42. Gobblers Knob, 5485' (H)

Gobblers Knob is a hike with a lookout as the destination. There are two routes: biking to Round Pass on the Westside Road; or approaching from outside the park via Lake Christine. Of the two routes, the Lake Christine approach is easier because it avoids the bike ride. This approach also passes by two lakes and meanders through lovely old-growth forest. The origin of the Gobblers Knob name is unusual. A trail crew in 1930 included a Tennessean who said, “These bald knobs look just like the kind of country in which we used to hunt turkeys. I’ll bet there are gobblers there.” Apparently, the mountain picked up a second “b” at some point, as it was originally named Goblers Knob.

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Driving

Gobblers Knob can be reached via two routes.

Round Pass: From the Nisqually Entrance, drive 1 mile and turn left on the Westside Road. Drive 3.2 miles until you reach the large parking lot at the washout.

Lake Christine: Travel toward the Nisqually Entrance and 0.6 mile past Skate Creek Road (FS 52), turn left on FS 59 (in 2012 this sign was barely visible, merely a small metal post beside the road). Travel on FS 59 for 4 miles to FS 5920 (unsigned). Once on FS 5920, travel 1.5 miles to a parking lot at road’s end (elevation 4400').

Note: FS Road 59 was washed out in 2020 making the Round Pass a better choice for the time being.

Route

Round Pass via Westside Road: Travel by bike on the decommissioned Westside Road for approximately 4 miles to Round Pass. The trailhead to Gobblers Knob is on the west side of Round Pass. Follow the trail to Gobblers Knob (the trail takes you past Lake George) and the lookout.

Lake Christine: The trailhead is marked “Lake Christine Trail 249.” Stay on the trail and turn right at a junction with Puyallup Trail 248. Continue on the Puyallup Trail past the park boundary at approximately 4650', and connect with the trail to Gobblers Knob.

Comments

The lookout on Gobblers Knob is one of four existing lookouts in the park—the others are on Shriners, Fremont, and Tolmie. At Round Pass, there is a memorial (on the east side of the pass) to soldiers killed in a plane crash on the Tahoma Glacier. The park service has done considerable work improving the Westside Road above the parking area making it easier to bike (or hike).

Vital Statistics: Gobblers Knob

• Skill: Hike

• Beauty: 4

• Effort: 

  • via Round Pass: 4

  • via Lake Christine: 3

• Round-trip distance

  • via Round Pass: 11 miles (including 7 miles on bike)

  • via Lake Christine: 7 miles

• Elevation gain

  • via Round Pass: 1500' (plus 1000' on bike)

  • via Lake Christine: 3000'

• Total time

  • via  Round Pass: 8 hours (6 hours if you use bike)

  • via Lake Christine: 6 hours

• Best season: July through October

• Equipment: Hiking gear

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