Gold Mountain - Kitsap County

Gold Mountain is the highest point in Kitsap County and in the hills West of Bremerton with a prominence over 1,500 feet. Although it is the highest mountain, nearby Green Mountain is more known for recreation and Green even had a fire lookout prior to 1926. It is very easy to walk right by the highpoint of Gold Mountain and was the case for peakbaggers for many years before GPS. The knob is somewhat hidden and the road ends at what feels like the usual communication site highpoint. Access to the summit has had issues in the past as part of the road passes through the restricted Bremerton Watershed. Recent years the signs disappeared but some more signs have since been posted again. The best route is to park at the DNR Gold Creek Trailhead off Gold Creek Road. Take the Tin Mine Trail which splits immediately after it starts but joins up within a few minutes. The trail soon will enter a logged area but continues up to a logging road. Follow the road to the right a half mile to a switchback of another road. Follow follow roads to the summit using a good app. Any entrance into the watershed is near the very end and you can use your own discretion from that point.

Elevation: 1,761 feet
Distance: 4.2 miles one-way
Elevation gain: 1,000+ feet
Access: Paved trailhead

In 1947, a road to the lookout site was cleared and constructed before winter set in so a new installation could be completed in the spring before the 1948 fire season.

In 1948, Gold Mountain got a metal tower. The Annual Report of the Division of Forestry said it was a 75-foot steel Navy surplus tower with a 7x7 foot cab. The Kresek Inventory says it was a 85-foot MC-39 Aermotor type iron tower with a 7x7 foot cab. DNR documents years later in 1962 also said a 85-foot steel tower. Whichever type of tower it was, the tower was accessed by a ladder. Also built was a 14x18 foot ground house living quarters down the hillside at the end of the road.

In 1954, a USGS party arrived to monument the summit. The party described the road as ending at a house (the lookouts ground house) and a steep slope had to be hiked up to the west 100 feet to the tower. They described the tower as a square wooden cabin surmounted on a four-legged, wooden framework that was approximately 90 feet in height. Although this contradicts that the tower was steel, some wood framing is found today attached to the footings. The USGS placed a directional benchmark in the center of the base of the tower pointing to the summit, where the station benchmark was also placed, about 10 feet away. The station benchmark was stamped Gold Hill 1954 and was 10.4 feet north of the NW leg of the lookout tower. The directional reference mark 1 benchmark was directly under the center of the base of the lookout tower. Both benchmarks were still there during my visit in 2023.

In 1955, Mary Lou (Baertschiger) Nelson staffed the lookout (with help from Helen Walsh) during the summer. See her daily journal at the link at top of page. In winter, Helen L. Walsh moved into the ground cabin for the first of 3 winters of Xmas tree patrol. Her job was to maintain radio contact between the men patrolling the Xmas tree acres of Kitsap and Mason counties.

In 1961, the lookout was Kathy Stewart.

In 1962, the DNR started the application process for 10-acres to build a new lookout site just to the west of the original site for a new lookout live-in tower. The lookout was again Kathy Stewart.

In 1963, the lookout was Virginia Cook from Gig Harbor with Bernice Selby starting the season, and Kathy Stewart finishing the season. Virginia was in France at the season start and driving school buses at the end of the season.

In 1965, a 50-foot wooden DNR live-in tower was built at the new location at the next knob to the west of the summit, as was a communication tower . The lookouts this year were Gloria and Dick Tyler. Also in 1965, the USGS checked on their benchmarks at the original site and made no mention of that lookout being destroyed yet. The house was still at the end of the road and they said the lookout was 150 feet to the right on top of the mountain.

In 1966, the lookouts this year were again Gloria and Dick Tyler and they were very happy not to have to climb the old 85-foot ladder several times a day.

In 1972, the second lookout (the 1965 lookout) was destroyed. It is unclear why after just 7 years, but the site was probably highly desirable as communications for the State. Today there are 2 separate facilities on the knob but the south one is still the State of Washington Radio site applied for in 1962 and where the footings are located from the 1965 tower.

In 1974, a USGS survey party visiting the original site noted the original tower had been torn down but the 4 leg bases remained in place. They also explained a new (like a second) road had been built to the top of the mountain and more communication stations were being built. But, they said no communication stations were on the knob of the former lookout tower, the benchmarks were in no immediate danger however it would not be long they warned. But, as of 2023, the highest knob is still not used for communications. The survey crew also said the house at the end of the road (the former ground house) was gone but that the concrete foundation and steps remained. By 1975, communications were on both knobs to the east and west of the former lookout site. No image has been found yet of the first tower.

Gold Mountain access

1937 map - Prior to Gold Mountain Lookout

Reference Mark No. 1, stamped GOLD HILL NO 1 1954 at the approximate center of the four angle irons which were the lookout tower legs. (USGS 1975 party)

Station Mark stamped GOLD HILL 1954 at the highpoint

Footing with old wood outer shell (might explain the USGS description of wood tower)

Same footing as above, 2x4 wood piece and 1/2 inch wood on one side remaining

One of the 4 steel angle iron legs cut off at the ground

Views from summit in 2023

A brief view of Green Mountain

Tin Mine Trail through a clear-cut

Tin Mine Trail at the start in the parking lot. Both trails merge back together in a bit.

1951 aerail photo showing tower at end of the road in the knob area

Construction pictures from WADNR Totem Magazine

Summit area communications. Sites labeled 1 to 5. Site 3 was the second lookout site.

Rough drawing of roads and trails in the area

Footing at second 1965 lookout

The first part of the 1962 application DNR made to transfer lands out of Forest Board into communications and lookout use. Maps in the application show where as well.

1963 map showing 3 lookouts, Green, Gold and Kitsap

The 1962 application showed this STR where the current and future lookouts were.

Tahuya Lake and Olympics on a better day (photo by Leslie Romer)

Views could improve from the summit as a timber sale is scheduled sometime around 2025.

1965 lookout footing images by Leslie Romer

Sink is still up there in 2023 (photo by Leslie Romer)