Mowich Lake Campground
Campground
Campground · 0.2 mi from the trail
Washington · Hiking · Near Greenwater
Mowich Access
Photo: Steven Pavlov, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- 0.4 mi
- round trip
- 376 ft
- climb
- 5,004 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jul–Sep
- best months
Is Mowich Access open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Mount Rainier National Park. It doesn't name Mowich Access, so check the source for the area it covers.
Paradise Road Status: Gate closed at Longmire: projected to open tomorrow
Park closure covering Mount Rainier National Park · NPS · Mount Rainier National Park
WILDFIRE CLOSURES: Sunrise & northern trails.
Park alert covering Mount Rainier National Park · NPS · Mount Rainier National Park
As of · Source: NPS · Mount Rainier National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Mowich Access is a short, easy out-and-back hike in Washington's Mount Rainier National Park, within the Mount Rainier Wilderness. The route is about 0.7 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 376 feet, and it starts at roughly 4,977 feet, reaching a high point of about 5,004 feet. The National Park Service manages the land, and the trail sits within the park's wilderness boundaries. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Rainier Paradise run to highs around 62°F in July and 64°F in August, with lows in the mid-40s. That station sits about 420 feet higher than the trail, so temperatures on the access run slightly warmer. The hike takes about half an hour. A fee is charged, and the Grindstone trail lies just 0.1 mile away. The Spray-Seattle Park Trail and the Knapsack Pass Trail are both within half a mile. Paddlers can head to the North Mowich River, about 1.7 miles off.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after 
If it rainsSteven Pavlov, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Steven Pavlov, CC BY-SA 4.0 (commons)
More in GreenwaterLocal outfitters
- Sunset Lake Summer Camp & Retreat Center14 mi away
- Camp Lakeview18 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- GrindstoneHikingPhoto: Steven Pavlov, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)0.1 mi
- Spray-Seattle Park TrailHiking0.4 mi
- Knapsack Pass TrailHiking0.5 mi
- Fay Peak TrailHiking0.5 mi
- North Mowich RiverCanoeing1.7 mi
Carbon RiverCanoeingPhoto: Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)2.9 mi- Mowich RiverCanoeing4.3 mi
Mount RainierRock climbingPhoto: shinsain, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)7.6 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- GrindstoneHiking · Next doorPhoto: Steven Pavlov, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Northern Loop SpurHiking · ~6 min drivePhoto: brewbooks from near Seattle, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Northern LoopHiking · ~7 min drivePhoto: brewbooks from near Seattle, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Summit Lake TrailHiking · ~12 min drivePhoto: Steven Pavlov, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Bearhead TrailHiking · ~11 min drivePhoto: justin prince, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- Rainforest Loop TrailHiking · ~8 min drive
- Spray-Seattle Park TrailHiking · Next door
- Paul PeakHiking · ~3 min drive
- SUMMIT LAKE TIE WITH CLEARWATEHiking · ~13 min drivePhoto: Steven Pavlov, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Independence RidgeHiking · ~10 min drive
Also worth it near here
Tolmie PeakSummit · ~3 min drivePhoto: Ricardo Martins from Gent, Belgium, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Spray FallsWaterfall · ~3 min drivePhoto: Joanna Poe from Munith, MI, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- Carbon RiverCanoeing · ~5 min drivePhoto: Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
Mystic CampCamping · ~10 min drivePhoto: brewbooks — CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
Best time to visit Mowich Access
Best months: July–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
34° / 24°
Feb
34° / 23°
Mar
36° / 24°
Apr
40° / 26°
May
48° / 33°
Jun
54° / 37°
Jul
62° / 44°
Aug
64° / 45°
Sep
57° / 41°
Oct
46° / 33°
Nov
37° / 26°
Dec
33° / 22°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Rainier Paradise Rs, WA, 11.9 mi away at 5,427 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
