Spring in the Pacific Northwest is this thing that often sneaks up out of the end of winter. It will have been dark, cold, and miserable for months and then suddenly the sun is warm, the daylight hours are longer, and flowers begin to come forth. It also stirs the soul to be outside and wander through the woods. Yet winter still has her grip on the alpine hikes, coating them in a beautiful vestment of snow and ice.
Yet never fear the great thing about the PNW is that there are plenty of hiking opportunities that are just as scenic yet don’t require the equipment or skills that snow travel demands.
Here are a few of the ones that we have done:
Oyster Dome – Between Mt. Vernon and Bellingham this popular hike ends in spectacular views over the San Juan Islands. You can start from Chuckanut Hwy if you want to pack in the vertical feet or from Blanchard Mountain Parking areas for those inclined to do less vert. Lizard and Lily Lakes have camp areas making this a great early season backpacking area too.
Fort Ebey/Fort Casey State Parks on Whidbey Island – Here you have your option of a forest hike or coastal views, or both. At Fort Ebey there is the Kettles trail system that meanders through the woods, providing miles of trails in the coastal forest, then if you want views you can hike along the beach and high bank ridges from Fort Ebey south to Fort Casey. The views here over the Strait of Juan de Fuca are truly stunning. There is hike in only camping available at Fort Ebey which while maybe not as rustic as backpacking in the mountains does make it a convenient early season backpacking trip.
Rosario Head to Lighthouse Point – This gem is tucked away in Deception Pass State Park. The views are amazing and the terrain is varied enough to keep it fun for the whole family. One way to do this is to start at Rosario Head, hike south to Bowman Bay and continue south following the signs to Light House Point, which will take you across a tombolo and then the trail loops around the head. Alternatively you could start at Bowman Bay if time is an issue. You’ll enjoy stunning views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the San Juan Islands, Deception Pass, and coast forest trails.
Whistle Lake – Located in the Anacortes Forest Lands this area is popular with swimmers in the summer time when the lake warms up enough to actually be enjoyable. In the spring it is a great hike through the forest with lake views that some times include otters and eagles. It can be a short 1.75 mile out and back to the lake or about a 5 mile round trip to go all around the lake with options in between that make it a great hike that can be tailored to your time and needs.
Heart Lake – Also located in the Anacortes Forest Lands is Heart Lake. Parking is at the lake and the trail around the lake is about 3 miles. This trail is pretty flat but the views are great and even if the weather is otherwise blustery it can still be pleasant in the forest. Sometimes we will do this as an out and back going part way around the lake and then returning or as a loop. When we do it as a loop I prefer to cross Heart Lake Rd and hike back on the trails on the otherside of the road instead of hiking along the road as the shoulders of the road are narrow to non-existent. An alternative strategy could be to drop a 2nd car at the parking area at the bottom of Mt. Erie.
Sugar Loaf Mountain – This hike is one of my go to hikes for mountaineering preparation. It is a little less than a mile from the parking area at the bottom of Mt. Erie to the top of Sugarloaf and gains about 600 vertical feet, considering that the first 400 yards is flat, it is a pretty steep hike. The hike takes you through the forest with a couple peeks here and there of the islands until the very end where you are rewarded with stunning views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Whidbey Island, and the San Juan Islands. You can go back the way you came or pick from one of the other trails to take a different way back. If you are not familiar with the AFCL Trails make sure you have a map or gps with the trails on it, they can get quite confusing.
