Got to Upper Mt. Townsend trailhead by 8:30 am after a 3-hour drive from Bellevue. A long-paved forest service road to get here. Some rough sections with potholes but not hard to get around with my old 4-runner. Still have some parking spaces left but they filled up fast. The outhouse was closed and I saw several areas with toilet papers by the lower trail. Yuk!
The first 2 miles of the trail are lined with pink rhododendrons then the last few miles you are rewarded with gorgeous views. Met several groups of matured hikers came here to for the wild rhododendrons at their peak. I was alone at the summit for 15 minutes until a young man from Arizona joined me. Then the rest of his family of 5 arrived few minutes later. Not sure how they picked this trail to hike. Cloud moving in and I started my way to Silver Lake. The lake was very quiet and great view of surrounding mountains. Saw couple groups camping there. Trail in great condition with only a couple blowdown.
AllTrails: 13.7 miles with 4124 feet elevation gain.
Comments