Summit Lake

We drove up the very rough FR 7810 (near the Carbon River entrance of Mt Rainer National Park) to hike up to Summit Lake in the Clearwater Wilderness. This road has lots of potholes, ruts and exposed rocks for 6.8 miles.
The hike is 6 miles round trip with an overall 1,400 ft of gain.
The trail climbs up through the forest.

About 0.9 mile from the trailhead, the trail reaches a T junction at Twin Lakes(Bearhead Mountain behind the lake), turn left to go to Summit Lake.

The trail passes a small pond, then begins to climb up a ridge towards Summit Lake.












Along the ridge we had a peek of Mt Rainier through the trees.
There was a couple of inches of fresh snow.

Another frozen pond closer to Summit Lake.

2.5 miles from the trailhead we reached Summit Lake, We then hiked the loop trail around the lake, heading clockwise to go up the steep trail to the far end of the ridge on the opposite side of the lake, then descend on the gentler slope coming down the ridge back to the lake. The loop trail is about 1 mile.

Another view of the frozen pond near Summit Lake.

As we hiked around the lake, we saw this beautiful blue color in the lake.

Along the trail up to the ridge, we saw a boot track through the trees and found this lovely view of Bearhead Mountain and Mt Ranger.

Summit Lake to the north with views from Glacier Peak to Mount Stuart in the far distance, as we continued up the ridge.











Pano to the the south from the ridge top: Bearhead Mtn, Mt Rainier, the rim of Mt St Helens in the far distance and Copley Lake below.

To the northwest we could see clouds covering Puget Sound, distant Olympic Mtns and Mt Baker

As we hiked down the ridge, we had a fabulous view to the north from Mt Baker to Mount Stuart and many peaks in between.

Fresh snow on the trees around Summit Lake as we continued down the ridge.

There is a boot track to this gorgeous view spot. Summit Lake with Bearhead Mtn and Mt Rainier.

Small frozen puddles near Summit Lake

Looking back at  the ridge reflecting in Summit  Lake.

another small frozen pond near Summit Lake

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