Marmot Pass Explained

Marmot Pass
Map:Washington#USA
Map Relief:1
Map Size:260
Elevation Ft:6231
Elevation Ref:[1]
Location:Jefferson County, Washington, U.S.
Range:Olympic Mountains
Coords:47.8278°N -123.1335°W

Marmot Pass, at 6231feet-high, provides a trail corridor through the Buckhorn Wilderness in the Olympic Mountains of Washington state. The pass is situated near Buckhorn Mountain (6,870 feet), Iron Mountain (6,804 feet), and Boulder Ridge (6,852 feet). From Marmot Pass, one can see the tallest peaks in the mountain range, and look down at the Dungeness Valley, and Hood Canal. And it's been said Seattle fireworks are visible from the pass on the 4th of July.

The trail route to the pass is a 5.8miles trip for hikers, beginning at the rolling Big Quilcene River. En route to the pass, one travels through old growth forest to broad meadows, gaining about 3500feet in the process but being rewarded by spacious vistas.[2]

Venturing above the pass onto a ridge leading to Buckhorn Mountain, one can get views beyond the Olympic Mountains, including Mount Baker, Glacier Peak, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Adams.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mount Deception Quadrangle . usgs.gov . U.S. Geological Survey.
  2. Web site: Marmot Pass — Washington Trails Association . wta.org . Washington Trails Organization . 7 October 2024.