Hiked up to the little lookout and bench area just off the Lower Chuckanut trail this morning, about .3 miles in. We started from the Lost Lake parking area, following the Fragrance Lake Road to Cleator (about 3 miles), then Cleator to the signed cutoff for the Lower Chuckanut Ridge (about .9 miles), then on to the bench and view. This made for about an 8.25 mile RT leg stretcher.

Lots of runners on the trail today! The lot was nearly full at 9:30 when we arrived, including lots of vehicles with bikes. There were also more vehicles than I've seen before going up Cleator--headed to the top so that bikers could bomb down the trail network from there.

Everyone was friendly today. There wasn't much of a view from the bench (out across the bay) due to fog, and it was nippy--in the 30's up there, I'm certain. Temps are expected to be extremely cold late this week, with a low in B'ham of 10 (!). Edelman and I wanted to get out before this level of polar craziness happens!

Take care and happy hiking, all. Peace and health in 2024.

Larrabee State Park is a gem, especially when the snow blankets the Cascades and Olympics in late autumn through spring and into summer. Having already  hiked to Fragrance Lake twice, Oyster Dome and Lily Lake (wonderful outings) - I decided on Lost Lake but initially was daunted by the mileage required to hike there.

I always study the terrain on CalTopo online before trying out a new hike and realized that we could park on Cleator Road (there's a pullout big enough for 3 or 4 cars) just past the connecting trail leading up to Chuckanut Ridge Trail.

I could tell from the topo maps and the orientation and name of the trails, that there was probably a good sized cliff just to the east of the Ridge Trail - and there is. But if you head north about .8km(?) until you reach the low spot - there is a gap in the cliff at which point one can bushwhack about .3km down to North Lost Lake Trail. I DO NOT RECOMMEND ATTEMPTING THIS UNLESS YOU ARE COMPETENT IN BOTH ROUTE FINDING AND DESCENDING THROUGH VERY STEEP AND DIFFICULT TERRAIN and preferably not alone. We weaved back and forth through giant boulders, on terrain buried underneath rotten logs and leaves. Having poles enabled me to test my footing before committing.

After maybe 20 minutes of very slow going and route finding through a maze of rock and downed trees, we emerged onto North Lost Lake Trail, having cut 4 miles off the hike if one had followed Ridge Trail until it met Lost Lake Trail. At one point my my hiking shoe got stuck between two boulders and I nearly lost my balance which could have resulted in a wrenched knee.

From here, we journeyed south along the unique geological bench above Lost Lake, taking in some very large Doug Fir trees just down slope. We then took the Rock Trail up past the cliffs (my favorite section of the entire trip), taking the right fork at the top onto Double Black Diamond Trail, past the summit of Chuckanut Mountain Middle Peak, and then following Ridge Trail north, with views of Kulshan (Baker) to the east. Total distance 3.84 miles in just over 2 hours, 971 feet of elevation gain.

Don't forget your Discover Pass for this hike, and I suggest not arriving before 830am (there is a gate with a sign on it that indicates the gate is open after that time).

Well, we didn't see any goblins on the trail (maybe they'll come out tomorrow), but we did see a young buck! New little antlers sprouting. That was the first time I've seen a deer in Larrabee, and we hike there a lot.

Detes from today: low 30's when we started circa 9:45 a.m., Lost Lake parking lot had plenty of space. Pit toilet stocked and decent. Our route was Fragrance Lake Road to the cutoff trail to Cleator Rd. (2.2 miles); cutoff trail to Cleator (.5); hung a left down Cleator Rd. to the trail for Lower Chuckanut (about .8 miles); then up to the ridge (about 1 mile). I'm calling RT at approx. 9 miles. Only "obstacles" were two downed trees, easily stepped over. Peeps were few--a couple running duos with leashed dogs, one biker.

It was a perfect Fall day--sunny, chilly, not windy. Crystalline skies, a great view of Baker from the Ridge. Edelman and I like the little bench situated halfway up the Lower Chuckanut Ridge trail, with views out to the San Juans. You get a decent workout hoofing it up to the Ridge, whether you go up Fragrance Lake Road or the trail to Fragrance Lake.

Happy and safe hiking, All.

My 15 yr. old son and I squeezed this roughly 7 mile 1,200 elev. gain/loss loop in on this cloudy October Saturday afternoon, hiking the Ridge, Rock, and Lost Lake Trails. It took us about just less than 3 hours with stops only for photos. (He hiked behind me, because I’m the slower hiker.) We started at the last corner of Cleator Road, just before its terminus. Ridge trail is literally right there.

