It was another beautiful day and I needed to break in a new pair of hiking shoes, so I was off to Port Townsend and Fort Worden State Park.
I started my hike at the parking lot just past the forest campground. Not many cars in the parking lot but these trails connect to the forest campground, the Fort Worden Conference Center and the beach area campground, so I always expect to have plenty of company.
Hike up the Peacemile Trail to the Samuel Walker Battery. This is one of the smaller artillery battery's along the bluff but that doesn't make it any less interesting to explore. From Battery Walker, I continued up the hill to Searchlight Hill. The view from the end of the tracks was amazing. Mt. Baker was spectacular on this clear, sunny day. From the Searchlight House, I made my way up to Battery Tolles to walk the Bluff Trail to Artillery Hill.
Amazing views of the North Cascades, Whidbey Island, and where the Straights meet the Puget Sound. Gorgeous.
If you trek to Battery Tolles or Artillery Hill, be prepared to see a performance by the family of Bald Eagles that have a nest on the bluff. They often fly over visitors' heads so close you almost feel you could touch them. Sadly I did not see the Eagles today. I guess there is a first for everything.
Something to note, if you do visit the Battery's and Bunkers along this trail, and you have small children, keep an eye on them. The Battery are open with no guard rails and some of these structures are very high up. The steps are also steep so if you're afraid of heights, you might want to observe and explore from below instead of above.
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