Dungeness - Tubal Cain Olympic Splendor

This loop starts at the Upper Dungeness Trail parking area. It climbs away from the river and then eases into a gentle and smooth trail through the lush Olympic forest. Once you cross the Heather Creek Trail, you'll begin climbing more steeply along the mountain side, and the views will begin to present themselves. When you pass the Constance Pass Trail, you'll largely be above treeline and exposed, offering fantastic views and the Olympics. After some switchbacks the trail will begin to flatten out and the ridge and your reach the pass. At this point, the Upper Dungeness Trail ends and you begin the Tubal Cain River Trail. It is worth heading up the trail behind you for some views or take the Buckhorn Mountain Summit Trail (as in this map). The Buckhorn Mountain Tubal Cain Connector will bypass the peak and save you some serious climbing, but the climb is very much worth it. From the summit, the trail descends back to treeline with a series of switchbacks. This is likely the least attractive part of the run. Luckily, you are running down them, not climbing up them (many people get a shuttle to the Tubal Cain River Trail TH from the Upper Dungeness Trail TH and climb this way to have less climbing. You'll see them suffering at this point). You'll run along the opposite side of the mountain you just climbed eventually dropping back into the trees and the Olympic forest we all know and love, coasting to the Tubal Cain River Trail TH with a few lovely water crossings as delightful background noise. At the Tubal Cain River Trail TH, you follow the forestry road about 3 miles back to the Upper Dungeness Trail . This is not as painful as it sounds as not one car passed up and it is quite a lovely stretch of dirt road.