Kitsap County High Point Trip Report

Date: July 13, 2003
Author: Jim Swartwood

Hiked to the top of Gold Mountain this morning from the Gold Creek trailhead. Turned out to be a good day for the hike.

The summit of Gold Mountain can be approached from the south (recommended for biking) or from the north (recommended for hikers). The south approach is via Minnard Road off of the Old Belfair Highway. Detailed directions for this approach can be found in previous trip reports. The elevation gain either way is just over 1000 feet and you will be hiking/biking around 8 miles round trip. It will take 3-4 hours and will definitely get your heart pumping on the way up. Sturdy hiking boots are recommended and a hiking pole if taking the steep ascent from the north.

The north approach is via a steep trail that leads up from the logging road south of Gold Creek. The lower portions of of this trail can be very wet in winter and spring.

For the north approach, park south of the Gold Creek bridge on Tahuyah Road, go east up the logging road to (47° 33.257' N, 122° 49.458' W) and turn right onto the trail. A 30-minute climb will take you to the end of an unmapped and relatively level logging road at (47° 32.963' N, 122° 49.229' W) that leads south to intersect with the access road coming up from the southern approach at the hairpin turn at about 1250 feet as shown on the USGS Wildcat Lake topographic map.

CAUTION: Logging activity is taking place along the logging road Monday through Friday through September. I was told by one of the loggers that you can safely pass through, but I recommend that you use the northern approach only on weekends.

Follow the access road on up from the intersection to the east side of Gold Mountain and then back west toward the 1761-foot highest elevation point as depicted on the topographic map. The jumping-off point for the final short climb to the summit is at (47° 32.895' N, 122° 47.212' W) where an old cabin used to be.

Webmasters comment: The author did not specify which datum his coordinates use. Guessing the wrong datum (NAD27? WGS84?) may lead to position errors of up to two hundred meters.