This was a great hike for my two kids (7, 10) and dog. We started from the Samish Overlook and did the loop clockwise. I liked the little burn of the steeper elevation on the front end, but this part of the trail was surprisingly crowded.

We went on a Saturday and arrived at 12:30 and the lot was full (we easily parked on the road close to the lot). Despite our timing I was a little surprised because it was kind of an overcast day in November, and Oyster Dome remained socked-in the whole time we were up there. However, we still had a great view from Samish Overlook, and the Fall hoa hoa vibes were strong as we walked the much quieter second half of the loop, which went through some enchanting forest before returning to the trail head.

The trail was a little wet, but not slippery - it’s in great shape.

Despite this, on a personal note, I sprained my ankle as I chugged down the hill to keep up with my kids while carrying their discarded gear and wrangling the dog. So… super glad I kept the steeper elevation on the front end.

It was a beautiful day for a hike, and the trail conditions were excellent with the exception of signage going counterclockwise from Samish overlook to Oyster Dome via Larry Reed and Max’s Shortcut trails. There is a very subtle left trail that is not marked until about 100 yards beyond the juncture, which we missed the first time so we added about 7 miles to our day!

On the advice of a trail maintenance guy, we took Acorn trial back for more open views of the water. Maybe worth it and less crowded, but then you end up on a forest service road for quite a while before merging back near the bottom of Larry Reed.

Went on Friday morning at 8am. ~3.4mi to the summit, quick pace and it took me a little over an hour to get there and only saw one other person. Spent an hour at the top and coming down was just a bit faster at 40 minutes and ~2.2mi. There was a lot of people starting to come up around 10am. I followed the previous trip report and went counterclockwise from Samish Overlook to Lily Lake via Larry Reed and Max's Shortcut, then came down the Samish Bay Connector and Chuckanut Trail.

Trail condition: 2/5 For the most part with mud, wet roots and wet rocks. A couple of stream crossings. Recommended to wear boots, and if you use poles, I recommend bringing those too. Larry Reed/Max's Shortcut has two small blowdowns (you can walk around them) and the whole trail is covered in fallen branches. The viewpoint is very slippery even with high traction footwear.

Trail difficulty: 2/5 Gradual incline and no technical bits. Giving a 2 because if you do it clockwise, the trail up is shorter in length and a little more elevation gain.

Navigation: 5/5 Easy to follow the trail without map, there are several signs at forks indicating trails and directions.

Parking: 4/5 Parking lot is large (approx. 25 spaces) and there was ample space for everyone. I don't know if it is enough during peak times though as it was starting to fill up by 11am. Road is gravel in all the way, no problem for any car.

Features: 3/5 Very peaceful walk in the forest. The lake had no views, but it was very atmospheric. Lots of lush greenery due to recent rains, and some fall foliage is still around. Great view at the top if you have clear skies or a break in the clouds. You can walk around the top and see a couple of other viewpoints. Some small waterfalls but nothing major. Active wildlife around, mostly birds and squirrels.

Family friendly: 4/5 Did not see any families, but that might be due to the time I went. It is relatively easy, and you could take breaks going up with children of any age who can hike. Would recommend against going in wet weather due to slip hazards, especially at the top, but would be fine otherwise.

Overall: 4/5 I decided to go today because the weather outlook was supposed to be mostly clear skies. Unfortunately, I was in a fog all the way up, however I got very lucky and had a nice long break in the clouds when I reached the top, which eventually closed up again once I started coming down. The trail was quiet in the morning, and the fog added to the atmosphere. I came from Kitsap County to explore this trail and a little bit of Bellingham before heading back. This hike and the drive on Chuckanut made the trip worth it. I will be definitely coming back again. Recommend hiking this weekend as it gets sunnier and the trail dries up a bit.

We completed today's hike in a counterclockwise fashion starting at Samish Overlook, then heading up Max's Shortcut, then up to Oyster Dome from Lily Lake, and then back to the Overlook.

For the recent high winds we've experienced, the trails on today's hike were in very good condition. There were a few branches here and there on the trails, but nothing that posed a real obstacle. The streams were running fairly briskly as well, but no issues with getting across.

Signs along the forest access road up to Samish Overlook noted there is active hauling on the road; however, we didn't see any large or oversized vehicles. The access road is in really good shape overall although there are some potholes in sections. No issues with the parking lot or the facilities.

We only encountered about 12 people total which was wonderful. We did see a barred owl (Strix varia) sitting above the trail near Lily Lake. It was a very neat scene as the mist was thick in the surrounding trees.

A great hike overall, no issues. The trail is muddy and slick in spots due to the recent precipitation and surface flows washing over some areas of exposed rock, but the trails are generally still in very good shape.

We started up at 4pm and made it all the way back down at around 6:40 (took several scenery breaks). It was chilly and well-shaded, and everything was the verdant green of post-rain. The view at the top is sweeping and beautiful, though predictably difficult to see right before sunset as the sun is front and center.

This is truly just up the hill then back down, which was quite difficult for me but seemed to be no problem for many others. Just something to keep in mind. It’s a stunning hike.