Constance Pass Trail

The Constance Pass Trail is a 13-km point-to-point trail in Olympic National Park, Washington, United States, gaining 1,505 m of elevation as it climbs from the Dosewallips River Valley to the 1,981-m summit of Constance Pass. Rated hard, it is one of the most dramatic alpine routes on the Olympic Peninsula, rewarding hikers with sweeping views of Mount Constance and the Buckhorn Wilderness.

About the Constance Pass Trail

Tucked into the rugged eastern flank of the Olympic Mountains, the Constance Pass Trail is among the most rewarding — and demanding — hikes in Olympic National Park. Starting from the end of Dosewallips Road near Brinnon, Washington, the route follows a relentless series of switchbacks that lift you 1,505 metres out of lush old-growth forest and into a breathtaking high-alpine world of rocky ridgelines, wildflower meadows, and glacially carved basins.

The trail is maintained by the U.S. National Park Service and classified as part of the Regional Walking Network — meaning it functions as a significant connector route rather than a simple out-and-back. At its northern terminus the path transitions into the Home Lake Trail, linking the Dosewallips drainage with the Buckhorn Wilderness in Olympic National Forest and giving experienced backpackers the option of a multi-day traverse.

Most hikers tackle Constance Pass as an overnight or two-night backpacking trip, with official backcountry campsites at Sunnybrook Meadows and Home Lake providing natural stopping points. Day hikers who are exceptionally fit can push to the pass and back, but the 26-km round trip with over 3,000 m of combined gain and loss demands an early start and serious preparation. The trail is best suited to backpackers with prior experience carrying overnight loads on steep, sustained climbs.

The route is particularly celebrated for its views of Mount Constance (2,361 m), the highest peak in the eastern Olympics and one of the most recognisable summits on the peninsula. As you gain elevation, the Dosewallips River Valley shrinks below while the jagged silhouette of Mount Constance dominates the western skyline — a sight that fuels every switchback on the steeper sections. The contrast between the temperate rainforest at the trailhead and the bare granite and heather of the upper pass is among the most dramatic ecological transitions available on a single trail in the Pacific Northwest.

Route Overview & Stages

The Constance Pass Trail runs 13 km point-to-point from the Dosewallips Trailhead to Home Lake, gaining 1,505 m in total. The elevation profile is almost entirely upward after the first kilometre: the trail climbs continuously, with the steepest gradients concentrated in the switchback section between Boulder Camp and Sunnybrook Meadows, where the path gains 680 m over just 3.5 km.

The trail is officially classified as point-to-point, ending at Home Lake where it connects with the Home Lake Trail into the Buckhorn Wilderness. Many backpackers arrange a car shuttle between the Dosewallips trailhead and the Big Quilcene or Upper Dungeness trailheads on the northern side of the pass for a full multi-day traverse. Without a shuttle, retracing the route from Home Lake back to Dosewallips is the standard return.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Dosewallips River Valley: The first 4.5 km winds through temperate rainforest draped in old-growth Douglas fir, western red cedar, and hemlock. The river provides constant white-noise background and early-season wildflowers carpet the forest floor through May and June.
• Boulder Camp: A well-established backcountry campsite at roughly 700 m elevation, shaded by mature conifers with reliable water from a nearby stream. A practical overnight stop for hikers splitting the route across three days, and a logical turnaround for those testing their fitness before committing to the upper trail.
• Switchback Corridor: The most physically demanding section of the trail packs 680 m of gain into 3.5 km via tight, forested switchbacks. Each turn reveals a new angle on the valley below as the trees thin and the sky opens. Trekking poles are invaluable here.
• Treeline Transition: Around 1,400 m the forest gives way abruptly to open subalpine terrain. The sudden exposure and the sweep of the Olympic Mountain ridgeline to the west provides a dramatic visual reward for the climb — one of the best treeline moments in the eastern Olympics.
• Sunnybrook Meadows: A broad alpine meadow at approximately 1,600 m with established campsites, reliable water from snowmelt streams, and spectacular views across the Dosewallips drainage. Wildflowers — lupine, Indian paintbrush, and phlox — peak in late July and early August.
• Constance Pass (1,981 m): The high point of the route at 6,501 feet. On clear days views extend east across Hood Canal to the Cascade Range and west deep into the Olympic wilderness. The pass marks the boundary between Olympic National Park and the Buckhorn Wilderness, a significant geographic and ecological threshold.
• Mount Constance (2,361 m): The imposing pyramid of Mount Constance dominates the skyline for much of the upper trail. The highest peak in the eastern Olympics, it draws technical climbers from across the Pacific Northwest and provides a constantly evolving backdrop as you traverse the ridge.
• Home Lake: A serene glacially formed tarn at the northern foot of the pass, surrounded by heather and krummholz pine. Designated campsites with bear wire infrastructure ring the lake; granite slabs at the water's edge are ideal for a rest before the return or onward traverse.

