Set at the base of the Tatoosh Range and on the banks of the Cowlitz River, Packwood is surrounded by dramatic natural landscapes, most of which are in public ownership. Packwood, located less than ten miles from the Ohanapecosh entrance to Mount Rainier National Park, also has a fairly direct connection to the park’s Nisqually entrance via Skate Creek Road during the summer months. The area offers a wide range of lodging near Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, and the Gifford-Pinchot National Forest in the summer. Packwood provides lodging for White Pass Ski Area skiers and snowshoers during the winter. The Cowlitz River comes crashing off a glacier high on the flanks of Mount Rainier and winds through Packwood. Steelhead in the river makes fishing wonderful. Mushrooms and huckleberries abound in the forests. Camping and lodging provide a perfect respite for adventure and leisure travelers.
Proximity to Mount Rainier National Park, White Pass Ski Area, and the Cowlitz River make this area a base camp for recreation. The town of Packwood has historically relied on the forest products industry as an economic engine, supplemented by government employment (via the National Forest and Park Services) and seasonal tourism.
