One thing I have been trying to do some research on lately, are hikes that end at lake that I can go fishing at. From what I’ve read there are tons of options, but many are inaccessible during the winter months. So trying to find a place to hike and fish during the middle of February that is not covered in snow and is open to fishing was a little more difficult than I imagined.
People have told us about Fragrance lake up in Bellingham before, and it was something we had been meaning to do for quite some time. It was the middle of last month when we finally made it up there. It was about an hour drive from Everett out onto Chuckanut drive, which makes for a nice drive in itself. Once you arrive to the park you’ll quickly learn that this is hike is no secret to the public.
We
arrived to the Clayton Beach lot about 10:00 in the morning where there were
already several empty cars from people who had already begun the hike. There were also several people preparing to head
up the hill. One gentleman that looked to be twice my age asked me if I was
going to be running in the Chuckanut 50k. First off, I was unaware that a 50k was
even a thing. Second, just the thought of a 50k made me start to hyperventilate.
But I learned that the Chuckanut 50K is one of the biggest trail running races
in the country. It seemed that at least
half of the people we encountered that day were trail running.
To get to
Fragrance Lake there are two different routes. The first route is to the right
of the ranger station where you head up Fragrance Lake road. This road is a 2.5
mile winding gravel road up the side of the mountain. Other than the road being a constant incline,
it is a relatively easy walk. About 2.2 miles up the road, you will come to
trail signs to Fragrance lake, its another .3 miles off the gravel road on a
pretty easy trail to the lake.
The
other route is to the left of the ranger station where it starts out on the
interurban trail and converges to the Fragrance Lake trail a few hundred feet
on the right. This trail is much more “hike like” than the gravel road. It is a
pretty well maintained trail that is full of switchbacks right up the side of
the hill. If you are looking for some good leg exercise and a tiring walk up
the side of the mountain, this is the way to go. Even though this route is more
difficult, it was a bit more enjoyable, because you don’t feel like you are
strolling down a logging road. Both routes have about 1000 feet of
elevation gain (since they both start and end at the same place).
Overall,
this was an enjoyable trip. It was a windy and rainy day, but the thick cover
of the trees and hills kept up pretty well protected from the elements. The
hike was nice, and would be great training ground for trail runners. Even
though it was a steep incline with many switch backs, this is probably a hike
that a whole family could do since it is relatively short and there are many rest
stops along the way. This is also a hike that can be done anytime of the year.
Perhaps with the right equipment the fishing would have been better. But, if
fishing is not the primary purpose of your trip, then this is a decent one.
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