Pine and Cedar Lakes, Hemlock Trail, Larrabee State Park - Chuckanut Ridge Trail, Larrabee State Park - Rock Trail, Larrabee State Park - North Lost Lake Trail & Raptor Ridge Trail — Wednesday, Mar. 9, 2022

I drove out to ze Chuckanuts for a jaunt around the trails.  The parking lot for the Pine and Cedar Lakes Trail has been resurfaced and the Prius-eating potholes are gone!  I parked, made sure to lock up (prowlers are common at this TH), grabbed my pack and headed deep into the sorta-wild.  The trail starts off steep and keeps climbing for 1.6 miles to the junction with the Hemlock Trail.  While steep, the trail is wide and smooth with few obstacles.  There is one area of rock ice that I slip on almost every time on the way back down.  Stay to the right of the trail on the descent and you should miss it.

I checked out the Cedar Lake Overlook and its views of Mt. Baker, then toured both lakes before heading back northwest along the Hemlock Trail until it crossed the North Lost Lake Trail and became the Chuckanut Ridge Trail.  I climbed up the ridge and followed it back southeast to the Cyrus Gates Overlook and the start of the Rock Trail.  A WTA work party was back at it cutting up logs, shoring up sections of trail, and improving drainage areas.  They were kind enough to let me test out their hard work first hand (or first feet!) as I passed by.  The Rock Trail is one of the coolest trails in the Chuckanuts, with huge boulders, sandstone cliffs, mini-caves, and views of nearby Blanchard Mountain and the surrounding forest.  I hiked down to the North Lost Lake Trail and took it north to the Raptor Ridge Trail.  I climbed up and over the ridge back to the Pine and Cedar Trail and eventually my car.

All of the trails in the Chuckanuts are in great shape with only a few minor exceptions: The North Lost Lake Trail is very muddy in spots and has a couple down trees to step over.  The Hemlock Trail and Ridge Trail likewise have a few small blowdowns but that's it.  The rock ice on the P&C Lakes Trail almost got me again, so watch your step on the way down.

Summary: 14.5 miles w/approx. 3000ft elevation gain, 8am-4pm