Tumwater Tr218
Overall: 9
Aerobic: 7
Technical: 7
Steepness: 7
Flow: 6
Singletrack: 100%
Tumwater Tr218 is accessed from Goat Cr Tr205 and Goat Mt Tr217.
Type
Loop
Length
Avg: 17.6mi
Ascent
Mt Goat
Elevation Change
TH:2400'
Avg Ascent:5600'
Ascent Incline
12%
Duration
Avg: 4hr
Weather
Forecast
NOAA
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USFS
This page describes the epic lollipop ride which combines these three trails into a normal ride profile.
The 4.3mi, 2700' start of this ride pretty much defines the epic nature of the Tumwater loop.
The Goat Creek drainage has rightly been described as 'The Hole', and is why this ride is best challenged from FR2750.
If starting this ride from the Goat Cr Tr205 TH, a rider has to first get to the top of Goat Mountain, then face an inverted ride profile in the middle of the ride while descending and crawling back out of the Goat Creek drainage.
The best ride profiles begin with an ascent, while riders are fresh, so any ride that looks like this can get a bit of a reputation.
Goat Cr Tr205 starts in old-growth Douglas fir and Western Red Cedar, passing waterfalls then following Goat Creek.
The trail crosses a small creek twice and wanders near open meadows and rock cliffs before ending at Goat Mt Tr217 just south of Vanson Peak.
Directions: From US12 take FR2700 to FR2705, which may not be open all the way to the TH. View Larger Map. No Map?.
Loop Directions
crawling out of a hole
- TH: From the FR2750 TH, ascend gradually for 1.5mi, passing waterfalls and crossing several creeks.
- 1.5mi: Go right at the Tumwater Tr218 intersection, to stay on Goat Cr Tr205, maybe questioning whether this was a smart idea as the trail climbs and switchbacks unrelentingly for 3.7mi to the Goat Mt Tr217 intersection. The .5mi section of flat terrain at the 4mi mark sets up the final push to the top.
- 5.2mi: Reach Goat Mt Tr217 and go left, with a brief climb followed by gradually descending undulating ridgeline terrain. As a 2mi option, go right onto Vanson Pk Tr217A and climb 800' to the summit, then ride out to the western Goat Mt Tr217 TH, then ride to Tumwater Tr218.
- 7.5mi: Go left onto Tumwater Tr218 (maybe taking a break at Deadmans Lake), ascending rocky outcroppings and meadows to the summit of Tumwater Mountain at the 12mi mark.
- 13.1mi: After passing a small lake, begin the steep switchbacking descent to Goat Creek.
- 16mi: Go right onto Goat Cr Tr205 and return to the TH.
Trail Index
This Ride
Goat Creek Trail 205, Goat Mountain Trail 217, Tumwater Trail 218
Area
Hiking
Deadmans Lake Trail 217D, Deep Lake Trail 217E, Quartz Creek Big Trees Trail 219, Ryan Lake Trail 222, Vanson Lake Trail 217B
Campgrounds
Iron Creek Campground, Taidnapam Park Campground, Tower Rock Campground
Trail Rankings
Ranking consistently applied to all of the listed trails.
- Overall Rating: Ride quality and challenge
- Aerobic: Ascent challenge
- Technical Difficulty: Terrain challenge
- Steepness: Average incline
- Flow: Uninterrupted riding
- Elevation Change: Total elevation gain
- Ride Difficulty: Terrain challenge
