Trip report by: Beck
"I would definitely recommend this trip to a friend."
Taking a day hike or overnight trip to Buckhorn Mountain is definetly worth the effort. The trail to the 6988' west summit is a walk up with no real scrambling and rewards the hiker with view of the Canadian coastal range, Puget Sound laid out below you and the southern volcanos as well as many of the Olympic Mountain summits.
Drive approximately one and a half miles south out of Qulicene onto forest service roads and drive to the end of the Big Quilcene River Road trailhead (a forest service road map is handy for this as there are several turns to be made and the forks aren't all signed).
From the trailhead hike about 3.5 mostly level miles to shelter rock camp, fill up the water bottles here or pitch the tents if you're not feeling ambitious. The next 2 miles are steeper and dry up to an often crowded camping area, Camp Mystery, the last reliable water source for the climb. A short 15-25 minute hike brings you up to Marmot Pass, a great destination in itself.
Climb the ridge to the right for another thousand feet to the summit of Buckhorn Mountain, or climb out of Marmot Pass south up to the Ridge of Gargoyles for some more ambitious rock climbing. A great trip with great views and not too far for a day trip if you're feeling strong and can hike 11-12 miles.
Note: This is backcountry wilderness travel. Any trail can become very dangerous in winter conditions. You are responsible for informing yourself of the hazards and taking the necessary precautions. Please read Terms of Use.