Information about this hike provided in partnership with
Mountaineers Books.
Copyright © Craig Romano/The Mountaineers Books Rockport State Park
Take a leisurely stroll through an easily accessible low-country, old-growth forest. Big cedars, big firs, and if you visit in spring, big showy bouquets of flowering Pacific dogwood brightening the dark green groves.
Rockport is one of my personal favorites in the Washington State Parks system, and I never tire of wandering its peaceful and well-manicured trails or camping beneath its towering timber. The Evergreen Trail makes a nice 3-mile loop around the 670-acre park. Before heading out, take a few minutes to read the interpretive displays about the park, the old-growth forests, and David Douglas (for whom the ubiquitous Douglas-fir is named). The trail takes off east from behind the restrooms. In 0.1 mile intersect a service road, which can be used for more looping options. The trail winds through stately fir groves, under tunnels of vine maple draped in moss, along shoulder-high boughs of ferns, and over chattering creeks. Wrens, woodpeckers, and chickadees provide the background score. The way dips and curves as it makes its way to the park's eastern boundary by an old logged area. Sauk Mountain can be seen rising above. The trail then turns west, and at 0.6 mile is the Broken Fir, which graced this forest as a healthy tree from 1660 to 1974. Gradually gaining elevation, you'll reach an intersection at 1 mile. Left heads to the service road, and right continues following alongside tumbling Fern Creek for 0.25 mile before crossing it in a cool ravine. Now in quiet woods, enjoy the forest primeval. Gradually descending, at 1.75 miles once again reach the service road. The trail now follows alongside a delightful creek, crossing it several times. At 2.1 miles the Evergreen Trail merges with the wheelchair-accessible West Loop Trail. Head right, traveling through stately hemlocks, and after 0.4 mile veer right and leave the West Loop. Continue for 0.5 mile, skirting the campground and passing a junction with the Skagit View Trail and a monster fir before returning to the day-use area to complete your loop. Nice park, huh? Return often.
Driving Directions:
From Burlington (exit 230 on I-5), head east on the North Cascades Highway (State Route 20) for 37 miles to Rockport State Park (7.5 miles east of Concrete and 1 mile west of the junction with SR 530). Turn left into the park, and then immediately turn right into the day-use parking area (elev. 500 ft). Water and restrooms available. Recent Trip Reports
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Day hike
Features:
Wildflowers blooming
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We enjoyed our rainy Saturday afternoon by hiking some of the trails at Rockport State Park. We sta...
We enjoyed our rainy Saturday afternoon by hiking some of the trails at Rockport State Park. We started on the Skagit View and Sauk Springs Trails south across Hwy 20 (about 1 mile round trip) where we were dwarfed by several ancient firs and a few giant cedars. Luscious moss and ferns covered the forest floor and also draped many of the deciduous trees. Scattered among this very green scene were patches of yellow violets, bleeding hearts, and an occasional trillium. We encountered a few muddy spots but nothing serious.
Next we hiked the Evergreen Trail (another couple miles) and enjoyed more towering trees and a splattering of flowers lining the trail. It was a very quiet day in the park. We saw no people or animals, only 1 very large frog. Though we didn't hike every trail in the park, the ones we did hike were all cleared of downed trees and in good condition.
Rockport State Park
— Jan 05, 2013
— froginabox
Day hike
Issues:
Blowdowns | Mudholes | Water on trail
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We arrived at the park around 1pm on a saturday. The parking lot was empty and there appeared to be ...
We arrived at the park around 1pm on a saturday. The parking lot was empty and there appeared to be no state park rangers. My dog and I set out on the Evergreen trail. Though we could often hear traffic from hwy 20 it still seemed like we were far into the woods. There were several trees down on the trail we had to scramble over, but otherwise a very nice trail. Very very mossy and rainforesty.
Day hike
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Fall foliage
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We are happy to report that thanks to the Whidbey Island Retired Chief Petty Officers Association of...
We are happy to report that thanks to the Whidbey Island Retired Chief Petty Officers Association of Oak Harbor the trails in this park are all now open and hike able :)! Thank you to all who contributed many hours of hard work on this mammoth project! Dave, one of the members and the host at Rasar SP, told us there were 8 in the group and there were probably a total of 400 hours spent in rebuilding the trails. A 1/4 mile new trail was built above the major blowdown area on the Evergreen Trail where a huge Douglas fir had fallen on the trail. The beautiful tropical rainforest with its many old growth firs and cedars was made more beautiful by the light rain that fell during most of the hike. Many varieties of fungus were seen. This is another one of our favorite rainy day hikes!
Day hike
Features:
Fall foliage
Issues:
Water on trail
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After setting up camp at Rasar SP, we drove to Rockport SP and discovered the park is closed on Wedn...
After setting up camp at Rasar SP, we drove to Rockport SP and discovered the park is closed on Wednesday and Thursday. We parked along HWY 20 and hiked the 0.5 Skagit View Trail and the 0.4 mile Sauk Springs Trail which are south of HWY 20 and not gated. We had only an hour of daylight left so these short trails were perfect for the time we had. There were a variety of fungi along the trails.
Day hike
Issues:
Mudholes | Water on trail
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We hiked all the accessible trails on the North side of HWY 20 and all were in good condition. These...
We hiked all the accessible trails on the North side of HWY 20 and all were in good condition. These included the Fern Creek Trail, West Loop Interpretive Trail, and all but a mile of the Evergreen Trail. We started to hike the upper section of the Evergreen Trail and found it still has many fallen trees. Al, the former resident ranger, told us over a year ago that a huge Douglas Fir had fallen on the upper section of the Evergreen Trail itself and that a reroute of the trail would be necessary. We talked to a local resident today who told us that Al was now at Moran SP on Orcas Island. He will be missed as he spent many hours working on the trails in the park.There is now one ranger who oversees Rockport, Rasar, and Bayview State Parks. An aid now lives in the park's cabin. This is a beautiful hike through huge cedars, Douglas Firs, and maples and the lush green forest of ferns, mosses, and lichens are especially pretty after or on a rainy day!
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 A hiker is dwarfed by the towering firs at Rockport State Park. Photo by Kim Brown.
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