Turtleback Mountain Preserve - Ship Peak Loop — Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025

The forecast for this mid-February Wednesday was for crisp, clear blue skies, albeit in cold weather by western Washington standards.  I figured it would be a beautiful day for a ferry crossing to Orcas Island (including a sailing back to Anacortes during sunset) followed by a hike.  My pooch, age 11, doesn't have quite the stamina that she once did, but this trail seemed within her capability.

This is an excellent trail.  I like the "open" environment of the hike's higher elevations, with clearings that afford some excellent views.  On a mid-February Wednesday, there were about 5 cars parked at the trailhead at noon.

There's a good map posted at the south trailhead showing all the Turtlehead Mountain Preserve trails; I suggest taking a picture of it (I'll post it here) and having it handy.  I hiked the route suggested in the WTA narrative . . . following the loop counterclockwise, and taking in the various short spurs to viewpoints.  I recommend going in this (counterclockwise) direction as it is always interesting when views get progressively higher and better.  If you were to go clockwise (i.e., doing your ascent on the "Lost Oak Trail"), you would be ascending through fairly nondescript thickly wooded slopes, emerge to the best views.  I'd prefer to save the best for last.  Moreover, according to the elevation profile from my fitness watch, the ascent will be more gentle if you go counterclockwise.

The trail itself is easy to follow and provides nice treading; it's not rooty or rocky.  Intersections are well signed, but I do recommend taking a map with you for reassurance, and for planning additional distance if you have the time and energy to explore the northern trails in the preserve.  There was a little residual snow on this day, mainly inconsequential areas of "dust", and not a big deal.  The main issue was that portions of the trail were quite muddy.

My fitness watch logged 3.57 miles with 923 feet of elevation gain - fairly close to the WTA specs.  My pooch and I did it in 1 hour 44 minutes, however I stopped several times for pictures, including time to try get the dog to cooperate for a photo.  Had I been by myself and not stopped for pictures, I'm thinking it's a 1 hour 20 minute hike.

Just one watch-out:  the WTA directions to the trailhead indicate to follow Deer Harbor Road 2.4 miles.  In reality, it's more like 2.0 or 2.1.  Not a big difference but I did miss the turn and had to turn around.

Also, kudos to the hiker who found the sunglasses that had apparently fallen out of my pocket on my ascent and placed them in a prominent location at the trailhead!  Because it was a "loop trail", I did not re-encounter them.  They were only $20 sunglasses, but I really like them and would have been sad to have lost them.