Take Highway 101 to Penny Creek Road about 1 mile south of the Quilcene ranger station. Follow it through a rock quarry and reach a fork at 1.4 miles. Stay left on Big Quilcene River Road which narrows to forest road 27, a single-lane, but mostly paved road that winds 9 miles up the Big Quilcene/Townsend Creek drainage to a junction with forest road 2750. Turn left onto 2750 and descend the dirt road 4.5 miles to the trail head.
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Marmot Pass - Big Quilcene Trail
Marmot Pass in the Olympic Mountains is a very popular place to visit. This is probably the case due to an abundance of camping that does not require a permit. The area also allows for dogs, which about one in three hikers have on this trail. But in reality, the pass is not that great. For real views, continue up with a scramble up Buckhorn Mountain. The highest of the two summits is the one closest to the pass and the route is simple.
Distance: 5 miles to the pass
Pass Elevation: About 6,000 feet
Elevation Gain: 3,600 feet
Access: Good Gravel
Route:
Access:
The trail is nice along the Big Quilcene River. At 2.5 miles is Shelter Rock Camp. At 3.5 miles are the start of views and Camp Mystery is at 4 miles. One more mile puts you onto Marmot Pass and a great view in both directions. Climb ridges for better views. The best is to follow the ridge up to the southwest summit of Buckhorn Mountain.
Looking up to Buckhorn Mountain from the Big Quilcene Trail
On the ridge near the summit of Buckhorn Mountain
Only two images I have of a 1990s hike up Buckhorn Mountain.
For a good view you can continue on the trail past the pass for 5 minutes to this view. Constance Pass on far left in distance.
View of Buckhorn Mountain past Marmot Pass gives a good angle for how easy it is to scramble up Buckhorn.
One of many campsites at Camp Mystery
From the trail before Marmot Pass looking up at Buckhorn Mountain
Blue is trail, yellow is climbers trails or climbers routes
View west from the pass
From the pass, continue on the trail for better views
Sign at the pass
In the meadows below the pass
From the pass, looking down at the meadows the trail hikes up. Puget Sound in distance.
Hiking up trail, looking toward Marmot Pass.
Looking down the trail down the Big Quilcene Valley.
Big Quilcene Trail
Big Quilcene Trail
Big Quilcene Trailhead
Buckhorn Wilderness