First time on Ancacortes. Beautiful area! The hike was moderate, a few short inclines, but nothing…read morekiller, it was great to be out, after some much needed rain, which according to the one other hiker I encountered, usually doesn't include here, because it's in the 'rain shadow' but it was awesome to hear and see babbling brooks, amazing small waterfalls, and listening to the wind howling through the trees. Add in the sun.. Wonderful! I did the hike clockwise, it can be done either way, it's about the same inclines and descends, I guess it all depends how quickly you want to get to the lake? Clockwise, then is faster. Great swimming opportunities all around Whistle lake, definitely will be back in the summer. It must be a popular swim area, because anywhere it looked like people had used it for swimming, it was posted NO ALCOHOL, yea, cliffs, water, and alcohol may not mix. lol Lots of wildlife, bald eagles, ducks, swans, bushtits, and a few woodpeckers. All the leaves on the trails definitely marked fall weather, along with the mossy branches and fallen trees. Like most trails I've been on, come early to get parking, no permit needed here, but it was almost full and more cars coming in when I left. Trail was a little longer than AllTrails indicated, no problem, but it definitely helps to have a trail app, quite a few forks in the trails, with just numbers, not much direction. Beautiful views of a few surrounding lakes, farmland, and the bays. Definitely one to be done, multiple times throughout the year, as some of my other favorites will be under snow... time for some snowshoes? Possibly:-) After a fun cool hike a fire in the fireplace is going to feel good. Happy hiking and yelping! God bless and Cheers!

Moran state park was top of our list to visit while on Orcas Island. It's a beautiful park to…read morevisit, with unbelievable views and you can drive to the top making the views accessible to everyone. You need a Discovery Pass to park at the park. They have lovely lakes, and amazing trails to explore them. We completed a couple lake trails and absolutely enjoyed them. So calming and peaceful. A must visit while on Orcas Island.

My family and I had a beautiful visit to this park. It's small. It's on the island and there's a…read morelot of historic buildings around and it was worth the side trip. Located in a beautiful area next to the water plenty of places to walk around and the tallest mountain in the San Juan Island Chain, is something to cherish. Plan a little bit of extra time for the walking. It's not hard and it's absolutely gorgeous there. I meant the Ranger both of them and they were absolutely great history. They know how to treat a you. Thank you people for showing us incredible hospitality, and immaculate Property. It was very clean very well. Every corner is a picture waiting to be taken.

Pine and Cedar Lakes Trail is a solid kick in the pants with 1500 ft of elevation gain in 1.5…read moremiles. I spent two days camping at Pine Lake and saw one other person. Another bonus is that the hills mask the hum if I-5. There are plenty of boot tracks to explore along the North Shore. A very peaceful place with solitude in spades!

Great hike. I made it a loop and ended up at Falls Drive and walked along the main road back to the…read moretrailhead. I went alone and didn't encounter a single person in the 4-5 hours it took for me to do the loop. Not all maps show the trail that leads off so you can make the loop. You go to the south from an off shoot in between cedar and Pine lake. The trails at this point are very overgrown. There is more opportunities to go on trails but I stuck on the service roads for the most part. Lots of good lookout points over Lake Samish. The original hike to get to Pine and Cedar lake is very steep. Once you get past that point it is more rolling hills or flat. I highly recommend turning left and heading toward the overlook NW of Cedar lake. Great views of the San Juan's and on the other side you can see Baker. For the Lakes there is camping opportunities available (primitive). Also there are no toilets available. Swimming in the lakes might be possible but they look as if the water is stagnant and there is much muck. I'm only knocking it down because of the hill. The overgrown section isn't part of this trail but is a fun way to go if you want more mileage and to make a loop of it. Just be aware you will be walking back along the road and there is little to no shoulder at times so walk towards the oncoming traffic to step out of the way when they approach.

Watmough Bay is located within the larger Watmough Bay Preserve. The Bay itself is a national…read moremonument thru the U.S. Department of the Interior while the Watmough Bay Preserve is run through the San Juan County Land Bank. Watmough Bay is also called the San Juan Islands National Monument. The view of the Cascade mountains and the Bay itself are beautiful. There is a small parking lot off a short drive from Watmough Head Rd with a number of parking spaces. The Bay and the Preserve share a parking lot and trailhead. A short trail takes you to the Bay and the beach. The Cascade mountains are visible straight-out from the beach. Depending on the time of year you go, they might even be snow-capped! The rocks on the beach are beautiful to look at (no taking/collecting though!) and the water crystal clear. The driftwood makes for a nice seat if watching the ducks swimming in the water. Occasionally one would dive down beneath the surface of the water, and it was fun waiting and watching to see where they would pop up again. The rocky cliffs forming the sides of the Bay were also beautiful. A great place to go and clear one's mind and take in the beauty of the San Juan Islands and the Pacific Northwest.

