Summit Lake – A perfect Washington backcountry Campsite

Last Updated: August 2025 | Reading Time: 13 minutes

I can’t remember where I first saw that photo—probably scrolling Instagram at 11pm after the kids were finally asleep—but I knew immediately: this was it. Our first real backpacking trip, just me and the kids. No backup parent. No “let’s wait for dad to get back from his work trip.” Just us.

I set a date, packed up my gear (a hefty 50 lbs that I’d question by mile 2), and loaded us into the car. My 7-year-old asked three times if we were “really doing this” and my 5-year-old mostly wanted to know about the s’mores situation. And just like that, I did it. I took my kids on our first solo backpacking trip to spend the night at Summit Lake, just outside Carbondale, Washington. Read on to discover why Summit Lake is the perfect backcountry campsite in Washington—and what we learned along the way.

Why Summit Lake?

Quite simply, the views. But also, let’s be honest—it was close enough that if everything went sideways, we could bail and be home for dinner.

Summit Lake is an ideal choice for a beginner backpacking trip for several reasons. First, it’s conveniently located near Seattle, making it easily accessible. Situated just outside of Mount Rainier National Park, it offers the added benefit of no entrance fees or backcountry permits for overnight stays. This flexibility allows you to plan around the weather and adjust as needed. Translation: When I checked the forecast obsessively for two weeks and kept moving our date, I didn’t lose any permit fees. The hike itself is moderate, but the payoff is well worth it—offering crazy views of Mount Rainier and a picturesque lake perfect for swimming. Plus, with water sources along the trail, you won’t need to carry too much, making it even easier to enjoy the adventure.

Preparing for our Backpacking Trip (AKA: How I Overpacked Everything)

This was our first solo overnight trip with the kids, and I’ve learned a lot about packing since then. At the time, my kids didn’t have their own packs, and I ended up overpacking. I spent the hike struggling under the weight of a 50-pound pack—it was tough, and I’m grateful to have learned from that experience.

Let me paint you the real picture: I packed like we were establishing a wilderness colony. Two changes of clothes per kid (they wore one). Five different dinner options (they ate mac and cheese). A full first aid kit that could handle major surgery (we used one bandaid for a non-existent boo-boo). Every. Single. Thing. went into my pack because the kids “couldn’t possibly carry anything.” Spoiler alert: they absolutely could have.

Here are my tips for making the trip more enjoyable for everyone:

My kids carry their own pack. Even if it’s just their sleeping bag and teddy bear, it matters. My 5-year-old now proudly tells everyone he “carries his own gear.” I ask them to only carry the lightest but bulky items like their sleeping bags, sleeping mat and clothes.

I have a list of all my packing items and each time I get home from a trip, I revisit if there are any items I deemed unnecessary. That luxury camp pillow? Gone. The “backup” stove? Nope. The three books I thought I’d read while the kids peacefully enjoyed nature? Hilarious. Especially when going with kids where I need to carry more than I typically do when I go solo.

I don’t overpack water. If there is a source along the trail I try to fill up routinely. Water is heavy. This alone saved me 8 pounds on future trips. My back still thanks me.

If this is your first backpacking trip you might be interested in >> How to get out on your first backpacking trip.

Getting there (The Road Report Drama)

When you read about this hike to Summit Lake the state of the road always comes up in the trip reports. It is horrendous but totally doable. Here’s the thing—hikers are dramatic about road conditions. One person’s “absolutely terrifying” is another person’s “Tuesday commute.” Different tolerances for different people can make it hard to decipher what is really impossible. I wouldn’t do it in a low clearance sedan but otherwise just go slow and you will be fine. We made it in my Subaru Outback, though I did have a brief moment of “what have I done” when we hit that third pothole that sounded expensive. It wasn’t.

