The trip from our Glacier Peak Resort Campground in Rockport, Washington to our Packwood RV Park site in Packwood, Washington was less than 4 hours. With an easy drive day to get from one place to the next, we were able to enjoy a little slower morning packing up in Packwood. Extra time is always a nice change of pace when we’re bouncing around from campsite to campsite.
We (I?) felt like the North Cascades Highway was a little sketchy for travel with a 30′ travel trailer in tow. But let me tell you what – that road is smooth sailing compared to Route 123 around Mount Rainer. I had my eyes covered for at least half of it. When I did have my eyes open it was beautiful. Mike was, as usual, completely unfazed by the winding road and steep cliffs.
We pulled into Packwood RV Park safe and sound, to find a campground with even fewer amenities than Glacier Peak Resort in North Cascades. BUT… our rate per night was one of the lowest of our trip, we had FULL hook-ups, and the person in the office at check-in was incredibly kind and friendly. We quickly found that what the campground itself lacked in amenities, the surrounding town (and the campground is smack dab in the center of Packwood) makes up for tenfold.
The Packwood Brewing Company (which we would visit twice over our three-night stay) was directly across the street next to Mountain Goat Coffee Company (the coffee shop we would visit for breakfast on our way out of town in three days – they made the most delicious savory scone!) There was a saloon bar and grill, a hardware store (where we picked up some materials to fix up some of the damage done to our camper during tire blowout number two), and an IGA grocery store, to list the highlights.
We checked in on July 3rd, and I found information online about fireworks that night in the neighboring town of Randle. After dinner, and some chatting with neighbors in the campground about favorite hikes at Mount Rainier, we made the 20-minute trek down the road to catch the fireworks show.
The lake we live on full-time is typically a very quiet spot in very rural Pennsylvania, but we’re a lake that loves 4th of July and loves fireworks. We were all feeling the teensiest bit homesick knowing that we were missing the biggest party of the year back home. The Randle fireworks offered us a little taste of home for the 4th.
The weather report looked beautiful in Packwood for the next day, and we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate Independence Day than hiking in one of America’s most beautiful places! Mount Rainier’s Paradise Corridor, which we planned to drive via the Stevens Canyon entrance to hike the Skyline Trail, requires a reservation. Like Glacier National Park, we were able to reserve a spot at 7 pm the evening before.
With our Paradise Corridor reservation made and our annual fireworks viewed, we set our alarms for an early depart for another glorious snowy hike – this time, up Mount Rainier!