Best Time to Hike the Constance Pass Trail

The Constance Pass Trail has a short hiking window driven by its high elevation and the Olympic Peninsula's exceptionally heavy snowpack. The pass typically holds snow well into June and sometimes into early July. As of 2026, conditions on this trail are best verified through recent trip reports before departure, as snowpack and road access vary significantly year to year.

July: The trail usually becomes snow-free above treeline from mid-July onward. Snowfields may still linger on the final approach to the pass in the first three weeks of July. Creeks are running high from snowmelt — water is abundant everywhere, but all sources must be treated. The landscape is vibrant and green, and the days are long.

August is the single best month to hike the Constance Pass Trail. Snowpack has fully cleared, stream crossings are at their lowest and safest levels, wildflowers in Sunnybrook Meadows are at their peak, and Pacific Northwest weather is typically at its most stable and dry. Days offer 15-plus hours of daylight, giving hikers maximum margin for the demanding climb.

September: An excellent alternative to August. Crowds drop sharply after Labour Day weekend, temperatures cool to ideal hiking range (10–18°C during the day), and fall colours along the Dosewallips corridor — red-hued vine maple, yellow alder — add dramatic contrast to the trailside scenery. Early snowfall is possible from mid-September onward; always check a 5-day mountain forecast before heading out.

October onward: The upper trail above Sunnybrook Meadows accumulates winter snowpack from October and is not suitable for standard hiking boots. The lower Dosewallips valley sections remain hikeable for day trips but the pass itself is inaccessible without mountaineering equipment and experience.

Spring (April–June): Not recommended. The Dosewallips Road washout, located 8.5 miles up the road, adds significant road walking distance to the trailhead even after the winter closure lifts. Above treeline the trail is buried under metres of snow. Check NPS road status at the official site before any visit outside the core season.

Practical Information

Accommodation

Accommodation on the Constance Pass Trail is exclusively backcountry camping — there are no mountain huts, hostels, or lodges on the route itself.

Boulder Camp sits at approximately 700 m elevation in old-growth forest, with flat tent pads and water from a nearby stream. It makes a natural first-night stop on a relaxed three-day itinerary. No fee beyond the backcountry permit.

Sunnybrook Meadows at roughly 1,600 m is the most popular camping area on the trail, positioned in open alpine meadow with wide views and reliable snowmelt water through August. Bear canister or bear wire use is mandatory — wire infrastructure is in place on site. No fee.

Home Lake is a compact alpine lake camp on the Buckhorn Wilderness side of the pass, approximately 2.0 km beyond the pass itself. Designated sites with bear wire available. No fee for camping.

For those preferring a bed before or after the trail, the nearest options are in Brinnon (~18 km from the trailhead) and Quilcene (~30 km away). Motel-style accommodation in Brinnon runs approximately $90–130 per night (≈€83–120). Cabin and glamping options around Hood Canal generally cost $130–200 per night (≈€120–185).

Getting There & Back

The Constance Pass Trail is a wilderness route with no public transport access to the trailhead. A private vehicle or arranged hire car is required.

By car from Seattle: Drive south on Interstate 5 to Tacoma, then west on State Route 16 across the Narrows Bridge, continuing south on Highway 101 to Brinnon — approximately 2.5 hours (120 km). At milepost 306 near Brinnon, turn right onto Dosewallips Road and continue 8.5 miles to the current road end, where a long-standing washout has created the informal trailhead parking area.

Nearest airport: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), approximately 150 km and 2.5–3 hours from the trailhead depending on ferry or bridge routing. Car rental is the only practical option — no shuttle services operate to the Dosewallips trailhead.

Shuttle logistics: Hikers completing the point-to-point traverse through to the Big Quilcene or Upper Dungeness trailheads need a car shuttle or pre-arranged pickup. Rideshare availability on the Olympic Peninsula is very limited; coordinate any shuttle logistics before departure.

Trailhead parking: Roadside pullouts at the Dosewallips road end accommodate roughly 10–15 vehicles. Spots fill by 7:00 am on peak August weekends. A Northwest Forest Pass is required to park.

Permits & Fees

The Washington Trails Association trip reports for Constance Pass are the most reliable source of real-time conditions — check for recent posts covering snow levels, stream crossings, and Dosewallips Road status before any visit.

Gear & Packing List

With 1,505 m of elevation gain, rapidly changing alpine weather, and overnight camping at exposed sites above treeline, the Constance Pass Trail demands a well-considered kit. The Olympic Peninsula averages over 3,000 mm of precipitation annually — pack for rain at any time of year above treeline, even in August.

