Mt Rainier NW - Spray Park and Golden Lakes

[drm]

Last weekend two of us went on a 4-day backpack to tour the NW side of Mt Rainier. For us southerners (of the PNW), this is the farthest part of Rainier since you have to drive through Tacoma to get there. That's why I had not been there before, and decided this year to make it. Since I probably wouldn't get there again, I decided to add on an out-and-back to Golden Lakes on the Wonderland since I had heard it was nice. So it was really two backpacks out of Mowich Lake, a one-nighter and a two-nighter. But the main target was the famous Spray Park alpine meadows with the add-on of Spray Falls, which locals can think of as Ramona Falls on steroids.

The full trip report is here

The first two days were a heat wave, the third - across Spray Park, was just about right. The fourth day was overcast with no views.

Here is a summary.

Mowich Lake camping is pretty tight


One of the Golden Lakes nearest to the camping area and one of the few views of Rainier to and from Golden Lakes


Golden Lakes Patrol Cabin - Ranger Justin was a wealth of info


Spray Falls


Spray Park and The Mountain


Starting down the other side


Pre-filtered water


Cataract Valley and Mother Mountain


Crossing the Carbon River


Crossing it again. What would this look like on a high water year?


Yogi, just below Ipsut Pass (photo: leadfoot)

[woodswalker]

Great report. That's an area of Rainier I hadn't thought about exploring yet. It looks beautiful.
Woodswalker

[joerunner]

Great report. Also, happy birthday!

I'm heading up to Rainier tomorrow morning for a cw loop. I'm hoping to get Golden Lakes as my first campsite.

[miah66]

@Joerunner: First and only campsite?

[joerunner]

@Joerunner: First and only campsite?

Will I hope not. I've heard that it's not too difficult to get the ranger to work out a "walk in" itinerary.

[miah66]

Was it worth the long drive up there you think? Or are there better places on this side of the mountain in your estimation?

[drm]

It was only worth the drive for me because I've been to the other parts of the park multiple times. For most people from around here, Paradise it the place to go for your first visit, or maybe Sunrise.