Decided to do a relatively easier and somewhat more obscure hike in Mt. Rainier. Owyhigh Lakes from the Sunrise road. I had passed this trailhead about 4 miles past the Sunrise entrance on numerous occasions so decided to finally check it out.
Owyhigh Lakes trail north.
Owyhigh Lakes trail south.
Got to the parking lot with one other car. I saw the people coming down just after I started up. I had the whole place to myself.
Owyhigh lakes trailhead off of road to Sunrise.
Owyhigh Lakes trailhead sign. .
The idea was to get to the high point. Having no idea what that was like of course.
The trail to the Tanamos Creek Campsite is on very good tread. In fact I wore some old trail shoes. You could do this trail in about any footwear. Pretty featureless and gradual climbing on some switchbacks up to the camp area about 3.2 miles and 1585 feet gained in about an hour and 6 minutes.
Early Owyhigh lakes trail.
Vanilla Leaf plant on Owyhigh lakes trail.
One of a handful or more little bridges across creeks on Owyhigh lakes trail.
Log bridge over Shaw Creek near Tamanos Creek campground.
Tamanos Creek Campground sign (to be explored more on way out).
Another half mile or so and you reach a point above the two smallish rather uninteresting looking Owyhigh Lakes. Unlike what the Rainier web site says (trail 100% snow free), there are a couple of snow patches left over from avys off of Tamanos.
Yea a snow patch on Owyhigh lakes trail nearing lake.
Looking back up towards Tamanos mountain from Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Anemone on Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Columbine on Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Remnants of avy debris/snow on Owyhigh Lakes trail just above the lakes.
Owyhigh Lakes.
Remnants of avy debris/snow on Owyhigh Lakes trail just above the lakes.
Avy debris in smaller lake.
Lots of flowers (and bugs) in these open areas.
Wow some Anemone just popping out where snow just melted out in avy area.
Wow some Anemone just popping out where snow just melted out in avy area.
Views back down Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Mushroom on Owyhigh Lakes trail.
I kept going further looking for the high point which is about another half mile of rambling.
Owyhigh Lakes trail continues past lakes.
Last look back towards Lakes on Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Magenta Paintbrush on Owyhigh Lakes trail past lakes.
Meadows and flowers past Owyhigh Lakes.
Meadows and flowers past Owyhigh Lakes.
It appeared there were more open meadows beyond the so called/uninteresting high point so I continued about another mile passing through various open flower fields.
Meadows from Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Meadows from Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Flowers on Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Owyhigh Lakes trail continues.
Owyhigh Lakes trail continues through flower meadows.
Meadows on Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Meadows on Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Meadows on Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Peaks above Owyhigh Lakes trail.
I heard what sounded like a waterfall which was visible through trees just off the trail.
Waterfall just off Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Waterfall just off Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Shortly past the waterfall it appeared a mole stroll was about to commence so I turned around, just under 2 hours after leaving the car.
Views from Owyhigh Lakes trail.
This would be my turnaround on Owyhigh Lakes trail.
The bugs were out but as long as you kept moving it wasn't too bad. The flowers were worth it.
View from Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Flowers on Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Flowers on Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Flowers on Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Flowers on Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Indian Paintbrush on Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Flower on Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Meadows from Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Lupine on Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Flowers on Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Back at the high point I continued out.
Back to "high point" on Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Meadows coming down Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Meadows coming down Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Meadows coming down Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Meadows coming down Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Peaks on Governors ridge from Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Peaks on Governors ridge from Owyhigh Lakes trail.
I hate noted a spur trail which looked like it might head up Tamanos so I checked it out a little for future reference but didn't really follow it far.
Trail presumably going towards Tamanos from Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Elk tracks on trail going to Tamanos.
Trail presumably going towards Tamanos from Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Trail presumably going towards Tamanos from Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Past here a last visit by the lakes before getting back in the woods.
Last looks at Owyhigh lakes.
Last looks at Owyhigh lakes.
Last looks at Owyhigh lakes.
Governors Ridge from Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Governors Ridge from Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Owyhigh Lakes trail crossing avy debris area.
Owyhigh Lakes.
Farewell to Owyhigh lakes.
Back in the woods I made a quick stop to check out the campground. A toilet and 4 campsites but no one camping. I went back across the log bridge and notice a short spur trail along the creek. I followed it to some blowdowns and noticed few bugs so I decided to stop for lunch.
Log bridge from my lunch retreat near the creek just off the trail.
Log bridge from my lunch retreat near the creek just off the trail.
Of course after about 5 minutes the skeeters started finding me. Lucky I was quick on the swat and ate fast and proceeded back down.
A few random shots on the way through the trees.
Random trail shot on lower Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Random trail shot on lower Owyhigh Lakes trail.
Soon enough the car was back in sight and I was back at the trailhead. My car all alone but at least no broken glass or break in.
Same view from lower switchback of Owyhigh Lakes trail.
The lone car (mine) back at Owyhigh Lakes trailhead parking.
Another nice lonely day on the trail. Although you won't see Rainier at all on this hike at least in flower season it is worthwhile and there are nice views of the Cowlitz Chimneys and Governors Ridge to some extent. The only people seen all day were the two I saw just starting up. All in all about 10.3 miles and 2000 feet of gain/loss. Car to car time about 4 hours and 10 minutes including the brief lunch stop and explores.
The waterfall is named Horseshoe Falls and those are the first pictures I've ever seen of it, surprisingly, so thanks for that. Definitely need to go check that one out.
I have always enjoyed Owyhigh every time I went. It is quiet, no crowds and when you rarely see anyone they are not in a rush. The hikes at Rainier minus the Rainier views are usually my favorite for that reason....and the meadows past the lakes are great to lounge in!
"If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide."
— Abraham Lincoln
0
"If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide."
— Abraham Lincoln
Just the "lakes" at the top I have never hiked in the back way from Hwy 123...someday I will! It has a much different feel from the start (I have been on the lowe part when doing the Eastside Trail). The whole trail is part of the Wonderland Trail detour in high snow years......
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate NWHikers.net earns from qualifying purchases when you use our link(s).
I have never hiked in the back way from Hwy 123...someday I will! It has a much different feel from the start (I have been on the lowe part when doing the Eastside Trail). The whole trail is part of the Wonderland Trail detour in high snow years......