Sugarloaf

The Anacortes-Bellingham area abounds in hikes that are a welcome alternative when the Cascades are snowy, sloppy, avalanche endangered, or just plain too wet. The Whistle Lake area south of Anacortes includes Sugarloaf and Mt. Erie along with other small hills, deep forests, and lots of lakes. It's just an hour from Seattle, so really no further than Snoqualmie Pass, and lots of fun. Be sure to stop at Lake Erie Grocery or in Anacortes for maps! This place is laced with trails going all which ways. They are all very well signed but in numbers so you have to have a map to know how to get from 215 to 238 then down to 226 and over to road 21, but don't go up 313 but instead take 320. Get the idea? The map is your friend.

We took Campbell Lake Road to Heart Lake Road and parked at the main lot which is where the road up to the top of Mt. Erie starts. You can drive all the way up to the top of Mt. Erie on paved road. We chose instead to hike from the parking lot up to the top of Sugarloaf mountain. It has elevation gain of only 500 ft. Trail 215 is clear and dry and climbs right up with no dilly dallying.

The top of Sugarloaf is charming. A large open space of moss covered boulders, stately trees, and views over Anacortes and the Sound. Mt. Erie next door is 750 feet gain and a favorite of technical rock climbers. There are many trails up the back side but we did not think the views were any better than Sugarloaf. Trail 230 in the valley took us to Whistle Lake. It is muddy. The lake is unimpressive. The trails here are open to hikers, horses, and mountain bikes and the road/trails are open to motor bikes as well.

This area deserves a lot more exploration.