Mount Rainier National Park's Largest, Deepest Lake Is An Ethereal Paradise To Fish, Camp, And Hike

Mount Rainier has not shown its truly nasty side in ages, fortunately for the entire Pacific Northwest. Its potential for spewing lava and dust is hidden instead by something resembling the serene Swiss Alps. Nestled away in that paradise is Mowich Lake, Mount Rainier National Park's largest, deepest lake, which offers adventurous visitors a chance to camp, hike, and fish. It makes for an excellent getaway into the Washington wilderness, with countless ways to soak up the majestic PNW scenery.

Named after the Chinook word for "deer," Mowich presents a unique chance to enjoy an Alp-like experience without the sky-high prices. The bucolic body of water's surroundings, with wildflowers stretching across meadows, make one feel ready to spread their arms and spin around like Julie Andrews. While comparisons to the Alps hold true, Mowich Lake adds another dimension to Mount Rainier. It gives a national park, most awe-inspiring in the fall, an added dose of adventure, as a mountainside paradise becomes an aquatic destination as well.

Dedicated hikers, rejoice! The only way to reach Mowich Lake is by foot, requiring a lengthy trek of more than 25 miles along the Wonderland Trail, a rewarding scenic hike around an active volcano. The lake's north side includes the Tolmie Peak Trail, a 6.5-mile loop that heads to neighboring Eunice Lake before ascending to Tolmie Peak, one of the several peaks surrounding Mowich. The Spray Park Trail, another 6-mile round-trip trek, leads to Spray Falls, a 354-foot cascade of water slipping down a lava bluff. Stick to the designated paths during your trips, as the lake's meadows include a delicate ecosystem with a wide range of wildlife. If you'd rather give your feet a rest, turn to the lake itself.

Mount Rainier National Park has several bodies of water, but Mowich Lake is one of the few you can actually cross in a vessel. Boats without motors are allowed on its glassy surface, and provide a perfect spot to cast a line and see what bites. Anglers have plenty to enjoy, which is open to fishing during the summer. Below its surface, they'll find various species of trout and salmon. Be sure to follow the National Park's strict fishing regulations, leaving your lead fishing tackle at home and using artificial lures and flies only. Conservation, as with all national parks, remains a top priority.

Visitors hoping to drive to Mowich Lake are out of luck. Though usually open between July and November, the bridge leading to the lake is dilapidated and closed as of publication, with no sign of reopening in sight (reviews of the road's roughshod conditions mean your car will gladly skip the trip). Travelers flying in should book a flight to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, which is about an hour and a half away from the trailhead leading to Mowich Lake.

Given the long trek you'll take just to reach the lake, you likely won't be headed back home the same day. The national park will be your resting place by default, and by choice once you see the gorgeous surroundings. Mowich Lake's eponymous campground is the highest of Mount Rainier's four sites, though it has a spartan 13 sites available, packed close together atop tent pads. Weather conditions limit the sites' use to the summer months, leading up to October. A lack of potable water means you should bring a water filter. You must also book a wilderness permit ahead of time. If you're thinking about making the trek on your own, be sure to let a friend know where you're going and read up on tips for a solo hike.