Upright Head Preserve

A relaxing walk through land once slated for a housing development, the trail around Upright Head Preserve is an easy hike where one can watch ferries travel from one island to the next while waiting for their own. Remnants of roads and utilities make up part of the trail, with the rest on narrow dirt paths through the dense forest.

Begin by walking up Penny Lane, which is paved but closed to traffic. The road heads uphill and soon becomes a wide, graveled path. An interpretive sign with a trail map is located at the top of the hill. Notice utility boxes and fire hydrants resting among the tall hemlock and cedar trees.

After walking for 0.3 miles, spy a rock cairn on the left and turn here, heading into the woods on a dirt trail. A short walk uphill leads you to your first viewpoint. Next, follow the trail downhill through thick salal shrubs and find the next viewpoint near the water after 0.1 miles.

Return to the trail and continue for a few hundred feet, turning left when you reach the wider trail. A short walk down this trail brings you to the final viewpoint, featuring views of Mount Baker and nearby islands through the coastal madrone trees. Return the way you came, it's a half-mile walk back to the trailhead.