Summit Lake

Posted on by

Region: South Cascades and Mount Rainier

Roundtrip Miles: 6.1 miles

Elevation Gain (feet): 1300

Best Month(s): July

Hikeable: May-October

Trailhead Coordinates:  47.0319, -121.8269

Pass: NW Forest

Features: mountain views, wildlife, summit, lake

Water: not until you get to the lake, bring a filter.

Time: Plan on spending about 3 hours hiking (round-trip) and allow for 1 hour or so to play at the lake

Summary: While the road up here is terrible (and seems to get worse each year), the hike is fantastic. There are no facilities, cell service, or toilets at the trailhead. It’s a steady climb for most of the hike so none of it is too bad. You’ll get peak-a-boo views of Mount Rainier along a couple spots in the trail if you’re not too busy staring at your feet and you look up through the trees occasionally. Seriously, three miles to reach a beautiful lake with Mount Rainier in the background?! This is a must-do, but I would recommend a high-clearance vehicle to get up here safely. Continue on around the lake to the right and work your way down to the water once you’re directly across from Mount Rainier. There is a nice stretch of shoreline here to hang out on while the puppers play in the water.

Photo-wise, we reached the lake around 9:30am in mid-summer and the sun was already angled from our left when standing on the far side of the lake with the mountain in the background. If we had arrived an hour or two earlier, the light would have been better and we wouldn’t have had shadows on one side of the dogs’ faces when trying to get a photo with the mountain reflecting in the lake.

This is a very popular, very busy hike, despite the terrible road up. Do not expect to have this one to yourself.

Post-Hike Food Stop with Potentially Dog-Friendly Outdoor Seating:

  1. Wally’s Drive-In* (Buckley): milkshakes, fries, and burgers all delicious…the fish not so much.
  2. Pita’s Taqueria* (Enumclaw): the only seating they have are a few small tables outdoors, so if there aren’t any open, head a couple blocks over to MacFarland Park to eat your food. Huge burritos, chicken or pork tamales on the weekends.
  3. Il Siciliano Ristorante Italiano (Enumclaw): Lobster Ravioli, Portobello Mushroom Ravioli

Other Enumclaw/Buckley Attractions:

  • Mud Mountain Dam
  • Rockridge Orchards and Cidery
  • Cole Street Brewery
  • Crystal Mountain Gondola
  • Maris Farms
  • Rainier Reindeer Ranch

Note: The restaurants and breweries denoted with * are potentially dog-friendly for their outdoor seating. Their patio dining may only be open during summer, however. You should always check with each restaurant to see if outdoor space has a separate entrance and if they are willing to accommodate well-behaved dogs. I would never assume just because a place has allowed dogs in the past that this is still the case.