Mount Walker — Saturday, Jun. 14, 2025

A grueling afternoon stroll, with a nice payoff at the top. This is an unusual trail in some ways, because you can drive straight to the top for a nice, clear view of Hood Canal and its surrounding areas (including Seattle, hazy on the horizon). But the constant and unforgiving incline on the short hike up makes it feel like a real reward when you reach the top -- and a real achievement after you've sprinted back down. The second-growth forest along the way is gorgeous, with tall trees and a dense understory.

Note that the trail leads up to the North viewpoint. The South viewpoint is, in my opinion, the better of the two. Getting there requires a short, easy road walk -- just stay alert to traffic. There are bathrooms at both viewpoints.

We arrived around noon and snagged one of the only parking spots left. There were several big groups on the trail and a steady stream of visitors at the viewpoints, but not too busy overall. The trail is in great shape. There is one tree down that can be easily stepped over.

Some rhododendrons are blooming, as are columbine and sugar stick. We passed a pair of very unfriendly Douglas squirrels and were greeted by a family of overly friendly gray jays at the top.