Mt. Townsend
Mt. Townsend Trail is a 6.2-mile trail in Olympic National Forest, Washington. The Forest Service rates it trail class 3, developed. It is open to hiking and horse and pack stock. It enters Buckhorn Wilderness.
Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The Olympic National Forest official page carries current alerts and closure orders.
Map
One end Other endLine simplified to about 100 metres. Basemap from the USGS National Map.
| One end | 47.8590° N, 123.0190° W · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 47.8806° N, 123.0692° W · Directions ↗ |
The ends are the two ends of the longest connected chain of segments. The record does not say which is the usual start. The trail is recorded as 4 segments.
The trail
| Length | 6.2 miles |
| Trail class | 3, developed |
| Type | land trail |
| Surface | native material |
| Typical grade | 5-8 percent |
| Motor vehicles | Closed to all motorized use year-round |
| Accessibility | Evaluated and does not meet accessibility guidelines |
| Trail numbers | 839 |
| Forest | Olympic National Forest (unit 0609) |
| States | Washington |
| Detail published | management level, with uses |
Values are the set across all segments. Class 1 is minimally developed and class 5 is fully developed. Grade and width are the forest's typical values, not measured extremes.
Weather by month
Allowed uses
| Hiking | Allowed year-round |
| Horse and pack stock | Allowed year-round |
A use is listed when the Forest Service records it as managed, accepted or discouraged on any segment. Discouraged still means legal. Uses marked restricted are left out. Where the forest publishes a Motor Vehicle Use Map, that map governs motorized use.
Wilderness
- Buckhorn WildernessFS · about 56% of the line is insideWilderness Connect ↗
Inside a designated wilderness, bicycles and motor vehicles are prohibited by law regardless of the trail record, and permits or group limits may apply.
Trailheads
Mt. Townsend Upper Trailhead No season published Wilderness regulations apply within Buckhorn Wilderness. Notice: This trail is within a watershed that provides drinking water to residents of Eastern Jefferson County. Please follow these guidelines Know before you go tips | under 0.1 mi |
Mt. Townsend Lower Trailhead No season published Wilderness regulations apply within Buckhorn Wilderness. Notice: This trail is within a watershed that provides drinking water to residents of Eastern Jefferson County. Please follow these guidelines Know before you go tips. | under 0.1 mi |
Distance is from the point to the nearest part of the trail line. Season text is what the forest wrote and is often a season name rather than a date.
Trails nearby
Camping nearby
No federal campground is recorded within five miles of the trail. Dispersed camping is allowed on most National Forest land outside posted closures. The forest office has the current rules.
Explore
Historic places nearby
Guidebooks for Washington
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How long is the Mt. Townsend Trail?
The Forest Service records 6.2 miles under this name in Olympic National Forest, the sum of 4 segments.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the Mt. Townsend Trail?
Hiking and horse and pack stock are allowed. The trail is closed to motor vehicles year-round.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Where does the Mt. Townsend Trail start?
The line begins at 47.8590° N, 123.0190° W and ends at 47.8806° N, 123.0692° W. The nearest recorded trailhead is Mt. Townsend Upper Trailhead, under 0.1 miles from the line. The record does not say which end is the usual start.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Mt. Townsend Trail in a wilderness area?
Yes. It enters Buckhorn Wilderness. Wilderness rules ban bicycles and motor vehicles and often limit group size.
Source: Buckhorn Wilderness
Where can I camp near the Mt. Townsend Trail?
No federal campground is recorded within five miles of the trail. The camping section covers dispersed camping, which most National Forest land allows.
How developed is the Mt. Townsend Trail?
Trail class 3, which the Forest Service describes as developed. Class 1 is a minimal, unimproved route and class 5 is fully developed, often paved.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
How steep and how wide is the Mt. Townsend Trail?
The typical grade is 5-8 percent.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Mt. Townsend Trail accessible?
No. The Forest Service evaluated it and found it does not meet its accessibility guidelines.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Who manages the Mt. Townsend Trail?
Olympic National Forest, Forest Service unit 0609. The trail is in Washington.
Source
This page is built from 4 segments named Mt. Townsend in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0609. Wilderness overlap is tested against the National Wilderness Preservation System layer from Wilderness Connect. Trailheads and Forest Service campgrounds come from the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer. Data refreshed November 1, 2026. The methodology page explains how segments become trails.