Mt Townsend

Park: Olympic National Forest National Forest, Quilcene region

Map

Green trails: Tyler Peak; USGS: Tyler Peak

6.3 km one way.

Terrain: Moderately gentle
Elevations (in meters)
Start: 1069End: 1914
Minimum: 1069Maximum: 1914
Net Gain: 845Cumulative Gain: 845

Upper Mt Townsend Trailhead: (121 km from Saanich Hall, ferry required). Drive south on Blanshard St for 4.9km to Belleville St. Follow this for about 1km to the ferry terminal. Take the ferry to Port Angeles then drive east on US#101 to Quilcene, go 1.6 km south to Penny Creek Road (if you pass the fish hatchery you"ve gone too far). Turn right onto Penny Creek road (the sign for this road was bent and unreadable from the highway at the time we did the hike, Penny Creek is at the top of a slight hill, it heads straight while the highway veers slightly to the left). Follow Penny Creek road to the end of the pavement. Bear left and continue on 2.4 km of gravel. The road will then become a one lane blacktop, continue on for approximately 17.7 km. Ignore the (3rd?) Mt Townsend sign (it says Mt Townsend 1 mile) staying on road 27. Turn left on road 190, a narrow dirt road, approximately 2.4 km to the trailhead. Driving distance (one way) was 108 km from Port Angeles. (A $5 parking fee is charged.)

Uses

Backcountry skiingStrenuous. Best from late November thru early April.
BackpackModerate.2.5 hours one way.Best from early June thru mid October.
Dayhike3 boot (moderate).2.5 hours one way.Best from late May thru mid October.
HorsebackModerate to strenuous.  

Description

Note: The length, elevation and descriptions here assume you are starting at the upper trailhead, starting at the lower trailhead adds 1.4km (one way) and about 150m elevation gain.

This trail is best hiked in early to mid June when the Rhododendruns are in bloom or a little later for the best wildflowers on the route up. Timing will depend on the snowpack from the previous winter and the nature of the spring weather.

The trail climbs through a confer forest with a rhododendrun understory at a steady grade from the trailhead, reaching Camp Windy (1615m) at 4.2km and the junction of the Silver Lakes trail (1675m) at 4.8km before the final 1.8km push to the summit. Beyond the summit one can take the Little Quilcene Trail (2.25km beyond) for a different return (multiple vehicles required) or return via the trail you hiked up. The later isn"t a bad option as the views on the return journey are ones you may not have seen on your hike up.

Features

This trail features fishing, flowers, forests, meadows, miscellaneous (Pets allowed), mountains, shrubs (Pacific rhododendrun), views and Wild Rhododendruns along with many other varieties of wild flowers.

Campsites along the trail

Camp Windy4.2 km 1615 meters
         		Water is unknown.
    Silver Lakes4.8 km 1675 meters
    • Fishing
    • Swimming
    		Water is unknown.
     Distance is to the junction only, the actual campsite is about 4km further.

    For additional information see:

    Olympic Mountains Trail Guide by Robert L. Wood.

    Other trails in Olympic National Forest

    Trail-conditions

    View trail condition reports for this trail.