Great first time on this beautiful trail. I loved the quiet and solitude on a trail so close to town. I went up the trail to the lookout and then back down the road to the trailhead.

Moderate, mostly shaded hike to the viewpoint overlooking Lake Whatcom. Few bugs but not bothersome. Sorry to Harvey (Boston terrier) that got playfully bumped off the trail by my dog.

Continued up the Chanterelle Terminus trail. Comes up to a road/ intersection for trails and mt biking. 

not on this trail but within 0.5 mi. came around a corner and startled a large black bear 10 ft away, be bear aware.

Great trail that I hike several times/month.  On this day (May 9), I saw a black bear approximately 1.5 miles from the top of the Chanterlle trail.  It was about 150 feet below the trail and quickly moved downhill toward the lake as soon as it saw me.  

Started at 7:30am. Met two groups of people along the lake. We were alone for the ascent and then crossed many people on the way down including several mountain bikes going up. The lots were mostly full upon arrival back.

The loop is great and the connector has a very different kind of forest from the Chanterelle trail itself, plus the path along the lake is beautiful.
Very few flowers on the Hertz side whereas they're starting to bloom on the Chanterelle side.

Some bugs but not too bothersome if you keep moving.