We headed south on Ridge Trail until the junction with Rock Trail. Going from this direction on Rock Trail gives you the advantage of traveling down the steep staircases. There are 15 of them with only one going up. It’s a lot of steps. I’m glad we went down them, and not up.  Rock Trail is beautiful and unique. Once you’ve descended the bulk of the stairs you hike past some huge and impressive rock wall features. You continue on winding through massive moss and fern covered boulders, deciduous trees, and various ground covering. Some of the trees still have green leaves, others are shedding their colorful leaves. This has left a beautiful colorful carpet of fallen leaves covering the trail. (I was a little surprised there wasn’t great fall foliage in the trees, rather it’s all on the ground!)

Once onto the Lost Lake trail we headed north. There were peekaboo views of the Lost Lake as we progressed. This section of trail had a fun variety of mushrooms. There were even decaying mushrooms. After a mile or so the Lost Lake trail opens up to more of a road trail, (not my favorite.) We followed this trail about three miles until the turnoff to the Ridge Trail.

Ridge Trail ascends steeply for a bit and then levels out to a gradual climb. It doesn’t take long to get to the ridge. And appropriately named, you’ll stay on the ridge nearly the entire trail. There are no bay/ocean views but there are viewpoints to the east. Unfortunately for my son and I, it was too cloudy and foggy to see anything. On a clear day I can imagine the views are pretty great! BUT the foggy conditions did provide a fun creepy Halloweeny feel. Tis the season! This is a ridge trail that is unique to any other I’ve been on, as you’re in the forest the entire time. And it definitely keeps you engaged as you wind between trees, rocks, steep ridge edges, more mushrooms, ferns, and Salal bushes as you ascend and descend along the ridge.

This was an awesome loop hike and one I would repeat. I was surprised we only saw one other person the entire time. But I also very much appreciated the peace and privacy with my son. No wildflowers, but the large variety of mushrooms definitely made up for that. No bugs. There were two and a half blowdowns on the Ridge Trail, (one only partially on the trail, hence the half.) The only wildlife we saw was a rat scurrying away while on the Ridge Trail.

The road is in a little bumpy, but any vehicle could make it. Overall these trails are in great condition with minimal muddy spots. Be careful of the large rocks you have to travel on on the Ridge Trail, they are a little slick. Enjoy, these trails are gorgeous right now.

I call this hike the Lost Lake Lollipop, because that's what it is: a large loop, with Fragrance Lake Road as the "stick." Our route works out to 13 miles RT, and begins from the Lost Lake parking lot off Chuckanut Drive (Highway 11). We were the first car there at 7:30 this morning, but by 1 pm when we returned, the lot was full--of folks going to the beach across the highway, in another arm of the park.

Our route: Fragrance Lake Road (wide, dirt road, no cars, nice cedars, maples, alders and Doug firs) to the South Lost Lake trail> S. Lost Lake to North Lost Lake trail>on to the Chuckanut Ridge trail, where you hike along Dan's Traverse--(where all the best "aerial" views of Bellingham and Baker are)-->to the Lower Chuckanut Ridge trail> to Cleator Road (another dirt road, with very few, if any cars)>a cut-off trail to the Fragrance Lake trail> then back on Fragrance Lake Road all the way to the parking lot.

Why is this a nice route? I like it because it's shady and cool for virtually the whole way (temps in Glacier, WA, near where we would have gone today, were in the mid-90's, while here in topped out at 74). Meanwhile, you get some great hill work in. Elevation gain is around 1600 feet, but you go up and down a few times so it's probably more. The route takes you near Lost Lake, which is a quiet, very nice, large-ish lake, and also along the Chuckanut Ridge, which involves some minor scrambling up large, embedded rocks and rooty areas, and takes you to a number of cool little rock outcroppings. Maps are at kiosks throughout the well-signed trail system, which includes three lakes and numerous route choices.We saw 12 people total today, half of which were when we'd almost finished. It took us 4.5 hours. Not much in the way of flowers on this hike--too woodsy. I spotted a few huckleberries, though. Oh, I almost forgot: we definitely smelled smoke today, especially along North Lost Lake and up on the ridge. Couldn't tell you if it was the Sourdough fire or something in Canada, but it definitely affected air quality. Not a ton, but it made me cough a bit.

Happy hiking, Everyone, and stay hydrated!