Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Oyster Dome Trail

    4.5 (30 reviews)

    Oyster Dome Trail Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Oyster Dome Trail

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    John S.

    Great hike today at the end of January. Took me about three hours from Chuckanut Drive to the top and back down. Bring water and a flashlight. The trail is narrow so you will see a decent amount of folks. They were all very friendly and said hello as I passed. Would be nice if they could have a few porties at the trailhead as I drove up from Seattle and really had to pee.

    Lucinda B.

    When searching for a local hike this one is certainly worth checking out! A short easy drive from Arlington Wa. From the exit it's probably 15 minutes. The gravel road has its rough spots of pot holes and wash board. We went on a Tuesday so the parking at The Samish Overlook was perfect! We did the loop. We took the trail to Lily Lake then to Oyster Dome then back down to the Samish Overlook. The Trail is well kept and marked. We did a 6 mile loop with almost 2,000 foot gain. A little rough on the knees coming down. The trees, old growth stumps, rock formations were incredible. Not overcrowded at all. My only complaint was the outhouses were filthy and full of garbage. No garbage cans are provided so people were very disrespectful and threw it in the outhouses. Otherwise I will definitely be back!

    Karyn S.

    Beautiful views and well maintained trail! I started this time from Sammish Overlook to Oyster Dome. The trail is mostly covered until you get to the top and can enjoy the sunshine as you enjoy the view and find a place on the rock. The trailhead at Sammish Overview offers bathrooms and decent parking. Don't forget your Discovery Pass! Must do hike, especially on a clear day!

    Ryan C.

    The view makes it all worth it. If you're hiking up from the highway, it's a bit steep but from Squamish overlook it's not too bad. The trail felt a bit longer than advertised.

    Good morning, volunteering at the trails.
    Andrew L.

    Oyster Dome is a brilliant trail, with a steep entry from Chuckanut Drive, which requires you to park on the street (which can be busy on weekends, particularly after 9am.) If you get a parking spot down there, you are sure to encounter a trail of two tales. Firstly, the trail is steep, and it's rough from that start point. It's rocky, muddy, and very woody. You are on Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Land, so along the way, you will encounter trails that are more efficient, rather than built for hikers. WTA (Washington Trails Association) has been working on reworking the network of trails and is much nicer than before. After the halfway point, the second half of the trail is a gentle decline and a gentle upward trek, until the last bit, where to the top, it's just a little steeper. The view is pretty good! I suggest if you want to get to the view faster (less climbing), take the 5 miles trailroad, by way of barrel springs road, via the Algers exit on I-5. There is a complementary view at Sharpe Park, just south, at Sara's Head viewpoint, with much less hiking... but then again, what's the point, if you are sweating and sore at the end; I mean it's a hike.. and Oyster Dome will do it.

    At the top.
    Lauren S.

    I live in Kent, so driving to Bellingham was almost a two hour journey. It was waaay worth it. This trail definitely has a few steep parts, so be ready for that. Additionally, there were several muddy patches when I went last week, but nothing that scared me away or made me slip. I'd say this trail is okay for beginners, as the friend that I took is very new to hiking. For me, as an intermediate hiker, I was never really out of breath but I did work up a sweat and was feeling it the next day! There are several view points, places to sit and relax, and a wide enough trail for people who have to pull off to the side if they have a crazy dog (cough cough, me). The end point of this trail is amazing. This hike is definitely challenging and you will be sore the next day, but man, it's worth it. *Note: there are no bathrooms close to Oyster Dome. Take care of that at the Starbucks or Subway that is ten minutes away from the trailhead!

    Roxi M.

    Great well marked hiking trail. Started from Samish Overlook and it took us 1hr to climb and 51 mins down. Single file trail with lots of areas to rest if needed. My 12yr old daughter & 61yr old mother did just fine and were the leaders.

    Mimi N.

