Do this hike! It is a gem - one of our favorites at Mount Rainier! The road to the trailhead is okay - washboarded and a few big potholes. Nothing that our truck couldn't handle easily, but allow extra time for low-clearance vehicles. We got to the trailhead at 9:30 am and it was packed. Not surprising on such a beautiful day. Most of the hikers must have done Spray Park as the Tolmie trail wasn't packed. That is not to say that it wasn't busy - there was a steady stream of people up and down all day. The trail climbs steadily from just below Eunice Lake, levels out a bit in the lake basin, and then picks up again on the last stretch to the top. But the last stretch, while intense, goes faster than one would think. Do not let the sight of the little lookout building looming high above the lake make you think it isn't worth the climb. It most certainly is. The view from the top is, in my opinion, the best at the park. There were a couple of bears hanging out in the trees on the other side of Eunice Lake. They had quite the gathering of paparazzi awaiting an appearance, but they stayed out of sight. We caught a quick glimpse of one of the cubs, but that was it. My GPS measured the hike (from the Lakeside Trail trailhead at Mowich Lake closest to the latrines to the top and back) as 6.35 miles and 1566 feet of elevation gain. Our 5 year old was a trooper and did the entire hike, but it seemed to be more difficult for her than Glacier Basin (White River campground). It is tough but worth it!

Perfect day for a hike. Sunny, beautiful. The views of Rainier simply don't get better than this. The mountain was out in full force, and the heat was just enough to make us glad to be able to dip into Eunice Lake. Be prepared for the potholes on a short section of the drive up – wow they are brutal!

The road had not improved since last weekend, when we were up at Spray Park. Wishful thinking on our part. The last 14 miles are rough but it is what it is. Arrived at the trail head around 9:30 and parking was a breeze (we arrive 30 minutes later last weekend and things were much busier). The hike was beautiful...we had sunshine most of the way and got to see the mountain, though it darted behind clouds on our way back down. Bugs weren't bad, but we also used spray. All of the bear grass is gone, but there are still pockets of lush looking lupin. Lake Eunice was sparkly and clear. Enjoyed lunch next to the lookout, not too many people there when we arrived. We weren't able to go up into the lookout as the ranger was painting, which seems an odd activity on a busy Sunday in the summer. All-in-all two enthusiastic thumbs up...we'll be back a bit earlier next time so we can enjoy the flowers.

BERRIES. The berries on this trail were fabulous when we hiked. They're particularly flavorful this year. And based on the numbers of green and half-ripe berries on the bushes, this fabulous situation will continue for awhile. The hike guide says this trail is 7.5 miles. I think that must be assuming you start from Mowich Lake. We parked farther down the road, where there is another access point to the Wonderland and the Tolmie Peak trail. I think from there it's more like 6 miles. It's a bit rooty and rocky in some parts, but overall a pretty easy hike. It made me happy to see so many families out with their kids. We made a point of jumping in both Eunice and Mowich. Well worth it. The road's not great, but you can easily do it in a passenger car. Our Prius did fine.

Excellent day for hiking. Not too hot and not too cold. Took about hour and a half to get up. I went past the lookout and along the ridge. Had to stop due to a little too much exposure for going this solo on my own. Misquittos were out. Overall, good day and a nice workout.