Get to know this 6.9-mile loop trail near Anacortes, Washington. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 10 min to complete. This is a popular trail for birding, hiking, and walking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. The best times to visit this trail are March through September. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.
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Watch out for tick! We found one on our dog and 2 on people. Nice trail for a walk and moderate workout on a moody day. A couple steep section but it was manageable without poles. Some mud, but nothing crazy. Super windy again, but only one tree fall. Skunk cabbage is blooming nicely! Paved road and toilet open at TH. Limited parking but not very busy.
Light traffic today because the weather has been awful everywhere. Slights winds, no rain. Several areas of mud and muck, but the trail was mostly dry. This is a moderate/hard trail. There are lots of ups and downs, and the trail is rocky at times. The hike around the lake is gorgeous! Nice view from Mount Erie too.
Beautiful trail through mature forest. Especially wonderful in the rain. The parking lot at this trailhead is very small, maybe 8 cars. The trail intersections were confusing until I figured out the number system. Worked well with the app. I accidentally turned off the app. My totals were 6.9, 1200.
This trail will provide a workout even if you are used to hiking 5-7 miles. Because of the size of the loop, you are up and down frequently with some of the larger uphill sections coming at the end. It is filled with nice views, trails shrouded in tall pines and access to Wisper Lake if you want to swim. Views of Lake Erie and the big water can be seen near the end of the trail. Overall nice hike. Because this area has so many trails throughout, it is definitely recommended to have the app/map handy as you hike. I referred to it often as a non-resident of the area. It was pretty good. One positive note regarding the app...I missed one of the turnoffs and the app sent a message asking if I was still on course. I was not and found it helpful to stay on track. Some bees were in the area of the overlooks but I think it's more seasonal than a problem. Overall, I enjoyed this hike. No vault/pit toilets at the trailheard.
Trail was very well marked and in good condition. Lots of different options to make the hike shorter or longer. Definitely use All Trails so you will know which route and trail numbers to take. They are just listed as a number not the destination. Took the Sugarloaf trailhead to Whistle Lake and then up to Mount Eerie and Sugarloaf and back. All Trails closed me at 9.4 but my Fitbit had it at about 11 so not sure the exact total mileage. A great trail system that I want to explore more. At the main attractions Sugarloaf Hill, Whistle Lake and the top of Mt Eerie there were a good amount of folks for a sunny summer day but once you got out of these main areas the trails were largely deserted. Will for sure be exploring here again. Just a note that I went on an unmarked trail from the backside of whistle lake to the top of Mount Eerie, but it was lots of scrambling and very steep. I suggest to stick to the trails.
Trail is in great condition. Lots of side trails so, downloading and following Alltrails route keeps you on track. Prefer clockwise. Route is 8.4 miles and 1300 ft of elevation. elevation is gained in sections, not all at once. Last mile going clockwise was a bit tedious. very quiet, no other hikers on Tuesday morning.
Beautiful moderate trail, a little longer than AllTrails says, watch the gps throughout, lots of splits. I went clockwise, didn’t see much difference either way. Somehow lost the trailhead crossing the road, did that part along the road. Beautiful views and waterfalls were running. Happy hiking!
Nothing mind blowing, but a nice, quiet hike. Only saw three other groups of hikers/bikers while on the trail and all within the last couple miles. Definitely over 7 miles, maybe 7.25-7.5 ish. Going counterclockwise, the first 1/3 is not overly exciting, both the terrain and views become much more interesting once you get a little closer to the swamp and lake area. If you don’t know the area bring GPS, and if you have a hard time going downhill I would suggest going clockwise. Have fun out there!
Great trail! We chose to go clockwise, which was the right choice for me as i prefer going uphill for very steep sections. After the steep uphill climb (easy, well maintained, no scrambling) it's a pretty easy stretch to Whistle Lake which is absolutely gorgeous - lots of opportunities for views and plenty of lake access if you want to take a dip (we did not). After the lake it's mostly a forested trail with some steep sections, but nothing as steep as the beginning. Some opportunities for great views of Lake Campbell reward the hike. All in all was a wonderful hike and I'd rate it moderate for an out of practice hiker (which I am) but easy for anyone else.
The hike my adventure loving teenage son Alec and I set out on was moderate at just over 6 miles, but we supplemented in 2 peaks which added a lot of elevation and distance. That and we missed a turn which added a 1/2 mile or so. I guess we were enjoying the scenery so much we were not paying close enough attention to our route at that moment. So I think our trek might have been kicked up to the next category from Moderate as we about doubled the mileage and altitude. For my FULL TRIP REVIEW with video, pics, story and info I invite you to type the following in your browser. https://wordpress.com/posts/washingtonstatehikingpursuingbalancethroughadventure.business.blog
Hiked this loop counter-clockwise, but meant we didn't go up to each peak. Looks like going clockwise would put all the steep ascents at the start and maybe you're more likely to check out the views at each mountain. Many ups and downs, pretty scenery, pretty lake, not a difficult hike. Don't be surprised if you encounter people on bikes and horseback on parts of the trail. Bring a map or GPS, since some of the trail signs are not clear and with so many interconnections, it can be difficult to know which turn to take. No snow, no bugs, a few muddy spots.
What a gorgeous day. We arrived at 8:30 am, parking available. We hiked to Sugarloaf, around Whistle Lake and then finished the loop back to the car. 9 miles, 1988 eg. Loved the hike. Various terrain ranging from moss-covered boulders, old growth fir trees, early blooming wildflowers to seriously gorgeous views. Definitely bring GPS or good maps. Easy to get lost.
