A Premier Olympic Hike

Marmot Pass via the Big Quilcene Trail #833.1 is the champagne hike of the Olympic Peninsula.  Starting in old growth forest complete with wild rhododendrons along the tumbling Quilcene River. The trail culminates in broad meadows of seasonal wildflowers and supreme views in all directions; this is a trek well worth making.

Marmot Pass makes an excellent day hike, though it's so beautiful that you may want to consider backpacking. There are two nice camping areas along the way that would open up more possibilities for exploring the area. It's a popular place to spend the 4th of July - you can see Seattle's fireworks from the top of Marmot Pass.

At 2.5 miles, you reach Shelter Rock Camp and then leave the thick canopy behind. For the next two miles, the trail climbs in and out of a mixture of forested patches of small meadows and scree slopes. If you are hiking this section in early summer, expect to cross snowfields of at least two avalanche paths.  At 4.4 miles the trail switches back twice, where expansive views to the northeast reveal the Cascade mountains and Puget Sound basin.  The trail reaches camp Mystery at 4.6 miles.  Marmot Pass is another 0.6 mile up the trail from Camp Mystery. The views from the pass are breathtaking - some of the tallest Olympic peaks, the Dungeness Valley, Hood Canal, the Cascades and more.