If you love the outdoors and want a place to get away from it all, you can't do better than Bumping Lake and Goose Prairie off Hwy 410 on the Chinook Scenic Byway. Camping, fishing, boating, and hiking opportunities abound in this popular recreational destination.
Bumping Lake itself is a natural feature expanded by a dam in 1910, and is surrounded by a mixture of private, National Forest, and National Wilderness lands. This large mountain lake is perfect for fishing, swimming, and other water activities, and offers great views in every direction whether you are on its shores or in the water.
Six campgrounds are located along the lake as well as a boat launch and day-use picnic area, and more camping sites are scattered throughout the area.
The surrounding National Wilderness area is named for Chief Justice William O. Douglas of the U.S. Supreme Court, who owned a home in Goose Prairie and spent much time hunting, hiking, and fishing here.
The WTA writeup on Bumping Lake Trail says, "In Of Men and Mountains, Douglas devotes a chapter to Jack Nelson and his wife Kitty, the first gatetenders of the Bumping Lake Dam (completed in 1913). The two made an excellent team and kept an eye on the lake for the next thirty years. Douglas would stop at their cabin as a young man and drink a cup of hot coffee before his own hikes along the trail and into the wilderness."
The region provides hiking trails for all levels and abilities, ranging from lake shore strolls to hiking the formidable trail to the beautiful Nelson Ridge and onward to the lofty summit of Mt. Aix.
This cache is located at the beginning of the Bumping Lake Trail, which follows the west shoreline of the lake into the National Wilderness. It offers absolutely beautiful hiking and solitude, wending through old-growth conifers with outstanding views of the lake and Nelson Ridge. Along the way, you may see wildflowers, wildlife ranging from elk to dragonflies, and huge anthills up to three feet high.
2016 was the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, and to celebrate, Visit Rainier and WSGA are hosting the Visit Rainier Centennial GeoTour - 100 caches placed in and around Mount Rainier National Park. The geocaches highlight the rich history, scenic wonders, quaint communities, and hidden gems of the Rainier region.
The caches were released in four series of 25 caches each during 2015 and 2016. Participants record their finds in passports, which may be turned in upon completion of each series to receive a prize. Each series has a unique prize, and a commemorative geocoin is awarded to those finding all 100 GeoTour caches (while supplies last).
The Rainier Centennial GeoTour is sponsored by Visit Rainier and Washington State Geocaching Association (WSGA). We hope you enjoy touring the Mount Rainier area as much as we do!
