Hike of the Week: Lower Quilcene

Townsend Creek offers a nice spot to appreciate the beauty of the Lower Big Quilcene Valley.

Lower Quilcene

Lowland hike teems with primeval beauty

by Craig Romano
photo by Craig Romano
produced by Michael Fagin

April 15, 2005
Quick Facts
Location: Olympic National Forest, Hood Canal District
Land Agency: National Forest Service
Roundtrip: 12.4 miles (to Upper Big Quilcene Trailhead)
Cumulative Elevation gain: 1,100 feet
Access: From Quilcene, WA drive south on US 101 for one mile. Turn right (west) onto Penny Creek Road. After 1.5 miles turn left onto Big Quilcene River Road (Forest Road 27). Follow this paved road 3 miles-then turn left onto FR 2780. Trailhead is in .5 mile.
Notes: NW Forest Pass required
Green Trails Map: Tyler Peak, WA No. 136

Big Quilcene Trail no. 833.1 to Marmot Pass is one of the most popular trails in the Olympic National Forest. And understandably so-with sweeping vistas, old-growth forests, abundant wildlife and hugging the Big Quilcene River for several miles-it’s a Northwest classic. Many hikers don't realize though, that the trail they're hiking on was once twice as long. The road that delivered them to the trailhead severed the Big Quilcene Trail in two.
The good news though, is that the entire trail still exists; the eastern 6 miles now known as Lower Big Quilcene Trail no. 833. And although this section was left out of the Buckhorn Wilderness, it's still quite wild in places. A good part of the Lower Big Quilcene River runs through a rugged canyon cloaked in primeval forest. And while past logging has eaten away at the periphery, there are still plenty of ancient groves along the way. When the adjacent high country is shrouded in snow, the lower valley teems with elk-and a good number of coyotes, too.
Starting at an elevation of 1,300 feet, the Lower Big Quilcene Trail climbs a mere 1,200 feet in its 6.2 mile journey. Besides making for an easy trek, this low elevation is ideal for an early season hike. And if you wait until early summer before hitting this trail, you'll be rewarded with blooming rhododendrons.
The trail passes by old camp and shelter sites-testaments to when there was no shorter trail to Marmot Pass. And although the shelters are long gone, the quiet groves that they once sat in, still invite you to spend the night, if you feel inclined to pack a tent. Hikers not intent on completing the entire trail can opt to hoof the first 2.5 miles to Townsend Creek. This scenic spot is ideal for contemplation and relaxation.
But no matter how far you venture up this trail, the Lower Big Quilcene offers one of the best low-country valley hikes in the leeward Olympics.