Oyster Dome
Hike of the Week, November 26, 2007 - Fabulous views high over Puget Sound and out to the Olympics, big boulders to play on, a great workout, and bats!
Hike of the Week:
November 25, 2007
Location: Off Chuckanut Drive, south of Bellingham
Distance: 3.8 miles roundtrip to overlook; 6.5 miles to Dome
Elevation: Starting elevation 160; high point 2,025 feet
Maps: USGS Bellingham South and USGS Bow (7.5')
Why Go?
Fabulous views high over Puget Sound and out to the Olympics, big boulders to play on, a great workout, and bats! It's a place that fuels the imagination and can refuel you on a winter's day.
The trail should be snow-free most of the winter, but you'll want to watch for ice, especially on the boulders. The route follows the Pacific Northwest Trail (PNT) as it heads into the Chuckanuts - a small patch of mountains tucked in between Puget Sound and I-5 south of Bellingham.
The well-marked trail climbs moderately through second-growth forest to a junction at 1.9 miles. The Connector Trail takes you to the Samish Overlook for some fine views. Or continue on the PNT for Oyster Dome. At 2.5 miles, you'll join with the Old Oyster Creek Trail and start climbing more steeply.
Next, the trail reaches a junction with the Talus Trail (to the left), which leads to the Bat Caves. These are passageways at the foot of Oyster Dome - fun to poke your head into, but do refrain from going in very far. A sign is posted to scare you away.
Back on the main trail, head left when you reach the Rock Trail junction and follow it to the top of Oyster Dome. Then soak in the great views from this big cliff - the Skagit River Delta as it snakes out to sea; the snowy Olympic Mountains; the San Juan Islands. It's a neat treat for a hiker in the winter.
For more information:
Guidebooks: Winter Hikes in Puget Sound & the Olympic Foothills, by Bob Mooers (Sasquatch Books); Walks & Hikes in the Foothills & Lowlands Around Puget Sound, by Harvey Manning & Penny Manning (The Mountaineers Books). Read Trip Reports.
Directions:
From the south, take the Larrabee State Park/Chuckanut Drive exit off of I-5 (exit 231) and drive just past the 10 mile post on Chuckanut Drive (SR 11) and park on the paved, wide place on the west shoulder. From Bellingham, take exit 252 and drive south on SR 11 about 12 miles to the paved right shoulder. There probably will be a string of parked cars, and there isn't much room, so come early. The Pacific Northwest Trailhead is on the east side of the highway.
