Ok, I know this feels a little strange to include a section on this, but there are so many things that we learned when we first moved to Packwood that we wish someone had told us in advance. The list is by no means exhaustive, but these nine points are those that have come up again and again in our time here. We hope they help you and group make the most of your time here.

It may sound like an outdated practice, but GPS doesn't always account for seasonal road closures or the random summer blizzard on the pass. Because of this, we recommend checking with NOAA for weather conditions during your stay and WSDOT for mountain pass conditions and possible road closures. In late summer, we've found SWCAA helpful on the small chance there's road closures on our side of the pass for wildfires.

On site we have a dual powered pizza oven for your use. We have supplied the preferred method of propane and highly recommend giving it a try for anything from pizza to steak. Working with a pizza oven can be a bit of a learning curve so here are a few resources in preparation.

Vito's Dome review: this one is for those that really want to understand the details. It's 20 mins, but has really helpful pizza making tips.

Gozney academy

Gozney's YouTube for inspiration

There are some pretty incredible tour guides out there. If you’re looking for a small group guide, we’d like you to introduce you to Tour Mt Rainier. You can meet Diann at a trailhead in Mt. Rainier National Park and enjoy a fully guided, private experience. Choose from a variety of hikes with the opportunity to observe wildlife, enjoy wildflowers, glaciers, waterfalls, and more. She offers hikes for different skill levels with a variety of terrain. You private hike includes use of trekking poles, binoculars, a certified Wilderness First Aid guide, and best of all- snacks.

There are countless travel bloggers and hiking guides out there to help you plan your stay. For hiking guides, we’re a big fan of the Washington Trail Association (WTA). For self guided, we really like Renee Roaming’s Mount Rainier itinerary. As always, please make sure you bring the right gear, food, and water. This guide contains some helpful tips.

The National Park Service website is a must for planning your time in the park as conditions change often. If you plan on traveling with your dog and would like to leave them at the cabin while you hike in the park, we ask that you crate your dog(s) as they are unfortunately not permitted on walking trails. Insider tip- we head to the park with our dog often and settle for a picnic or morning coffee in the parking lot with an epic view.

Mount St Helens is famously know for the 1980 eruption that coated the PNW with layers of ash and a new look. Today, it is a beautifully diverse landscape with incredible hiking and history. Johnston observatory, as an example, was named to honor the volcanologist who made the call to warn others when the eruption began.

A bonus note- some of the boundary trails are dog friendly and much less crowded than the dog friendly boundary trails at Rainier.

Next to Packwood, this is one of the best kept secrets in the PNW. This small, community owned mountain provides epic views on bluebird days and great snow late into the season. Boasting both alipne and nordic skiing areas at affordable lift ticket prices, this hidden gem is located just 30 mins from our front door.