Love everything about this place! My friends and I found a place to sit and chill by the water…read more We watched people on their paddle boards and boats, so peaceful. There's a trail nearby that goes up, takes you through trees, and when you get to the top, breathtaking views!

I saw a Lions Park sign from I-5 headed northbound in Mount Vernon and was like, that's where I…read morewant to be. This past Thursday, the 22nd of April and Earth Day 2021, I decided to celebrate the Earth by doing some exploring on foot in Mount Vernon. I parked my car at Mount Vernon Lions Club Roadside Park because I couldn't easily spot if/where the parking lot was for North Lions Park. After parking my car I explored south on the Skagit Riverwalk to the River Jam Memorial and the Skagit Riverwalk Park. After exploring south I made my way north and to the North Lions Park. Walking to the park I noticed a couple of sandy stretches along the Skagit River at the base of a treed area. I got all excited and hopeful that I would find access to the beach in the park. The paths I encountered in the park were dirt paths and relatively flat except at the junction with the beach patches. It took me a few tries to find the right paths that led to the beach, but I eventually found two different beach spots. I sat and relaxed at each spot for a little bit. The sun was out and the trees provided speckled shade. Flowers were starting to bloom and the Song Sparrows had fun watching me from the side of the trail and singing. The water was relatively quiet, no boaters nor big birds in the water here. Tiny minnows did swim in the shallows close to shore. I only encountered one other person while I was here (a little under an hour). The noise from the highway does carry so it is not absolutely quiet. The trails were well maintained and cleanly. Nice place to take in some nature while in Mount Vernon.

Great riverside walk through huge trees. Slight beach access. Good for dogs, dog poop bags are…read moreprovided. A little muddy at parts. Nice grass field. Connects with the other riverside trail going past the playground and old Mount Vernon.

We stumbled upon this absolute gem of a county park on a recent camping trip to Whidbey Island, and…read moreI just had to make a Yelp page for them! This spot is so pretty, located way off of busy Hwy 20 at the end of a dead end road. It's pretty basic - there are no amenities (not even a port-a-potty, eek) but don't let that stop you from visiting. The beach is absolutely breathtaking, with views across to Hope Island State Park and the mainland, and literally hundreds (if not thousands) of huge pieces of driftwood. My guess is the trees that float down the Skagit during flood season eventually end up at this park, and I'm here for it because there were some GIANT ones! There's also a tiny, no-frills boat-in campsite at the north end of the park, but the real experience here is to walk south along the spit where you can almost see Deception Pass, which is right around the corner. There's no lack of boats, sea life, and birds to enjoy. No to mention this was one of the best rockhounding areas I've been to in quite awhile! I had to resist re-starting my infamous fourth grade beach rock collection. This is definitely worth the visit, and the beach walk to the end of the spit is worth it (if not a bit more tiring than it looks). There was only one other person here during our visit, too, so it was super quiet!

Easy stop for people and dogs. Nice trail. Great little, nearly hidden, spot before you reach the…read moreferry area.

About 6 parking spots 2 picnic tables…read moreStairs/trail down to Guemes Channel Trail Great views!

Cross this Lopez Island favorite off your list. For some reason (the stories vary, from the beach's…read moreneighbors being unhappy with the number of tourists coming to the site, to so-called issues of erosion), the county removed a perfectly functioning metal staircase linking the roadway to the beach access. Agate Beach is now inaccessible. Whatever, it's a shame. We've been coming to Lopez for over twenty years, happy to support the island's many local businesses, and now Lopez has one less reason to travel here.

This is where you want to kinda sit around for a while and enjoy the sea breeze while watching a…read morefamily of geese across the water. You could get your feet wet but the water is too cold and because of the rocks, it can be very slippery. I would stay on shore and listen for the small waves coming with its the small sweet thudding agains the rocks. Sounds so peaceful. l somehow and surprisingly felt nostalgic. It's nice to remember the good ole past memories that are now long gone and can't ever be brought back. Ahhhh This place is quiet and still very secluded. Here you will find a moment of silence. It's nice and humbling. It also made me realize to just enjoy each day and be grateful for everything and everyone I am blessed with. I enjoyed my afternoon here.