Backpack: For a two-night overnight with camping gear and food for three days, aim for a 50–65 L pack with a solid hip belt for load transfer on the long climb. The Osprey Aether 65 is a proven performer for this style of technical backpacking. Weight-conscious hikers who move quickly on the trail often opt for the Hyperlite Mountain Gear 2400 Windrider, which sheds significant grams without sacrificing weather resistance — a worthwhile advantage over 1,505 m of climbing. If you want generous capacity with ergonomic carry and a slightly lower price point, the Deuter Aircontact Core 50+10 is a reliable choice for exactly this kind of sustained mountain load.

Layers & rain protection: A waterproof shell jacket and an insulated mid-layer are non-negotiable. Temperatures at Constance Pass can drop to 2–5°C overnight even in August; at Sunnybrook Meadows camp, a down or synthetic puffy is essential for warmth after the exertion of the climb.

Footwear: Waterproof hiking boots with firm ankle support. Gaiters are useful for early-season snowfields on the upper trail and for keeping boots dry during high creek crossings in July. Trekking poles are strongly recommended — the switchback descent on tired legs is significantly safer with two points of contact.

Navigation: Download offline maps before leaving cell range, which ends on Dosewallips Road. The NPS trail is well-marked in the forest but cairns on the upper alpine section can be buried under snow or obscured by fog. Carry a printed topographic map or a dedicated GPS device as backup.

Water treatment: Water sources are plentiful — Dosewallips River tributaries below treeline, snowmelt streams above. Carry a filter or chemical treatment; giardia is present in Olympic Peninsula backcountry water sources. Two litres of carry capacity is sufficient given the frequency of sources.

Food planning: The sustained climbing on this route pushes caloric burn significantly above typical hiking baselines. Our guide on how many calories you need hiking a full day is worth reading before you plan your food kit — the switchback section in particular demands serious fuel. And if optimising pack weight is a priority for you, our roundup of the best ultralight backpacks of 2026 tests seven sub-1 kg packs that are well-suited to exactly this kind of demanding alpine terrain.

Bear canister or food hang: Bear wire infrastructure is in place at all three campsites, but carrying a bear canister is recommended as a backup. Black bears are active throughout the Dosewallips Valley and surrounding Olympic backcountry all summer.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the high-alpine character of the Constance Pass Trail appeals to you — demanding climbs, sweeping ridge views, and genuine wilderness remoteness — these routes share a similar spirit. The South Kaibab Trail in Grand Canyon National Park delivers an equally relentless descent into dramatic and otherworldly terrain, while the North Kaibab Trail provides the complementary ascent from the canyon's north rim. For technically shorter but scenically intense routes, Hidden Canyon in Zion National Park packs extraordinary slickrock scenery into a compact outing. Bigger mountain objectives in the Sierra Nevada will find kindred ground on the Clouds Rest Trail in Yosemite, which delivers sweeping granite panoramas via a demanding ridge walk, and the Panorama Trail in Yosemite Valley offers a high-country perspective accessible to a wider range of hikers. For an international comparison that mirrors the mountain pass drama of Constance, the Theth to Valbona hike in Albania crosses a similarly exposed pass with a comparable elevation profile in the Albanian Alps.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike the Constance Pass Trail?

August is the single best month. Snow typically clears from the upper trail by mid-July, but August offers the most reliably dry and stable weather, the lowest stream crossing levels, and peak wildflower displays at Sunnybrook Meadows. September is an excellent alternative with thinner crowds. The trail is inaccessible above treeline from October through June due to heavy snowpack.

How difficult is the Constance Pass Trail?

The trail is rated hard. It gains 1,505 metres over 13 km, with a relentless switchback section between Boulder Camp and Sunnybrook Meadows pushing 680 m of gain into just 3.5 km. There are no technical scrambling sections on the standard route, but the sustained elevation gain and exposed alpine terrain above treeline demand strong fitness and prior backpacking experience.

How far should I plan to walk per day and how many days does it take?

Most hikers complete the trail as a two-night backpacking trip: Day 1 to Boulder Camp (4.5 km), Day 2 over the pass to Home Lake (8.5 km with 1,200 m of gain), Day 3 out. Very fit hikers combine Days 1 and 2 into a single push to Sunnybrook Meadows. Completing the full round trip as a day hike (26 km) requires 10–12 hours and exceptional fitness.

What accommodation is available on the trail?

There are no huts, lodges, or hostels on the Constance Pass Trail. Overnight stays use established free backcountry campsites at Boulder Camp, Sunnybrook Meadows, and Home Lake — all requiring a free backcountry permit. Bear wire infrastructure is available at each site. The nearest motels are in Brinnon, approximately 18 km from the trailhead, from around $90–130 per night.

Do I need a permit to hike the Constance Pass Trail?

Day hikers need a Northwest Forest Pass for trailhead parking ($5/day or $30/year) and the Olympic National Park vehicle entry fee ($35 for 7 days; covered by the $80 America the Beautiful Annual Pass). Backpackers additionally need a free backcountry camping permit obtained in person at a ranger station. There is no advance reservation system — permits are issued walk-in only.