Plenty of parking in the paved lot, the lower lot was empty.  Trail via foot path was in great condition.  Part of the group went back the shorter old road path.  We saw fish jumping and the kids fished but did not catch anything.  Very few horse droppings.  Plenty of campsites available. Outhouse at trailhead and at lake. A great hike!

Note up front - burn ban is now in effect! No campfires allowed!

We got to the trailhead around 3pm on a Friday, finding a spot to park was not an issue. The road to the trailhead is fully paved so no concerns for what car you drive. The trail has a bit of gain along the way but it’s very gradual and never strenuous. Once we got to the lake we set out to find a spot which turned out to be more difficult than we expected for a Friday. There are a good number of spots we could have taken but we didn’t want to be very close to someone already camping. We found no private spots so we backtracked to the start of the lake and found a decent spot. Many more backpackers kept coming in, it stresses me out to think how hectic finding a spot would be later in the evening, and that was a Friday - many many more people coming in on Saturday. I think at this point this trail isn’t worth doing to camp unless you come during the week, and certainly don’t expect backcountry kind of privacy. On the plus side, a barred owl posted up on a tree right above our camp which was neat. And mosquitos were no concern, we got a couple bites I think but never felt the need to put on bug spray at all.

Arrived at the trailhead about 11am to an almost full parking lot, but we were able to find a spot! Ranger Cooper greeted us and shared information about the trail and camping conditions (fires ok in official fire rings at the time of our trip, two compost toilets available at the lake, leave no trace principles etc.). The day was hot but the trail was mostly shaded, making hiking conditions pleasant. It’s a really good hike for beginners looking for a bit of a longer trek, and the payoff at the lake is spectacular. Most campsites were occupied by the time we arrived at around 1:30pm, but we found a decent spot for a single tent near the bridge! The water was absolutely perfect for an afternoon dip. The trail and campsites are beautifully maintained and Ranger Cooper deserves a raise for taking such good care of a really special place. We hiked out the next morning on the pipeline trail, which was event flatter than the Packwood trail, and had views of Mt. Rainier! A great hike and a great introductory backpacking experience!

I hiked from Packwood Lake trailhead to Lost Lake (out and back). The road to the trailhead was in great shape; it looks like some potholes were recently filled. There was ample parking at the trailhead too. 

The trail to Packwood Lake was in great condition and the lake was gorgeous! I was there on a Monday and there were a few people resting and enjoying the lake. I didn't see any ranger at the station there. I continued from Packwood Lake up to Lost Lake. The trail to Lost Lake was in pretty good shape, with only about 7-10 trees down that were easy to navigate around. Wildflowers were gorgeous and had some great views of Goat Rocks/Angry Mountain.  Lost Lake had a few small snow patches but was melting fast. There were a number of mosquitos at the lake, so I recommend applying and even re-applying bug spray to avoid being bit. 

After reading the reports about how busy this spot gets, we decided to hit the trail around 6:30am and there were only a couple other groups headed out at the same time. We were lucky to arrive as a group was leaving and their spot was perfect. Thought the lake would be a lot colder but it wasn't too bad! We swam for quite a while, just wait for the day to warm up. Bugs were annoying but not as bad as I expected. There are a few nice streams running into the lake that are perfect for filtering. Trail was well maintained and easy. The lack of elevation gain makes this a great first backpacking trip for anyone looking to start, especially since we were able to have a fire and there's a bathroom if needed. Do note that unless you're really lucky, you'll likely be a ways away from the bathroom so bring what you need and bring TRASH BAGS so you can pack everything out.