New to the area and perhaps didn't have the latest knowledge of Mowich Lake Road being closed 5 miles before arriving at the trailhead. Quite a disappointment. Is there a date set for the expected reopening of the road and/or is there another way to get to that trailhead?

Went for a nice overnight trip from Carbon River entrance of Mt. Rainier to Carbon River Camp. I haven't been on the Carbon River Rd since it washed out (the most recent time) - it's much worse and wiped out a lot more trail than the previous washout. A LOT of big trees down in the riverbed and from being undermined along the trail/road/new channel. If you didn't know, the Wonderland between the Northern Loop Trail and Carbon River Camp is out too, so you need to cross the river twice to get there. The trail is mostly pretty good, with bridges etc, but one re-route was pretty muddy. We hiked up the Spray Park trail, but only as far as Cataract Camp before running out of time. Not much snow to speak of before Cataract Camp (but some), and despite the Park Service website, most tent sites there are under snow; only 2 might be usable, and those pretty damp. I assume the trail is snowed in not far above. This trail was a little overgrown, and will get more so as things leaf out. We saw quite a few day hikers and bicyclists on the way in, but no one else at our camp, and only one party was scheduled to be at Ipsut Creek Camp. Saw only 1 person the whole day Monday, he headed in as we headed out. Saw quite a few flowers including: Scouler's Corydalis (lots), Ribes, glacier lilies, yellow violets, Caltha, buttercups. Had a nice bear viewing below the trail not far in from Ipsut Creek Campground. Also saw a bunch of deer, a frog and some chipmunks. The carnage along the river is really quite impressive. A lot of very big trees strewn around - some from 2006, some more recent. The ranger station was staffed on Sunday.

Set out on trailhead at Mowich Lake a little before noon. Didn't see any other folks on trail until around Eagle Cliff viewpoint. Views were much better than my last time up here last month when it was overcast. Clear but a reddish haze in the air that someone told me was from wildfires in Oregon (I didn't think the Australia dust storm would have made it all the way up here!) I went past the turnoff to Spray Falls since I was just up there last month, but it is well worth the effort. Spray Falls would be great on a hot day in the summer to cool off. The trail gets steeper and switchbacks after it passes the falls turnoff. The trail is all in forest until the grade lessens and it opens up into some meadows. Hessong Rock is visible to the north. After another moderately steep stretch everything opens up and Spray Park is reached. I soon came to a spur trail that I could see going up the ridge to the north. I decided to take it and after a steep climb I attained a saddle between Hessong Rock and Mt Pleasant. I noted a spur trail going around Hessong Rock that I figured was probably the summit path, but I decided to leave it for another day. Great views of Mt Rainier, Spray Park, Observation Rock, Echo Rock, etc. Some blueberries still on upper trail. Most wildflowers past their peak but Mountain Bog Gentians still noted in meadows. Followed trail back same way. Would like to do loop over Knapsack Pass at some point (trailhead near Ranger cabin next to Mowich Lake). Spray Falls/Park is a great area which I hadn’t been to until this year. Highly recommended.

This is a great way to get to Mt. Rainier without battling the horrendous traffic on the interstates by going down Hwy. 18 and then a series of low-traffic back roads. The 14 mile gravel road to Mowich Lake (guidebooks say 17 miles, but the first few miles are actually paved) is in pretty good shape, though dusty. Even though there is not a manned park entrance here, you still have to stop and pay your $15 at a lockbox station about 4 miles from the lake. Once you get to Spray Park proper, the views of Mt. Rainier are stunning. Most wildflowers are past their peak, but there are still a lot in bloom. Some of the late-season bloomers here, like Mountain Bog Gentian, are best seen about now. There are lots of biting bugs about, and there is no shade at all once you reach Spray Park, so plan accordingly. There is good water available at Grant Creek just past Eagle Roost. I hiked the trail past Spray Park and up to the foot of the glaciers on the mountain, making for about a 11-12 mile round trip. Highly recommended if you have time.

I posted this Mountaineers trip as the "Mowich Ramble" -- Mowich Lake to Eunice Lake/Tolmie Peak to Mowich Lake to Spray Falls/Spray Park to Mowich Lake -- and held my breath. I offered this same trip last year and had to cancel when only one person signed up. (An official Mountaineers hike must have at least three people.) I was thrilled to see it fill up with four on the waitlist! The Mowich Lake Road has seen some grading, but it's still full of washboard sections. And plenty dusty. It took us about 90 minutes to drive to the lake from our carpool meeting spot in Federal Way. Two of our group camped at the walk-in campground at Mowich Lake to get an extra hour of sleep. It was sunny and cool when we hiked out of the trees and arrived at Eunice Lake, then made the steep walk up to the Tolmie Peak Lookout. The Carbon River Valley and the view North was completely clouded over, but the scene South was jaw-dropping -- Eunice Lake, Mowich Lake, Mt. Rainier and even Mt. St. Helens! Spray Falls was also stunning, but the clouds had moved in by the time we hit the second and third meadows of Spray Park. Great wildflowers, and the trails were in great shape -- very few muddy sections given the recent rains. Go soon before the summer ends -- if the gentians are any indication, it's not far off now!