SILVER LAKES TRAIL
Length 2.5 mi/4.0 km 
Access Mount Townsend Trail 
USGS Map Mount Townsend 
Agency Olympic National Forest

The trail begins 0.3-mi/0.5 km above Camp Windy on the Mount Townsend Trail at 
5650-ft/1722 m and traverses beneath outcrops of rock. Windy Lake is visible 
below, but the view disappears as the path goes into a thick stand of subalpine 
fir. Then, climbing toward the ridge crest, the trail makes its way through an 
area of tortured basalt-blocks, towers, and incipient cliffs, with up thrusts 
sticking out of the ground.

At the exposed notch (5700 ft/1737 m), where the trail crosses the south ridge 
of Mount Townsend, the wind often whips through the trees. On this side the slopes 
overlook Silver Creek Basin and the peaks at the head of the valley. Logging roads 
are discernible to the north, down the valleys of Silver Creek and the Dungeness 
River.

As it descends toward the basin's head, the trail makes long traverses between 
switchbacks. The country consists of open meadowland and groves of subalpine firs. 
Bluebells bloom alongside the path, where rocks stick up like toes among the flowers.

The trail dips down to where the trees thicken into an unbroken stand. Here it 
goes beneath a cliff, the low point in the route, then climbs again. After crossing 
a stream-the only place where water is available-the trail ascends through the 
subalpine firs. The country becomes meadow again just before the trail terminates 
at the larger and better known of the two Silver Lakes (2.5 mi/4.0 km; 5425 ft/ 
1654 m), the source of Silver Creek.

The lake, shaped like a teardrop, lies in an amphitheater or glacial cirque that 
is almost encircled by rough peaks. The east and west sides-which pinch together 
at the north, or outlet, where the creek begins-are bordered by stands of subalpine 
fir. At the broad south end, meadowland rises toward the ridge that leads to the peaks 
southwest of the lake. The huge boulders scattered along the lake's west side have 
fallen from the cliffs above and now rest at the foot of talus slopes. Diving Rock, 
at the lake's southeast corner, is often used by swimmers on warm summer days.

Although the trail ends here, a way path loops around the lakeshore, and another one 
climbs the hill north of the lake to a campsite, then descends to the second lake. 
About half the size of the upper lake, it lies directly north, about 500 yards distant, 
at 5290ft/1612 m. Both lakes contain Eastern brook trout.

The Silver Lakes can be reached via an alternate route, an unmaintained way path 
that joins the main trail less than a mile from the lakes. Follow the instructions 
given for reaching the Upper Dungeness Trail via FS Road 2860, cross the Dungeness 
River, then drive 3.6 mi/5.8 km, still on FS Road 2860, to the Tubal Cain Trail; 
cross Silver Creek, and continue to an obscure, abandoned logging road which has 
space for parking two or three vehicles. No signs indicate the trail begins nearby 
until one hikes up 300 feet of unmaintained path to a large bulletin board and sign-out 
station. The trail at this point is surprisingly good and shows evidence of being used, 
but it is often overgrown. Beginning on the west side of Silver Creek, the trail soon 
crosses to the east side (no bridge). The path more or less follows the creek, and 
after climbing a bit of precipitous terrain, where hikers must use care, it ends in 
a junction (2.2 mi/3.5 km) with the main route. After merging with it, the way trail 
becomes an imperceptible component of the remaining 0.8mi/1.3 km to the lakes.