Camano Ridge Trail, Camano Island State Park — Sunday, Apr. 2, 2017

Puget Sound and Islands > Bellingham Area

The rain seemed forecast to stay south, so we headed north to try out Camano Island trails. The day started at the Camano Ridge Forest Preserve. Turn up the Can Ku Road, head up the hill and around the curve. Just past where Google Maps says "you have arrived" there is a yellow marker and trailhead post. There is room enough for a handful of cars to park on the side of the road. We headed up the trail, which has a fair amount of gain right at the beginning. After a few minutes of uphill, you come out of the trees and into a more open trail. A short way further, the trail splits. We took the lefthand option, then we stayed left again at the next split. About 1.5 miles into the hike, if you stayed left at each option, you come to the gate mentioned in previous trip reports. It looked like it was onto private property, so we turned around. When we reached the most immediate fork in the road, we opted to go to the left (the right-hand choice on our way in), and it took us down another semi-clear trail for another half mile or so. Just when it looked like the trail was ending, it actually narrows a bit and goes into the woods. We meandered through the woods, always choosing the lefthand option when presented with a fork in the trail. This went on for about a mile or so, then we found ourselves back on the open trail, heading toward the very first fork. It worked out very well. By the time we were back at the car, it was just shy of a 4-mile trek. The trees in the woods are fabulous, and other than the gain at the beginning, it's a mellow, up and down kind of trail. No wildlife sightings. I was really hoping for an owl. :-) Leaving the Preserve, we went toward the Camano Island State Park. The young pup (5mos.) along for the adventure was pretty tired, so we kept it short, taking the Loop Trail to the south beach area, then walking the beach back to the parking area. We added just a touch over 2-miles to the day's tally. We didn't see anyone on the Preserve trail. It was a good first trail for a young, nervous pup. The weather was beautiful, but windy, so we saw just a handful of people at the beach. Both trails were in really good shape. No visible trash. No real obstacles. I would recommend the Preserve trails for families looking for a relatively close to Seattle hike that isn't too challenging, but still offers time in the woods with cool trees.

More Information on this Trip Report

• https://www.flickr.com/photos/roniabirk/albums/72157678855641073