Gold Mountain

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Gold Mountain

Region: Puget Sound

Roundtrip Miles: 4.0

Elevation Gain (feet): 1087

Best Month(s): May

Hikeable: year-round

Trailhead Coordinates: 47.5521, -122.8276

Pass: Discover

Features: wildlife, summit, wildflowers, mountain views, fall foliage

Water: none available on trail

Summary: On a clear day, the view of the Olympics from Gold Mountain is simply spectacular. It’s a moderate hike, close-in, beautiful mountain and water views at the top, and dog-friendly. It’s got just about everything a Washington hiker could want for a spontaneous day hike. The trail starts behind the outhouse at the Gold Creek Trailhead. About a quarter-mile in, take the trail to the right at the Y. The first 0.75 miles are up a steep forest trail (this is most of your elevation gain) until you reach an old logging road and you turn right and the trail flattens out a bit until the last push to the viewpoint where you turn left up the mountain (about mile 1.5). Wander around up top, there’s lot of little spots to take in the views. My favorite spot was actually right after the turn to go up the mountain and before I even reached the official top viewpoint areas.

Post-hike Food Stop:

if you’re coming from the Olympia area:

  1. Leonard K’s Boat House Restaurant and Bar (Allyn): really excellent crab cakes, clam chowder, halibut and chips
  2. Big Bubba’s Burgers* (Allyn): burgers, fish and chips

if you’re going through Gig Harbor to the Tacoma area:

  1. Tides Tavern (Gig Harbor): clam chowder, halibut and chips (smaller dish available during happy hour M-F 3-6pm), Susan’s Coffee Cake, burgers
  2. Kelly’s Cafe* (Gig Harbor): breakfast served all day – french toast breakfast, create your own Omelet; halibut and chips

if you’re going through Bremerton:

  1. El Balcon (Bremerton): bean and cheese pupusas, fried plantains
  2. Boat Shed* (Bremerton): clam chowder, fish tacos, upside down apple pie, blackberry cobbler


Note: The restaurants and breweries denoted with * are potentially dog-friendly for their outdoor seating. Their patio dining may only be open during summer, however. You should always check with each restaurant to see if outdoor space has a separate entrance and if they are willing to accommodate well-behaved dogs. I would never assume just because a place has allowed dogs in the past that this is still the case.