Silver Lake Way Trail

There are four trailheads that guide you to the top of Mount Townsend, but the most popular choice is to begin at the Upper Trailhead Trail #839 (snow permitting).  The trail gradually climbs while traversing through forested area. While walking through the fir and hemlock trees, you pass three gurgling stream gullies that are wonderful places to cool off or grab some water. Soon after, you br...

If you're looking for a long day hike or multi-night backpacking trip in the Olympics, add Royal Lake and Royal Basin to your adventure list!   The first mile of trail along the Dungeness River gains a gentle 300 feet.  When you reach the bridge, do not cross it (the trail across the bridge goes to Marmot Pass in the Buckhorn Wilderness).  Take a right and follow the sign to Royal Basin! For ...

The secret to this trip: Marmot Pass and Boulder Shelter, where you can camp on National Forest Service land. Multiple excellent, large backpacking sites sit just on the edge of the National Park, giving you great access to Mt. Constance and Mt. Deception, two of the tallest peaks in the Olympics. And Marmot Pass itself is not something to be overlooked--it is an absolutely stunning route on th...

The climb to Buckhorn Mountain above Marmot Pass is a must see for every PNW adventurer with the endurance to tackle nearly 14 miles and 4,400 feet of gain.  Listen to the rushing waters of the Big Quilcene River as the trail gently traverses up 5.5 miles to Marmot Pass.  Be sure to filter water at Camp Mystery, just below the final climb to Marmot Pass.  This is the last water source until you...

This trail has a nice, steady climb that's perfect for beginner or intermediate backpackers. The first 2.5 miles follow a forest trail along the Big Quilcene River. For the next 3 miles, the trail flows in and out of shaded trees, over a small talus field, and through a meadow before the final accent to the pass. From here, follow the ridge to the right or left and find your camp. If you want ...

While this hike does not provide any sort of fantastic views, its does provide an easy ~13 mile roundtrip hike from the trailhead to a parking lot for the Upper Big Quilcene Trail which leads to Marmot Pass. Along the way you will cross several bridges, some large and wide, other simple log bridges with one sided rails. There are several camping spots along the way, both right next to the river...