Larrabee State Park - South Lost Lake Trail, Larrabee State Park - North Lost Lake Trail & Larrabee State Park - Chuckanut Ridge Trail — Monday, Aug. 14, 2023

I call this hike the Lost Lake Lollipop, because that's what it is: a large loop, with Fragrance Lake Road as the "stick." Our route works out to 13 miles RT, and begins from the Lost Lake parking lot off Chuckanut Drive (Highway 11). We were the first car there at 7:30 this morning, but by 1 pm when we returned, the lot was full--of folks going to the beach across the highway, in another arm of the park.

Our route: Fragrance Lake Road (wide, dirt road, no cars, nice cedars, maples, alders and Doug firs) to the South Lost Lake trail> S. Lost Lake to North Lost Lake trail>on to the Chuckanut Ridge trail, where you hike along Dan's Traverse--(where all the best "aerial" views of Bellingham and Baker are)-->to the Lower Chuckanut Ridge trail> to Cleator Road (another dirt road, with very few, if any cars)>a cut-off trail to the Fragrance Lake trail> then back on Fragrance Lake Road all the way to the parking lot.

Why is this a nice route? I like it because it's shady and cool for virtually the whole way (temps in Glacier, WA, near where we would have gone today, were in the mid-90's, while here in topped out at 74). Meanwhile, you get some great hill work in. Elevation gain is around 1600 feet, but you go up and down a few times so it's probably more. The route takes you near Lost Lake, which is a quiet, very nice, large-ish lake, and also along the Chuckanut Ridge, which involves some minor scrambling up large, embedded rocks and rooty areas, and takes you to a number of cool little rock outcroppings. Maps are at kiosks throughout the well-signed trail system, which includes three lakes and numerous route choices.We saw 12 people total today, half of which were when we'd almost finished. It took us 4.5 hours. Not much in the way of flowers on this hike--too woodsy. I spotted a few huckleberries, though. Oh, I almost forgot: we definitely smelled smoke today, especially along North Lost Lake and up on the ridge. Couldn't tell you if it was the Sourdough fire or something in Canada, but it definitely affected air quality. Not a ton, but it made me cough a bit.

Happy hiking, Everyone, and stay hydrated!