This hike has been on my wish list for several years and it did not disappoint.
Road up was windy, on and off gravel with some dips and potholes but any vehicle should be able to make it. We arrived just before 7 am on Friday with only 3 other cars at the trailhead. There is a toilet that was clean and stocked with TP. 
According to a sign at the trailhead the first 3 miles are at a 20 percent grade. Trail is steep but in great shape. Thank you WTA! 
Abundant wildflowers throughout the hike, so many different types including paintbrush, arnica, penstemon, tiger lilies, columbine, harebell and many others.  Glacier peak was the first volcano to show above the clouds, next Rainier and finally Baker at the summit. Beautiful views in all directions, binoculars were helpful, with them we could see the lighthouse on the Dungeness spit. 
Glad to have poles on the way down. Trip took 5.5 hours with a 40 minute stay at the top. Parking lot was mostly full with some cars parked along the road at 1230. 

This is one of my favorite destinations, but I was hesitant to go today because of the forecast, clouds moving in. Decided to go for it anyway, late start, got to the trailhead around 11am and snagged the last viable parking spot. Two cars that had been following behind me were able to park off on the shoulder, but the lot was totally full on a cloudy Wednesday morning. Mist and fog rolled steadily in as we climbed, but I welcomed the coolness as I was still sweating profusely from the workout. With no views to distract, my attention was focused on the plethora of wildflowers that blanketed the mountainside. Wildflowers were definitely the highlight of this trip. Dog and I made it to the top in a couple hours, no views at all, just wind and mist at the top. Fortunately I have been up at the summit numerous times before, so it was ok, but I’d say for anyone doing this hike for the first time, make sure you have clear skies in the forecast. It’s a lot of work to get up there, and you’ll want to be rewarded with the jaw dropping views. For me today, this was just what I needed!

We decided to start from the lower trailhead today which adds about 2 miles and 500 feet gain. The trail is in great condition, nice easy tread. if backpacking be aware there are not many water sources. the last good water source is about 1.5 miles up from the upper trailhead. There is water at camp windy, but not the best source. The flowers are past their prime, but still beautiful. With the haze today we were still able to see Baker, the Stuart Range, Glacier Peak and Rainier from the Ridge. the flies were an annoyance and biting when there wasn't much breeze. the top part of the trail has less shade. Be prepared on a warm day with plenty of water. (We had plenty).

Got to the trailhead around 10am on Thursday and the parking lot was almost with more room along the road. The trail really is 4 miles of switchbacks up! The grade was never too bad, but it is relentless. It was mostly shady, but the more exposed parts were graced with incredible wildflowers!

We bright about 2L of water each and should have brought a little more.

Views were incredible at the top. We could see out to Canada and the waterways around the Kitsap, but we could not quite make out the Cascades because of the light haze.

Overall a very rewarding hike and we’d do it again!

At 10 a.m. this Tuesday, the upper trail lot was full on the hill side and empty on the opposite side, where we started angle-in parking. Plenty of space remaining.

Wildflowers were abundant -- paintbrush (orange-red), lupine (bluish-purple), columbine (red), lily (orangish), daisies, penstemon (magenta and purple), bunchberry (white -- in the forest), Jacob's ladder (light blue), cinquefoil (yellow), campanula (blue-purple) ...  (Flower names and photos from Antares B.)

The Townsend view ridge is special among all Washington mountain views -- on an ideal day, from the top you see Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Rainier, Glacier Peak, Mt. Baker, mountains beyond Vancouver. And look south and west into the Olympics (And walk to the north end of the ridge for a look to Victoria and further down the Strait of Juan de Fuca.) Not to mention the wonderful look down to the Sound, waterways around Kitsap and all those islands.  Pick a day with clear skies everywhere! Bring binoculars! for a good look at Seattle, identifying spots on the Puget Sound coast north and south, zooms to the highlights, the more distant mountains, water off the sound past Tacoma ... just incredible. The view really gives you a sense of the magnitude of Glacier Peak, between Baker and Rainier.  

On this day, we had sun in all directions, but there was haze. The detail of the Sound islands and waterways from Strait to Vashon was still there. Those highlights above could mostly still be seen, more hazily, but Vancouver and beyond were gone, Hood was lost, and MSH was very hazy. The look north over Vancouver Island didn't go far. A long brown streak in the haze northeast suggested wildfire contributions.  Altogether, the views were still quite special, but a little short of the Full Monty Townsend. 

The high forecast for Townsend on our day was 66. On the way up, it was warm but manageable (and 10-15 degrees cooler than Cascades hikes in this hot spell). Lovely trail. After your first break into the open, with the look across the valley to a rocky face, there's a shortage of good places for two so inclined to sit and snack --- apart from one excellent log on the right side of the trail for not long before the trail hits the trail to Campy Windy.