First, a big THANK YOU to the WTA crews we saw 02-Sep maintaining this trail. Please donate time, money, or both so we can continue to enjoy our beautiful wild areas via our network of trails.
This was our first hike on this trail and it lived up to the reviews; lush PNW deep forest at the beginning leading to alpine meadow type habitat near the pass and expansive views in all directions from the Pass. We stayed at Camp Mystery, 3:20 from the trail head at our comfortable pace on a hot day with frequent hydration/photo breaks. This is still in the woods, has perhaps 16-20 developed campsites, has a good water source, and is less than a half hour from the Pass. There were a number of campsites en route along the Big Quilcene river- themselves a good destination if you want a short hike and picnic/overnight in the woods. Also about a half dozen campsites above Camp Mystery just below the Pass, although there was no water source there. The upper meadows were dry and most wildflowers past their peak, but still well worth the effort, and the Pass is an intersection for several trails leading to other interesting destinations. The 3500' vertical is mostly a fairly steady grade. Many were doing this as a day hike; our approach was "you go there, to be there" and enjoyed our time in the woods.
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