Deception Pass - Hoypus Point, Pacific Northwest Trail

I parked at the Cornet Bay parking lot (discover pass needed) next to the beautiful brand new restrooms, and stopped to peruse the trail head board by the boat launch. To my delight I saw posted a new map which accurately names and numbers the trails in Deception Pass State Park and Hoypus Hill area. This map has been sorely needed! I took a picture with my cell phone for future reference and then continued down Cornet Bay Rd. past the gate. This paved roadway, which was closed to traffic a few years ago (possibly because of a washout on the north part) is a fairly popular walk and I saw several other people with their dogs. There is a nice view of Deception Pass Bridge, Strawberry Island, Fidalgo Island, Ben Ure Island and Pass Island along this walk way.

When I got to the old parking area with a few picnic tables, instead of continuing straight which would take you down to North Hoypus Point where the old ferry used to dock, I took the trail to the right which leads up. This is East Hoypus Trail although there is no sign at that point on the trail which names it.

What an overlooked gem! I encountered no other people on this trail and the number of spider webs I walked through made me think that it has been awhile since anyone has hiked this. The path meanders through old growth forest and ferns and wanders past moss covered logs. There are also a lot of stinging nettles so long pants are a must! I stopped occasionally to pick and eat some of the ripe huckleberries, thimble berries and salmon berries.

The trail skirted above some houses and then a pink tape flag alerted me that the PNT was continuing to the left off the trail. I followed the trail down to the road (Angler's Haven Drive off Troxell) and then turned around to return and I found one of my first PNT markers. Yes, they do occasionally exist! I took the trail back up and had to decide if I wanted to do an alternate route back to Cornet Bay (there are several different options through the Hoypus Hill area) but I heard distant thunder, plus the thought of breaking through a thousand more spider webs was daunting, so I just went back the way that I came. Even though I'd already hiked that way, it was like a whole different path and scenery going the opposite direction.

The hike round trip was approximately five miles and was from map 08-05 of the Pacific Northwest Trail downloaded from www.pnt.org