Puyallup Trail #248

Puyallup Trail #248 is a long-distance hiking route in Glacier View Wilderness and Mount Rainier National Park in Washington. It’s the classic access line to sub-alpine lakes and open meadows, with a continuation toward Gobbler’s Knob and the historic Gobbler’s Knob Fire Lookout.

Typical distance is about 6 miles round-trip when starting from the Glacier View Wilderness side, with elevation gain around 1,800 feet. Expect a moderate-to-strenuous effort over the full out-and-back experience.

On trail, you’ll move from forested hiking into the meadows around Beljica Meadows, then continue onward to Goat Lake. Goat Lake is a key mid-route destination on the line of travel for Puyallup Trail #248.

From Goat Lake, the route continues by a trail junction and trends upward into the national park area, eventually reaching the route connection at the park boundary where Puyallup Trail #248 meets the Gobbler’s Knob Trail.

If you’re building a full day around the lookout, plan for the final push up to the Gobbler’s Knob Fire Lookout (historic tower site at 5,485 ft).

Trail access to these wilderness and park trailheads can be affected by road washouts; when approaching the west-side approach, conditions can change enough that you may need to reroute through Mount Rainier National Park instead of using the usual forest access road.

More information: Visitor information, South Puyallup Trail, Lake George, Gobblers Knob, Westside ..., Best Easy Day Hikes Tacoma by Allen Cox