Hike of the Week: Ned Hill

A bouquet of rhodies frame the old Ned Hill Lookout

Ned Hill

Rhododendrons transform hike into purple mountain majesty

by Craig Romano
photo by Craig Romano
produced by Michael Fagin

June 8, 2007

Quick Facts
Location: North Olympic Peninsula
Land Agency: Olympic National Forest
Roundtrip: 2.2 miles
Elevation gain: 850 feet
Contact: Hood Canal Ranger District, Quilcene (360) 765-2000; www.fs.fed.us/r6/olympic
Green Trails Map: Tyler Peak, WA-No 136
Access: From Sequim, head west 2.5 miles on US 101 turning left onto the Taylor Cut-off Road (just after crossing the Dungeness River). In 2.6 miles, bear right onto Lost Mountain Road. In another 2.6 miles turn left onto dirt FR 2870. In 1.0 mile bear right onto FR 2875 and in 3.5 miles come to an intersection at primitive Slab Camp. Turn left onto FR 2878 and in .4 mile reach trail located on your right; limited parking on left shoulder of road.


A short but steep trip to an historic fire lookout on the edge of the Buckhorn Wilderness, the views are all but gone. So why go? Because Ned rolls out a showy purple carpet every year around this time, that's why! Come June this normally indiscrete trail is transformed into a tunnel of blooming rhododendrons splashing the hillside in shades of purple and pink. And aside from hundreds of dazzling bouquets dangling along the trail, chances are you'll have this entire floral show to yourself.
From its unimposing start, the Ned Hill Trail takes off on a steep climb through a jungle of rhododendron sprinkled with salal and Oregon grape. The trail was constructed in the 1930s in a no nonsense fashion to service a makeshift fire lookout after much of the surrounding forest went up in smoke. Eventually the forest recovered, the lookout fell into disrepair and the trail was abandoned. But in the 1990s longtime US Forest Service employee, Jim Halvorsm reopened it.
While only slightly longer than a mile, this trail will knock the wind out of you with its 30% grade in places. So explains the handful of benches along the way. Blackened and silver snags, testaments to the great fire of yesteryear periodically punctuate the emerald canopy of the succeeding forest. After 1.1 tough miles, come to Ned Hill's summit complete with decaying provisional fire lookout. A fence encloses it. Please stay off of the lookout for your safety and the preservation of this historic relic. Besides, there are no views anyways; the forest has grown up around it. If you snoop a little around Ned however, you may get a peek-a-boo view of Deer Ridge, Maynard Peak and Baldy. In the meanwhile however, all of those gorgeous rhodie blossoms should keep you awing.

For information on lodging and other attractions near Ned Hill visit
Click here for link to Olympic Pennsula