Did an overnight to Cougar Lake coming from Swamp Lake trailhead. The road to the trailhead is ROUGH in some spots. Really only recommended for high clearance vehicles and confident drivers. The trail is pretty gentle, several blow downs but all easy enough to get over. The river is easily crossed. Cougar lake has a beautiful, sandy shore. My husband tried to fish but nothing was biting. There aren't very many sites at Cougar and Little Cougar lakes, but we found a small spot next to a small (freezing) creek. The mosquitoes are bad right now, tis the season! We didn't see many folks out there, so this is probably a good hike if you want solitude.
Trip Report
Cougar Lakes, Swamp Lake — Friday, Aug. 4, 2023
Mount Rainier Area > Chinook Pass - Hwy 410
Type of Hike
OvernightTrail Conditions
Minor obstacles posing few problemsRoad
Road recommended for high clearance onlyBugs
Bugs were an annoyanceSnow
Snow free
Comments
yorknl on Cougar Lakes, Swamp Lake
Hi Katie (in case you ever check back to this TR),
I tried this hike in both 2021 and 2022 and was turned around by a big tree across the trail at the west end of the talus slope that's maybe half a mile or so east of Swamp Lake. People had obviously scrambled up the hillside and around but I didn't trust my ankles that much. Out of curiosity, was that still there and one of the "easy enough" blowdowns that you mentioned, or did it get cleared? Thank you!
Posted by:
yorknl on Aug 09, 2023 08:01 PM
KatieShaw on Cougar Lakes, Swamp Lake
Hello! I don't really remember any tree being a big enough problem that we couldn't easily get over it. Our small (19# dog) easily hopped over everything, and nothing that I remember felt unsafe. I wish I could say for sure it was cleared, but I just don't remember anything like that- especially near the the only talus slope. Hope you'll be able to get out there soon!
Posted by:
KatieShaw on Aug 09, 2023 08:44 PM
yorknl on Cougar Lakes, Swamp Lake
Thank you for your response! I'm reasonably certain that you would remembered it if it was still there and yes, from pre-2021 hikes I recall only one talus slope between the TH and Swamp Lake. I'll head over in a couple of weeks and give the trail a shot. Much appreciated! Cheers-
Posted by:
yorknl on Aug 10, 2023 11:58 AM