Interurban Trail, Clayton Beach — Friday, Oct. 13, 2023

The best way to combat jet lag is to spend as much time as possible in (preferably sunny) daylight, and keep moving. To that end, Edelman and I took a very nice 8.5 mile RT "hike" from the North Chuckanut TH to Larrabee Park's Lost Lake parking area, then down the trail directly across Chuckanut Drive to the sweet little cove called Clayton Beach. We'd never been before, and it's a lovely, quiet little gem. The way is mostly flat except for a few short inclines and declines. The Fairhaven Interurban is nicer, IMHO, than either the Burke Gilman, Sammamish Slough, or Snohomish/Shoreline interurban trails because it is largely unpaved, is well treed with Doug fir, maples, cedars and alders, plus ferns, and has peek-a-boo views of the San Juans and Samish Bay. Not too many people. The trail down to Clayton Beach is in the process of being fixed up, so there were some piles of yet-to-be-spread gravel along the way. These are easily passed through, and the private-seeming cove that you arrive at is well worth the half-mile hike. Fall colors were out along the Interurban. We passed a number of bikers and runners, all friendly. We spent 4 hours total, including lunch at the cove and hiking under the influence of jet lag (which I imagine is a bit like having a psychedelic experience). Happy hiking, All!