    Pew pew, gotta write this review before I forget too much of my hiking experience :) Came here with a group of friends on Memorial Day, and here are some of my observations: 1) Go early - better parking spots, easier to hike the trail without constant people traffic...etc 2) Parking Lot = tiny...at most, 20 or so cars. Afterwards, people start parking on the side of the road. So SUVs / big cars, take caution when entering/leaving the parking area cuz it can get pretty cramped 3) Road Conditions - Other than the gravelly road, there was barely any potholes. So most cars should be able to get here without much trouble 4) Bring a Discover Pass 5) Facilities - Bring toilet paper / tissue packets if you use the bathrooms. When I went, there wasn't any toilet paper and it's super gross. -___- eww 6) WTA Directions - Make sure to follow the directions on the WTA website. It will lead you to the lookout point and from there, it's easier to pick which trail to go on (whether it be straight to the Oyster Dome, or a quick detour to the lake, and etc) 7) The view from the parking lot = similar/same view as the the "Oyster Dome" lookout area. :) So if you don't want to hike but want the view instead, swing by in the afternoon when it's sunny for pictures. Hiking Review: Overall, this hike is easy to moderate. The trail starts off fairly flat, and throughout the distance, there are gradual inclines that will leave you huffin' a bit. The hardest part of the trail is definitely the last quarter that leads you up to the Oyster Dome. When you feel like you're wheezin and huffin for air, booom. You have finally made it to the dome. It's a little anti-climatic but the view with the clouds is nice. To add an extra uumph to your hike, I recommend making a stop (on the way down) at the lakes - Lily & Lizard. The paths are superrrrr easy and flat and doesn't add too much stress. However, going back down was a bit hard, especially on the knees. Overall, hike was roughly around 9ish miles round trip (Lakes + Dome) and it was a fun trek. PS - a lot of people let their dogs loose here, so just a heads up to those who don't like surprises.

    peter c.

    It's a nice trail with a decent view. The paved trail head parking can be pretty crowded and easily overflow into the gravel road leading to it. The gravel road lasts a 2-3 miles and is mostly pot hole free besides one section near the end. The hike is somewhat strenuous, but short. It gives the 1000 feet of elevation more or less in a miles worth of walking. The trail isn't rocky and is well maintained.

    Nina S.

    A favourite local spot with outstanding views of the San Juan island and Olympic national park on a clear day. There are couple ways to access either from bottom up or at 1/2 way view point if wanting a shorter hike. Remember that you will need a discovery pass which can be purchased via phone but need a pen and paper to display on the dash of the car. This was a great hike! Mostly covered which is perfect on a hot sunny day and probably only took 2.5 hours round trip from the midway viewpoint. Value 3/5 expensive to pay day pass just for a hike Atmosphere 5/5 Service 2/5 porter potties Quality 4/5 13/20

    Lauree C.

    Gorgeous views to be had at the top of the Oyster Dome trail!! However this is a very popular hike so prepare for crowds. Parking fills up real fast! We went on a Saturday morning, arrived at 9 am and there were already a lot of vehicles parked on the road (no parking lot). It also feels a little like your car might tumble down the edge of the bay as the spaces are narrow! The hike was extremely pleasant, when we went it was nice and dry. You gain a lot of elevation in the beginning and then it turns into a gentle walk for a bit. Don't be fooled by this stretch, it gets much steeper right at the end climbing up to the actual viewpoints but you will be rewarded by a stunning view if it is a clear day. Budget some time to spend stretched out in the sun at the top with you lunch. You won't want to leave. :) We saw lots of dogs enjoying the trail and a TON of hikers. This may be the busiest hike I have done but worth a trip.

    View from the dome

    See all

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of John S.
    9
    396
    75

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ryan C.
    242
    9
    20

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mimi N.
    968
    711
    3874

    9 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nina S.
    572
    556
    1868

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Bryan L.
    47
    110
    15

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Hunter H.
    9
    122
    244

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mikayla W.
    267
    43
    24

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Oyster Dome Trail

    Review Highlights - Oyster Dome Trail

    The trailhead is on the milepost 10 marker on Chuckanut Drive, which is off of exit 231 on I-5.

    Mentioned in 6 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Hiking 397 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Oyster Dome Trail - hiking - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...