CHS 2 Hike - Mount Townsend

Check out this 8.5-mile out-and-back trail near Quilcene, Washington. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 5 h 34 min to complete.

The road to the trailhead is mostly paved with some gravel spots. There is no cell service on the road to the trailhead. The road is a single track with plenty of spots to pull out and let cars pass. There are big potholes in the paved road but they’re marked pretty clearly with yellow paint. When you finally get to the end of the paved forest service road and take the left to the trailhead it turns to gravel again and this past half a mile or so had the worst potholes of the whole trip. It's passable in a low-clearance vehicle if you take it slow and use caution.

The parking lot holds about 12 cars and fills up quickly. There is a vault-style toilet at the trailhead. There are three sets of switchbacks. The first set feels the steepest. You'll then walk through the shaded forest until the second set of switchbacks. Started ducking in and out of the forest at this point. The third set of switchbacks are steep and fully exposed to the sun. After the last set of switchbacks, you get to the top of the ridge. Once you are there, get ready for your Sound of Music moment because it is GORGEOUS. Stunning views of the next ridge and the summit. On a clear day, you can see Mt. Baker and Mount Rainier.

6:30am Edmonds Ferry Terminal