Itinerary
- Day 1
Olympia to Goat Rocks Wilderness
Your guide picks you up from your hotel in Olympia and you'll drive for about 2.5 hours to the trailhead while learning about the area's plants, wildlife, and natural history. After grabbing lunch at the trailhead, the real work begins as you climb over 2,000 feet through thick moss and fern-covered forest that gradually opens up into alpine terrain with wildflowers dotting the landscape. By evening you'll reach a beautiful lake, set up camp, and settle in for a hearty backcountry dinner.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner (Hearty backcountry dinner)
Included Activities
- Guided drive from Olympia to trailhead with interpretations of local flora, fauna, and natural history
- Lunch at trailhead
- 2,000+ feet elevation gain hike to alpine ridge and camp
- Backcountry dinner preparation by guide
Landmarks/POIs Goat Rocks Wilderness - Day 2
Goat Rocks Wilderness High Alpine
This morning starts early with the mountain sunrise and a hot breakfast prepared by your guide. After breaking camp, you're climbing another 2,000 feet on rocky switchbacks that take you deeper into alpine country along the Pacific Crest Trail ridge. The views from up here are really something, with Mt Rainier, Mt Adams, Mt Saint Helens, and Mt Hood all visible, and you can see down into the Cispus and Klickitat River Basins. You'll make it to camp near a small creek, tired but satisfied from the elevation gain.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Backcountry dinner)
Included Activities
- Breakfast at camp
- Breaking camp and hiking 2,000 feet elevation gain on rocky switchbacks
- Traversing Pacific Crest Trail ridge line
- Viewing Mt Rainier, Mt Adams, Mt Saint Helens, Mt Hood, Cispus River Basin, and Klickitat River Basin
- Backcountry dinner at camp near creek
Landmarks/POIs Pacific Crest Trail Mt Rainier Mt Adams Mt Saint Helens Mt Hood - Day 3
Knife Ridge to Highest Elevation
After breakfast and your morning routine, you'll continue on the PCT and cross the famous Knife Ridge with steep valleys dropping off on both sides and Mt Rainier commanding your attention to the north while Mt Adams sits to the south. From there the trail descends back into the forest for your final push to camp, and you'll reach the highest point of the entire trip at 7,204 feet. Walking through the heart of an ancient extinct volcano, you'll pass above two glaciers before following gentle switchbacks down to tonight's camp tucked in a lush forest on a saddle.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Delicious backcountry dinner)
Included Activities
- Breakfast at camp
- Breaking camp and continuing along Pacific Crest Trail
- Crossing Knife Ridge
- Walking through heart of ancient extinct volcano
- Passing above two glaciers
- Reaching 7,204 ft highest elevation
- Hiking gentle switchbacks to final camp location
- Backcountry dinner
Landmarks/POIs Knife Ridge Mt Rainier Mt Adams - Day 4
Forest Descent to Mountain Lake
You'll wake in the old-growth forest and have breakfast whenever you feel like it, with time to either find some quiet solitude or hang out with the other hikers. The trail descends through dense forest, and you'll see the dramatic remnants of an old landslide before tackling some steep and rugged sections. From there you weave across a glacier-fed creek surrounded by ferns, salmonberries, and wildflowers until you reach the valley floor and a large lake where you'll make camp. After setting up, you can swim or wade in the clear water before dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Final backcountry dinner)
Included Activities
- Breakfast at camp
- Breaking camp and descending through old-growth forest
- Passing old landslide viewpoint
- Navigating steep and rugged trail sections
- Hiking over glacier-fed creek
- Reaching large lake and setting up camp
- Optional swimming or wading in mountain lake
- Final backcountry dinner
Optional Activities
- Swimming in the clear mountain lake
- Wading in the lake
Landmarks/POIs Goat Rocks Wilderness - Day 5
Return to Olympia
On your final day, breakfast and lunch are included before your drive back to Olympia. Your guide makes sure your exit from the wilderness is comfortable and you'll have plenty of food to fuel you for the journey home.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Return drive to Olympia
