Larrabee's New Rock Trail: Grand Views, Loop Options

It takes a village—and 4,000 hours of time donated by hard-working WTA volunteers—to raise a trail. After days and weeks of volunteers hauling rocks, building stairs and moving mountains (of dirt), the brand new Rock Trail in Larrabee State Park is ready for its official debut on Sat., Apr. 26.

A connector, a conditioning hike, a trail engineering feat

We have many WTA volunteers and partner organizations, including Larrabee State Park and Chuckanut Conservancy, to thank for carving this connector trail out of the steep, rugged hillside from the top of Cleator Road to the South Lost Lake Trail.

The new Rock Trail connects the Overlook to Lost Lake and provides a great workout (you'll climb about 200 stairs) on the way to gorgeous views and fascinating geology.

"We tried to really incorporate it into the landscape so it looks like it fits. It's got great flow. It takes you past truck-sized boulders," WTA's Northwest Regional Manager Arlen Bogaards told the Bellingham Herald of the trail's design.

Even if you can't make the celebration, a visit to the trails in the Chuckanuts should be on your list. The area is hikeable all year long.

A great spot to have lunch at Lost Lake, now more accessible via the Rock Trail. Photo by Bob and Barb.

Attend the celebration

Join park officials, Washington Trails Association, the Chuckanut Conservancy and others for this official ribbon cutting celebration. The festivities will include refreshments, special recognition of volunteers and a presentation highlighting the area's geology.

Rock Trail Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Saturday, April 26 at 10 a.m.
Cyrus Gates Overlook 

Directions to Cyrus Gates Overlook:

• From I-5 soutbound: Take exit #250 and turn right onto Fairhaven Pkwy. Go to second stoplight. Turn left on SR 11/Chuckanut Dr. Stay left at next stoplight, and drive 5 miles to Hi Line Road. Turn left and follow the gravel road 3.5 miles as it turns into Cleator Road.

• From I-5 northbound: Take exit #231 and turn right onto SR 11/Chuckanut Dr. Drive north 14 miles to park entrance. About 1 mile north of the Park is Hi Line Road. Take a right and follow it to the top. Cyrus Gates Overlook is located at the end of Cleator Road.

Parking

Park in the Lost Lake parking lot and a shuttle will run from the Park office to the celebration starting at 9 a.m.

Slideshow: the building of a new trail

Having trouble seeing the slideshow below? Watch a larger version with captions and trip reporter credits on Flickr.

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.