The Hike In (Where Reality Hit)

Mile 0.5: “This is fun! We’re doing great!” Mile 1: “Hey guys, let’s take a snack break.” (I needed it more than them)
Mile 2: Definitely feeling the weight of that 50-pound pack while cheerfully singing trail songs
Mile 2.5: Bribery begins. “Just to that tree and you can have fruit snacks!”
Mile 3: My 5-year-old sits down and declares he lives here now

The hike up to the lake is pretty straight forward. The trail ascends at a steady incline through forests of old-growth trees, offering beautiful views of the forest and eventually wildflower meadows (in the summer). The kids actually forgot to complain for a solid 10 minutes when we hit the meadows—the flowers were “like rainbow carpet” according to my youngest. As you gain elevation, you’ll start to get glimpses of Mount Rainier, especially as you approach the lake. This is when my 7-year-old suddenly got his second wind. “IS THAT A VOLCANO?!” Yes, buddy. Yes it is. If you’re new to hiking with kids and want more tips for family-friendly mountain trails, check out our beginner’s guide to planning your first hiking adventure.

Where to set up your campsite + Our Experience (The Victory Lap)

There are numerous campsites along the lake in both directions, though most seem to be on the right side. When you reach the lake, the trail splits. Take the right path, passing all the lakeside campsites, and continue up toward the ridge. This last push was tough. The kids were tired, I was feeling every pound of that pack, but then…

Along the way, you’ll find a few scenic spots that offer stunning views of Mount Rainier, making the extra effort well worth it—especially if your kids are getting tired. “Kids, you can literally see Mount Rainier from your tent!” suddenly gave them superhero strength. If you’re new to family hiking adventures and want tips for making trail experiences smoother, check out our beginner’s guide to planning memorable hiking trips with kids. Once we reached the top, we set up camp (which with “helpers” took approximately three times longer than it should have—”No, the tent stake goes IN the ground, not used as a sword”), hung our food in a tree (since it’s bear country, you’ll need a bear canister or a tree hang) while explaining to two small humans why bears can’t have our mac and cheese, and watched the sunset. It was nothing short of magical. My 5-year-old leaned against me and whispered, “Mom, we’re really high up.” Yes baby, we really are.

Make sure you check out the stars! After an hour of trying to get my kids to sleep (highlights included: “I hear a noise,” “I’m not tired,” “Can we do s’mores again?” and my personal favorite, “I think I need to pee”) I stepped out of the tent for a look at the stars. Spectacular. I stood there in my camp shoes, puffy jacket over my pajamas, feeling this mix of exhaustion and pride. We’d actually done it. After some time I crawled into my sleeping bag, set my alarm to see the sunrise and fell asleep next to my kids feeling proud. We made it and so far it felt like success.

The morning came quickly and the sunrise waiting for me was just awesome.

I stood there at 5:47am, caught between photographer’s ambition and mom anxiety. Mount Rainier was starting to glow pink—the kind of light photographers dream about. The ridge above camp would give me the perfect shot. But every few seconds, I’d glance back at the tent. Were they still asleep? What if they woke up and I wasn’t there? In the end, I compromised—walked just far enough to get a decent shot but close enough to hear if someone yelled “MOOOOM!” The photo isn’t perfect, but the memory is. If you’re a parent planning your first hiking adventure with kids, check out our beginner’s guide to creating memorable family hiking experiences. These tips can help make your mountain mornings just as magical and stress-free.

I hope to go back this summer and head up a little higher and definitely recommend you do too. Though next time, the kids are definitely old enough to carry their own water.

Conclusion

That morning, while we ate instant oatmeal that my 7-year-old declared “actually pretty good when you’re on a mountain,” I asked them if they wanted to do this again.

“Can we bring dad next time?” my 5-year-old asked.

“So he can carry some of the stuff?” I joked.

“No,” he said seriously, “so he can see how cool we are.”

That’s when I knew— For a quick and easy overnight with or without kids, this is one of the most impressive campsites I have experienced. The views of Mt Rainier at sunrise are beyond beautiful. The evergreens that surround the lake seem to be in every shade of emerald, and the dark and deep shade of blue of Summit Lake can take your breath away. But honestly? The best view was watching my kids’ faces when they realized what we’d accomplished together.

I hope you make it to Summit Lake – it really is the perfect Washington backcountry campsite! And if you see a mom with an overstuffed pack and two small hikers asking “are we there yet?”—come say hi. That’s probably us on our next adventure, still figuring it out as we go.