I spent the solstice at Lake George and was fortunate to have it all to myself. This was my first experience on the westside of Mt. Rainier National Park, which has been described as "the quiet side" of the park. There were a slew of people hiking up on Saturday as I was hiking out, so it probably isn't too quiet on weekends.
The initial hike to the Lake George trailhead is a bit underwhelming, as it follows the westside road for 3.8 miles which was closed to vehicles after recurring flood damage. There is a mild incline up to the trailhead, at which point a more traditional trail takes you up to Lake George. If you are thinking about heading to the lake as a final destination, I might recommend choosing another location in the park. However, the preserved fire lookout at Gobblers Knob is definitely worth the hike and makes this a must-see spot.
The lake has five backcountry sites, with an additional site for groups. Each of the sites seemed quite large, and could fit at least two or three tents. They are also spread out so you'll have some privacy amongst the crowds. The trail up to the lake was snow free and in great condition. The hike up to Gobblers Knob is another 1.5 miles from Lake George with 1000 feet of elevation gain. There were a few snowfields, but they aren't difficult to cross and there were plenty of tracks to follow.
The Gobblers Knob fire lookout was built in 1933 by the Civilian Conservation Corps and is one of four lookouts remaining in the park. The elevation is 5485 feet. It was my first time at a preserved lookout so I spent about an hour up there hanging out and soaking it all in. The actual lookout is locked, but you can climb up to the second level and walk around for 360 degree views. Unfortunately it was cloudy and I didn't get to see Mt. Rainier at all during this trip. I did break through some of the cloud cover and had some views to the West (see the photos). I also saw an owl (either the Northern Spotted Owl or a Barred Owl) take off from a stump on my descent down westside road the next day which was pretty amazing.
Making it to the top of the lookout was one of my cooler Mt. Rainier backcountry experiences. It might be a bit long for a day trip, but you could bike the initial approach on westside road to make the initial climb and descent quicker and easier. There are bike racks located at the Lake George Trailhead. This area of the park could also be great for some different, multi-night loop options along the Wonderland Trail at Klapatche Park and South/North Puyallup.
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