Directions to this park on Orcas Islan are well documented online and there were signs to the park as I got closer. The parking lot is a good size and will hold about 10 cars. There is a privy and you need a Discover Pass. I started the hike about 0830 on a Sunday morning and there was one other car in the parking lot.
You can hike this trail in a loop if you choose. WTA suggested counter-clockwise and that is the direction I went. The first sign shows Camp/Beach .6 miles straight ahead and that is the trail I took. I was able to see the signage about past glaciers on this trail. There are one or two signs missing, but I was able to make the loop no problem.
The path was wet dirt with various amount of tree litter throughout the hike. Lots of leaves and needles on the trail from the Cedars, Doug Firs, and Big Leaf Maple. Some impressive rocks along the way, too. As you progress, you can see the water through the trees from the trail. You’ll hear birds and frogs on the way to the campground.
You’ll walk along the bluff overseeing the water after you pass the campsites. I’m not sure how you get down to the water, if you can. It appeared to be high tide when I visited and continued along the trail. There is some good information on Lodgepole Pine Trees on the information plaques.
Lots of Madrone trees with their berries. These are visible on the ground, too, along with some fungi. You follow the signs to the Highlands Trail and to the parking lot to finish the loop. This involves a series of switchbacks uphill, but they level out about .6-.7 miles. You will border private land on this hike and there are several warning signs as you make your way back to the parking lot. The downhill is steep in a few spots, but doable.
The trail narrows in spots and has a lot of rocks and roots. Not overgrown, just narrow in spots. You’ll encounter some meadows, “balds”, and a sign explaining their history. I found this a bit surprising, but added value to the hike as they were unexpected. The whole loop was about 1.5 miles for me. I got back to the parking lot having only seen 1 person and their dog for the whole hike. The parking lot now had about 5 cars. The hike was quite the mix of scenery.
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