Marmot Pass
Upper Big Quilcene Trail
The Route
The lower trail follows the Big Quilcene through cedar and hemlock forest.
- Upper Big QuilceneRiver-side forest
- Shelter Rock3,600-foot camp landmark
- Camp Mystery5,300-foot camp landmark
- Marmot PassOnward trail junctions
- River Trail ReturnSame trailhead
Upper Big Quilcene River
The first part of the approach rolls through forest beside the Big Quilcene River, including large old-growth trees. Shelter Rock lies near 3,600 feet before the trail leaves the river corridor. The grade increases beyond about 3.5 miles, changing from the lower river walk into a more sustained ascent toward the high basin.
Camp Mystery & Pass
Camp Mystery is around 5,300 feet, roughly 4.5 miles from the start. Meadows lead onward to Marmot Pass and its trail junctions toward Tubal Cain, Buckhorn Lake, Boulder Shelter and the Dungeness side. The standard outing ends at the pass and returns by Upper Big Quilcene. Buckhorn Mountain's summit adds distance and climbing beyond the pass and is not included in this listing.
Published reference figures for the named itinerary. Source dates and access notices are separate from current terrain observations. Reference Set: 2026-10-23.
Weather
Current forecasts open at the providers below. NWS forecasts describe a terrain grid cell, not an exact summit.
Access
Upper Big Quilcene Trailhead, Washington · Olympic Peninsula
Road Approach
Penny Creek Road reaches FR 27 / Big Quilcene River Road. After 9.25 miles on FR 27, FR 2750 continues another 4.75 miles to the Upper Big Quilcene trailhead.
Parking & Facilities
Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass applies. A privy is listed at the trailhead. The endpoint here is Marmot Pass, not the additional Buckhorn Mountain ascent or a descent toward Tubal Cain.
Source information checked 2026-10-23. Road snapshots are dated separately.
Reports
Trip Reports & Route Guide
Open the original publisher’s material. A guide or permit page is not a live condition report.
Links open the publishers’ report pages. Reports are not automatically imported or filtered to a forecast date.