Timberton Loop

The woodsy Port Ludlow resort community has a 26-mile network of hiking trails, some wending through residential areas, and others through forest. All the trails are open to the public.  

The 4.3-mile Timberton Loop starts in the Timberton neighborhood and climbs into second-growth forest on an old forest road. The loop is well-marked, both with signposts and with white arrows painted on boulders. At several points, the trail passes old fairways of the Trail Nine golf course, which has been reverting to nature since it was abandoned in 2009. Port Ludlow still has an active 18-hole golf course nearby.

There’s a parking area at the trailhead with room for about six cars. Just inside the gate at the trailhead is a dispenser with maps of the trail network. The Timberton Loop heads south from here. At 0.1 mile is a junction with the paved Golf 9 Loop. Continue straight for the Timberton Loop. At 0.3 mile is a pond on the right. At 0.7 mile is an old fairway and a junction with the Cart Path Loop. At 0.9 mile is a pond on the left and another junction with the Golf 9 Loop. Keep right to stay on the Timberton Loop. At 1.1 miles is a beaver pond on the right.

The trail then gains a bit of elevation, climbing through the forest. At 1.7 miles, there’s a bench on the right. At 2 miles, there’s another bench, and the road enters a clearcut, which it crosses over the next 0.7 mile, curving to the west and then north. The area was logged around 2015.

While the clearcut itself isn’t particularly scenic, it offers views of the Olympic Mountains to the west. Shortly after entering the clearcut the road reaches a junction. Turn right. At 2.4 miles is a fork. Turn left. White arrows painted on rocks will keep you on track. Continue on the road as it re-enters the forest. At 2.8 miles is a short spur on the left that leads to a picnic table. Continuing north on the Timberton Loop, trail passes through young, regenerating forest, with some views of Beaver Valley to the west.  

At 3.4 miles, the trail reaches a junction with the Timberton Homes Trail, which goes to the left. Turn right to stay on the Timberton Loop, wending down a grassy trail on an old fairway. At 3.8 miles is another junction with the Golf 9 Loop. Turn left. At 4.1 miles is a junction with the paved Old Cart Path. Turn left, and in 0.1 mile reach another junction and turn left again down the path you started on. The trailhead is another 0.1 mile.

WTA Pro Tip: If you’re need of some refreshment after your hike, there’s a small shopping center at the intersection of Oak Bay Rd and Paradise Bay Rd, with a village store and eateries.