Mount Townsend, Washington – Northwest Wildflowers

Wildflower Destinations > Olympic Peninsula

Mount Townsend

Jefferson & Clallam Counties, Washington

Olympic National Forest

Fees: none

Activity: hiking

Elevation: 3340'-6275'

Current status (as of 6/13/25): blooming

Notes: Mt. Townsend is the earliest-blooming (and most accessible) "real mountain" hike on the east side of the Olympics. In a typical year, the trail is mostly snow-free by early June or even late May. Most people hike up from the Upper Mt. Townsend Trailhead, but the Tubal Cain and Little Quilcene trailheads are options as well.

If you're up for an off-trail adventure along a rocky ridge, consider adding Welch Peaks to your Mt. Townsend hike. To get there, take the Silver Lake Trail to a saddle overlooking Silver Creek's valley, then follow the well-defined boot path up the ridge to the south.

Peak wildflower bloom at Mt. Townsend is typically from early June through July into early August, but there may be some flowers blooming from late May until late August.*

Typical year:

Info links:

Washington Trails Association

Photo albums: 2022

NWS weather forecast

Wildflowers in this area:

WildflowerSearch.org

iNaturalist observations

Consortium of PNW Herbaria

Featured plants: Campanula piperi, Erigeron flettii, Phacelia sericea, Viola flettii

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* The dates given on this Web site for each location's blooming season are only estimates and can vary from year to year. Weather conditions in the winter and spring can shift these dates by up to a month, especially in the mountains. For the latest updates, check the Oregon Wildflowers or PortlandHikers Facebook groups, or browse the most recent postings to iNaturalist or Instagram.