Olympic National Forest appears to be developing a network of trails on the northeast part of the forest by converting logging roads to trails and building new trails. The Snow Creek trail is either a new trail or a recently rebuilt trail. It is part of the Pacific Northwest Trail, which from the end of the Larry Scott trail out of Port Townsend has been mostly following roads, including Highway 101, but here becomes a real trail.
Directions to the trailhead are available on the ONF website, but here is a quick recap. Take Snow Creek road off 101, which becomes FS Road #2850. Once you enter the Forest, take the second left, Road #2851. Follow this uphill for around 3.5 miles, ignoring the first left then taking the second left instead of going straight on 2851-090. The trail is marked by ribbons a few hundred yards down this left turn.
Snow Creek trail is very steep as it ascends through mature forest. There has been some trail work recently, including the installation of numerous drains and a couple of bridges. After about a mile the Deadfall trail comes in from the left. Turn right, uphill, and begin climbing even more steeply. After another mile the gradient lessens and you walk along the Mt. Zion summit ridge. In a half mile or so reach the summit. There are views in several directions from various viewpoints.
The trail is in good shape overall with no brush and no downed trees. The main feature of the trail is its steepness--it took me nearly two hours to climb the 2.5 miles to Mt. Zion. Going down took about an hour. This would be a good shoulder season hike, close to Seattle--it was about an hour's drive from the Kingston ferry dock.
Comments