Trip report by A. Farkas
Mt. Townsend was a great hike to get a bird's-eye view of our region. Views include the entire Cascade range (Adams to Baker), The Puget Sound laid out below (bring a map to identify the San Juans, Whidbey, etc.), Canada & the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and of course the rugged Olympics nearby. You also get to see the human development of the region as Port Townsend, the Hood Canal Bridge, and Seattle are all in view. This may be the hike in which the clearcuts (not too prominent) visible from the top are least offensive, completing the picture of what the area is about.
The hike starts out fairly steeply in the woods. The guidebooks mention wonderful rhododendrons blooming in the early summer, but only the last two plants on the trail were still in bloom. Further on, once the trail emerged from the forest, wildflowers were abundant in both quantity and variety.
There were a fair number of people on the trail (as well as two llamas & a horse), but most seemed to be satisfied with stopping at the first of the two peaks. An additional five minute walk will get you a little more solitude on the second peak.
Getting there: I started this hike from the upper trailhead off Forest Road 27. The summit can also be reached from the other side from a trailhed off FR 28. (I think that with two cars this would make a good one way day hike). There is road work & a washout in the area so call the Forest Service Ranger for directions (web link for phone number available on Cooltrails).
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.