at Packwood Lake and the trail goi...
Well, for the first time in 30 years, we had a mess of mosquitoes at Packwood Lake and the trail going in to the lake. The mosquitoes were horrible to say the least. Packwood Lake was and is still beautiful with Johnston Peak out in all it's glory. Lots of people camping at the lake, but very quiet the whole weekend. We used the pipeline road going and coming instead of the trail, thought it would be better and faster going out away from the mosquitoes. Once you get past the repair section on the pipeline road (going towards the trailhead) the mosquito situation is better. Day hike
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I hiked into Packwood Lake on Saturday afternoon. The trail is snow free and passes as a super freew...
I hiked into Packwood Lake on Saturday afternoon. The trail is snow free and passes as a super freeway for hikers. It is in excellent shape. I set up camp and then proceeded up as far as Mosquito lake on the #78. A few downed trees but nothing serious. No snow until right at Mosquito Lake near the junction at Three Peaks. Another couple said that they made it to near Lost Lake and the snow was pretty much a 100% cover. Within a couple of day, the campsites at Mosquito Lake should be dry enough to use. |
 Photo courtesy of user 'GOUWDOGS'
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