 |
Samish Overlook hike offers a taste of all four seasons in a single day
By KAREN SYKES ![[Bio]](../art/bio_bttn.gif){kind=small}
SPECIAL TO THE POST-INTELLIGENCER
February is a strange month. The roads are often icy while viewpoints at higher elevations are thawing in the sun. The crocuses are coming up in the front yard but it's still winter in the mountains.
It may be hard to decide between hiking or snowshoeing on these cold, bright days with a hint of spring in the air. If you can't make up your mind, consider hiking the trails on Blanchard Mountain, where you may encounter all four seasons in a day. Find a frozen lake, climb a rock or picnic in the sun.
Blanchard Mountain has many trails to offer hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers, plus roads that allow ATVs. The Pacific Northwest Trail Association, Back Country Horsemen's Association and the Department of Natural Resources have put a lot of work into these trails. Several in this area and along Chuckanut Drive comprise part of the PNT trail system that will run from Montana to the Washington coast when completed.
 |
Even without the aerial pageantry of hang gliders, there are wide-angle-lens views of the San Juan Islands, Samish Island and Mount Constitution.
The trail to the overlook begins on DNR land starting from the Blanchard Hill trailhead (this trail also leads to Lily Lake) on Blanchard Mountain. The first 1 1/2 miles of this trail are well maintained by the Back Country Horsemen's Association.
It is a pleasant forest walk with occasional views of a dreamy horizon. And close up are small streams, occasional boulders that make you wonder where they came from and glittering pieces of quartz lying here and there.
Some sections of the trail are muddy in spots, but the worst are bypassed by a hiker's trail (there's another trail for horses).
The hiker's trail crosses Road B-2000 (an access road to the overlook) and enters the forest again before emerging rather dramatically at the overlook. One day recently the hang-glider folks were hanging out at a viewpoint soaking up the sun since there wasn't sufficient breeze to do much else. It was such a nice day that no one seemed to mind not doing much of anything.
There's plenty of space at the overlook for cars, hikers and picnickers. It's a place to enjoy a lazy lunch and there's much to see. From the high point there is a view to Oyster Dome, another section of the PNT which also can be reached from Samish Overlook.
The only flaw to an absolutely perfect hike was vandalism -- some trees have been rudely broken off and I found one tiny fir imprisoned inside a broken beer bottle.
Getting there
Drive north on Interstate 5 and exit at Alger, Exit 240. Turn left, go over the overpass, drive less than 1/2 mile to Barrel Springs Road and turn left. Drive a long mile to a gravel road on the right signed Blanchard Hill Trails (Road B-1000). Pass the lower trailhead at 1.6 miles and drive another 1.6 miles to the upper trailhead for Lily and Lizard lakes and Blanchard Hill (the lower trail is mostly used by horse riders).
For a one-way hike from Oyster Dome to Samish Overlook, take Exit 231 from I-5 (Chuckanut Drive and state Route 11), drive 10 miles to the PNT trailhead and follow the trail signs.
Trail detail
The trailhead for Samish Overlook is a few steps down the road from the parking lot and is signed Blanchard Hill, Lily and Lizard lakes.
The trail begins by paralleling Road B-2000 before it begins to climb and enter forest. It climbs to the Samish Overlook trail junction and a high point at 1,420 feet in 1 1/2 miles. Turn left.
The trail stays fairly level for the next mile with some muddy sections. Another junction is reached at 2.3 miles. This junction is also signed -- Max's Shortcut is to the right, a trail that comes down from Lily Lake. Go straight.
The trail gently descends to a saddle at 2.6 miles. The next section is muddy with one route for horses and a bypass for hikers. In just under three miles the trail crosses Road B-2000, returning briefly to forest before reaching the southern end of the overlook (the overlook is about a quarter-mile in length).
To the south (right) and below is Chuckanut Drive and the Burlington Northern Railway tracks. Mount Erie and Sugarloaf Mountain can be seen.
Continue walking up Road B-2000 as the San Juans come into view. Samish Island and Mount Constitution can be seen, and at the high point (1,460 feet) is a view of Oyster Dome, a miniature half-dome to the left of the road. This is also the last hang-glider launch and view site. Strong hikers can pick up the PNT from the overlook and hike to Oyster Dome.
For a long one-way loop (best done in summer), leave cars at the Blanchard Hill trailhead and the PNT trailhead off Chuckanut Drive, hike to Samish Overlook, take the trail to Oyster Dome (the Talus Trail), hike to Lily Lake, descend to the Samish Overlook trail via Max's shortcut and hike to the Blanchard Hill/Lily Lake trailhead (there may be time to visit Lily Lake).
For a short loop from Samish Overlook, hike Road B-2000 back to the trailhead (follow it until you reach the main road and turn left).
Trail data
Samish Overlook round trip, 6.5 miles with 640 feet elevation gain. Samish Overlook and return by way of Road B-2000 is 5 1/2 miles. For more information on hikes on Blanchard Mountain and Skagit County refer to "Winter Hikes in Puget Sound and the Olympic Foothills" by Bob Mooers (Sasquatch Books, 185 pages, $15.95).
Karen Sykes, a Queen Anne resident and avid hiker, has been traveling Northwest trails for 20 years.
101 Elliott Ave. W.
Seattle, WA 98119
(206) 448-8000
Home Delivery: (206) 464-2121 or (800) 542-0820
seattlepi.com serves about 1.7 million unique visitors
and 30 million page views each month.
Send comments to newmedia@seattlepi.com
Send investigative tips to iteam@seattlepi.com
©1996-2008 Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Terms of Use/Privacy Policy
