Information about this hike provided in partnership with
Mountaineers Books.
Copyright © Craig Romano/The Mountaineers Books Mount Zion
Featured In:
Day Hiking: Olympic Peninsula,
by Craig Romano.
A portion of all book sales from the links above benefits WTA and helps protect and maintain our trails. On a well-built and well-maintained trail, begin in a mature forest of fir and hemlock. The way is pretty straightforward. The trail angles up the mountain, steeply at times, but never at an insane angle. The way is dry, lined with salal and under a tunnel of rhododendrons. Mount Zion ranks as one of the supreme rhody hikes in the Olympics. Big blackened snags stand as reminders to the large-scale fires that swept over this corner of the Olympic National Forest many decades ago. After marching up a ridge, the trail sweeps west and then makes a wide sweep back to the east, steadily gaining elevation. Negotiate a short series of switchbacks before skirting a series of basalt ledges. At 1.8 miles, arrive on the rocky summit. A fire tower perched here until 1975. The sur-rounding forest has slowly been encroaching upon the view, blocking much of what was once a supreme vista. Mount Baker, the San Juan Islands, Puget Sound and the Quim-per Peninsula can still be seen over the tops of tenacious conifers. But for the premiere showing-the promised views-carry on a little farther. Locate a trail heading southeast from the summit and follow it. Pass a spring that once provided water for the fire-lookout personnel. Continue on good tread and after 0.5 mile of fairly level hiking emerge on a huge outcropping, your portal to panoramic pleasures. Using caution, climb a little onto the open ledge, and then enjoy the view. Mount Townsend dominates the southern horizon, while the rocky high wall of the Gray Wolf Ridge commands the western sky. It's a heavenly view, and what you'd expect from a mountain named Zion.
Driving Directions:
From Quilcene drive US 101 north for 1.5 miles, turning left (west) onto Lords Lake Loop Road. In 3.5 miles turn left at a junction at Lords Lake (a public water supply). Continue for 0.7 mile, entering the Olympic National Forest. Bear right on gravel For-est Road 28 and climb 4.75 miles to an unmarked junction at Bon Jon Pass (pass the junction with FR 27). Bear right on FR 2810 and in 2.3 miles come to the Mount Zion trailhead. Privy available. Recent Trip Reports
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Mount Zion
— Jan 07, 2012
— Les Stanwood
Day hike
Issues:
Snow on trail
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The road to the Mt. Zion trailhead was open from both sides (Quilcene and Palo Alto Rd.) Only an...
The road to the Mt. Zion trailhead was open from both sides (Quilcene and Palo Alto Rd.) Only an inch or two of snow on the road. The Zion trail was clear of snow until the top, where I found about 3 inches of new snow. All in all, a nice winter hike. No guarantee it will remain accesible, of course.
Mount Zion
— Dec 31, 2011
— adarnton
Day hike
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Nice day for a hike. Almost all of the snow has melted off the mountain. We hit a few small...
Nice day for a hike. Almost all of the snow has melted off the mountain. We hit a few small patches of ice but nothing significant. The trail was not very busy. We saw three groups at the trail head but none on the mountain. Happy trails.
Mount Zion
— Aug 20, 2011
— dwfreddie
Day hike
Issues:
No water source
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Nike hike with good, though not amazing views. The views at the summit would be amazing but for the...
Nike hike with good, though not amazing views. The views at the summit would be amazing but for the trees that obscure on many sides. The trail was nice and an okay workout. Good for people who are in decent but not great shape, but still fun for those who are in shape. Came on a very sunny day and only saw three other groups of people the entire time. Saw two dogs who both appeared to be having a blast. If I ever do this hike again, I will definitely return when the rhodies are in bloom- they are everywhere and I can imagine how stunning they would be. Pack water- no source to refill.
Day hike
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Nice to return in the summer! Hiked up in the snow last New Years Eve. Criminal and I made several...
Nice to return in the summer! Hiked up in the snow last New Years Eve. Criminal and I made several contacts on our amateur radios, including a nice gentleman on Orcas Island. Nice little hike!
Mount Zion
— Aug 06, 2011
— jessihs
Day hike
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When we pulled up to the trailhead, there was only one other vehicle in the lot and it left almost...
When we pulled up to the trailhead, there was only one other vehicle in the lot and it left almost immediately. Not too shabby for a non-rainy summer day in Western Washington! The trail is in excellent condition and you do not need 4WD or high clearance to reach the trailhead.
We made fairly good time to the summit, but unfortunately, there were no views to be had as the summit was socked in. We started to search around for the 0.5 mile spur trail that leads to more views. The WTA description says it's located southeast of the summit but after a quick search, we couldn't find the spur and decided to just head down since it was still cloudy anyway. On our way out, we glanced at the information board at the trailhead and saw that the spur trail is actually at the NORTH end of the summit. Oh well, next time we will find the spur, and hopefully next time the skies will be clear as well! |
Photo by Dreamteam.
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