Guide to Map
Find waterfalls via a description and list
MPG V2.8, January 2012

Advisories about Google map display and about the Carbon River Road.

Lake Access Guide

Access to the lakes are catagorized as:

   Easy, accessible by road or short trail, usually a tourist waypoint;

   Moderate, accessible via a trail within a half day hike;

   Hard, accessible via a weekend hike with overnight camping, backcountry permit required;

   Difficult, accessible via multi-day hike, 3 or more days, or via off-trail or scrambling with off-trail backcountry experience necssary and backcountry permit required.

Information

The "information window" for each lake has the following information for each lake:

(1) the official name of the lake,
(2) the creek or river basin of the lake,
(3) latitude and longitude, in decimal degrees,
(4) the elevation of the lake, in feet above mean sea level,
(5) the USGS 1:24,000 (7 1/2 minute) topographic map, and
(6) notes about the access from either a highway or trail.

This should provide sufficient information to locate the lake and with the other Websites, linked in the list, and books should provide enough informaton to determine if you want to find it.

Background

There are currently 400 mapped lakes in Mt. Rainier NP, but less than 50 have official names listed on maps for the NP. Many of unnamed lakes are either small, remote or intermittent (seasonal or temporary) and haven't required a full identification or description in publications or on maps.

The lakes in Mt. Rainier NP are divided into three catagories, two major ones and one obvious one. The first to two types of lakes are divided by their location, namely elevation, in relation to the treeline, where they are either surrounded by forests or above the treeline and are open or in geologic features such as tarns, cirques, etc. The third type are the scenic or photogenic ones, most of which are alongside roads, listed below for easier identification for location.

Information

Unfortunately there isn't much on-line or published information about the lakes in Mt. Rainier NP, and what does exist are often research studies related to water resources investigations or academic research. The Washington State Department has some information with their Water-Supply Bulletin series on lakes. The USGS did one study in August 1983, available here, on a dozen lakes.

Resources

Need maps? You can find sources for maps and download DRG files of USGS topo maps.

Please use the contact link to send e-mail.