Mount Townsend

Trip

Day Hike - Mount Townsend Trail

Standard route via the upper TH. It's a popular trail so hopefully there'll be a decent boot path through the snow lingering en route the summit ridge. please bring waterproof boots, trekking pole(s), micro-spikes or equivalent traction devices since we'll definitely be encountering snow. Gaiters also recommended..

  • Strenuous
  • Moderate
  • Mileage: 8.0 mi
  • Elevation Gain: 2,900 ft
  • High Point Elevation: 6,260 ft
  • Pace: moderate conditioning pace (~2.0 mph)

Meet at the TH, geared up and ready to hike, at 8:30am (taking the 6:10am Edmonds-Kingston ferry would work). Don't be scared off by the 13 miles on FR27 to get to the TH, it is (unusually) mostly paved.  It's a very popular TH - carpooling is recommended. We may want to coordinate a car shuttle from nearby Quilcene Ranger Station. 

  Please have waterproof boots; trekking poles and microspikes strongly recommended. Rhodies will hopefully be in bloom, compensating for any difficulties from the late snow.  If the going gets beyond hiking difficulty we will turn back. 

I prefer fewer group halts. It isn't a CHS series hike and I'm not a particularly fast hiker so it definitely won't be a race to the top. But I find it beneficial to keep a moderate steady pace and with a larger group if we all stop every time anyone needs to do anything, the overall pace will necessarily be slow. So we may get a tiny bit spread out as folks individually stop for clothing adjustments, photos, etc. There will always be a designated person at point and sweep positions and we'll take group breaks as needed, including waiting for everyone at each junction and sticking together if & when we encounter significant snow.  Most of the time you should be able to see someone else but not necessarily the entire group. If you are more comfortable staying closer together and/or prefer a social pace with lots of breaks en route this may not be an ideal hike for you.

Route/Place

Mount Townsend



  • USGS Mt Townsend

    Green Trails Olympic Mountains East No. 168S

    Custom Correct Buckhorn Wilderness
  • See full route/place details.
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Required Equipment

Required Equipment

The Ten Essentials

  • Navigation
  • Headlamp
  • Sun protection
  • First aid
  • Knife
  • Fire
  • Shelter
  • Extra food
  • Extra water
  • Extra clothes
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