We took the 7:30 ferry to Clinton and arrived at the Institute around 8:10.   Trails are well maintained and meander thru a quiet forest.  There were a few spots with overgrown nettles along the edges.   I got stung thru my pantlegs- luckily there were a lot of ferns to pinch for relief.

Gps logged 4.25 miles and 735 ft total elevation on the rolling ups and downs.

A staff member told us the institute is used as a work retreat. Looks like a great place to have a worl retreat.  Restroom facility available at the retreat.

The trails were well maintained.  It was a beautiful place filled with the sounds of nature.   Be sure to check out Grandmother Rock, as it is really lovely!  

Hiked the "Upper Loop", starting at the lower parking lot.

Road Conditions. Short, well maintained gravel road to a parking lot. No facilities.

Trail Conditions. Lots of branches had come down in recent windstorms, but the trail had been cleared (minus a couple of mid-sized blowdowns). Trail junctions were all signed, but this map was useful.

Crowds. Several cars in the parking lot, but we encountered only one person on the trail.

Easy hike. Very quiet and lots of space on a beautiful day.

I'd been to this area of Whidbey before (could not place when) but never on the trails. We parked in the upper lot and had a chat with someone from the institute who suggested the Upper Loop. We walked the road back down to the lower lot, grabbing a map from the mailbox by the trail sign.

It was a bit spongy wet as we crossed the lowest part of the trail before it starts up and around the loop. We walked clockwise. It goes up a bit more than a bit in the beginning. 

Very peaceful trail. No other hikers on the loop. We had a nice visit from a pileated woodpecker, flicking from one tree to another. Saw and heard many little birds in that quiet place. Trails are pretty well marked with these little blond wood signs.

Around 2 miles. Went into Langley for lunch at The Braeburn on the way back. Always special to start and end an adventure with a ferry ride! It did not disappoint on a sunny Thursday.