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Packwood Lake

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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.

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Note: the description and driving directions for this Mountaineers Books entry are copyrighted and can't be changed.

Recent Trip Reports

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There are 60 trip reports for this hike. See all trip reports for this hike.
Packwood Lake #78 — May 25, 2008 — toadlicker
Day hike
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The second half of the trail is still snow covered, but the route is easy to follow. The lake and sn...

The second half of the trail is still snow covered, but the route is easy to follow. The lake and snow-capped mountains look beautiful.

The road has many obstacles (branches and smaller trees over the road).

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Packwood Lake #78 — May 20, 2007 — Bev
Day hike
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My brother and hiking partner hiked in to Packwood Lake while my husband Jerry rode his bicycle in o...

My brother and hiking partner hiked in to Packwood Lake while my husband Jerry rode his bicycle in on the pipeline road. The forest service is repairing the wash out on the pipeline road and the Lewis County Backcountry Horsemen have been clearing the trees off the road.

Arriving at the trailhead, we were surprised to see so many vehicles parked there including a group of Lewis County Backcountry Horsemen. The group were going in to work on the trail up to Lost Lake and on the East side of Packwood Lake. They have done a lot of work on the trails the past few months.

We loaded up our day packs and headed up the trail. We met no others along the way and had no problems with anything. We ran in to one very small patch of snow about 3/4ths of the way to the lake, but nothing to even write about. The weather was really nice, a few little rain showers and then sun. The trail is in good condition, the trees that were over the trail have been cut out of the way. We arrived at the lake in time for lunch and discovered there were several groups of people camped along the lake. There were also a group of Boy Scouts, 18 who were coming in for the weekend, we only saw 5 of them, the rest arriving soon.

Jerry took the pipeline road in and had no problems at all. We hiked back on the pipeline road, good condition and got to see the washout, and it is big. There is a new section of road to bipass the washout, but all good.

A great day and will go back soon I hope.

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Packwood Lake #78 — May 13, 2007 — Rock Ranger
Day hike
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The trail was in excellent condition! Nice, gentle and quick hike into Packwood Lake for the purpose...

The trail was in excellent condition! Nice, gentle and quick hike into Packwood Lake for the purpose of lucnh and scouting backcounty sites for future overnight trips. My kids and wife had an easy time with the trail to the lake. A little snow covering the trail near the top of the ridge.

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Packwood Lake #78 — May 04, 2007 — Backcountry Horsemen of Washington - Lewis Co Chapter
Day hike
Issues: Washouts
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Pipeline Road Trail #74, an alternate route for Packwood Lake Trail #78 to reach Packwood Lake, has ...

Pipeline Road Trail #74, an alternate route for Packwood Lake Trail #78 to reach Packwood Lake, has a large wash-out. A bypass has been created around the wash-out. This is a multi-use trail that is often used for a loop trip to the lake.

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Packwood Lake #78 — Apr 29, 2007 — Backcountry Horsemen of Washington - Lewis Co Chapter
Day hike
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Backcountry Horsemen of Washington - Lewis County Chapter cleared winter blow-downs from Packwood La...

Backcountry Horsemen of Washington - Lewis County Chapter cleared winter blow-downs from Packwood Lake Trail #78 starting at Packwood Lake trailhead to Packwood Lake. A mud-slide on the Pipeline Road Trail #74 is passable for foot traffic,stock, & ORV's.

Winter blow-downs can be expected on trails east and south of Packwood Lake.

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packwoodlake rock ranger.jpg
Photo courtesy of user 'GOUWDOGS'
Location
Packwood Lake (#78), (#)
South Cascades -- Goat Rocks
USFS Cowlitz Valley Ranger District, Packwood Office
Statistics
Roundtrip 10.0 miles
Elevation Gain 600 ft
Highest Point 3200 ft
Features
Rivers
Lakes
Mountain views
Established campsites
User info
Good for kids
Northwest Forest Pass required
Guidebooks & Maps
South Cascades
Green Trails No. 302 Packwood

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Note: the description and driving directions for this Mountaineers Books entry are copyrighted and can't be changed.

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