Little Mountain Park - Darvill Loop — Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2016

Bonnie & Clyde Trail (map said it was 0.99 miles one way) on Little Mountain is fairly flat with some moderate incline. 146’ elevation gain if starting the trail on the Little Mountain Park Road, about halfway up the mountain. All the trails we have walked on Little Mountain are well marked at intersections with wooden signs about 12' up on a tree near the trail. We got there shortly after 10 AM, when the park opens the gate for the road. It was sunny, but cool under the trees. We passed a few people descending on the trail soon after we started it. They had walked up the mountain from a few different trails at the bottom of the Little Mountain. We let one person pass us with a dog who was also ascending. The trail is mainly compacted dirt with some loose rocks in places. There were some switchbacks and narrow spots, but nothing too extreme. I am assuming the name of the trail is the reason there is a rusted vehicle towards the top end of the trail, or possibly the vehicle was there first. I was not expecting to see it there. There are many places along the trail that one can venture off to a connecting trail, which are a little more challenging. One trail that parallels, at a lower elevation, Bonny & Clyde is Julieann, which we heard and eventually were able to see the people on it. Towards the end of the trail we could hear the traffic, I am sure was from I-5 with as much as we heard. Heading back down the trail we passed one person heading up, so the trail was not very busy. No matter if you start at the bottom of the trail or at the top, one will be going up and down throughout the trail. Bonnie & Clyde ends about halfway through the Sidewinder Trail (map said it was 0.53 miles one way). We did not see anyone on this trail, but did see a snake. We headed left first onto Sidewinder from Bonnie & Clyde and looped back. Sidewinder on this part of the trail is fairly flat and turns into the Service Road Trail, which is wide and also fairly flat. There is also a little more sun breaking through the trees on this part of the trail. The section to the right is why it is called sidewinder. There are many switchbacks and a moderate incline, 95’, to the top and end of the trail and into the North Viewpoint Trail. There is an extended walkway to view the northwest section of Skagit Valley from this trail. The North Viewpoint Trail leads to the upper parking lot where there are picnic tables and a bathroom. We headed back the way we came, but there is a trail, Ridge Trail, that will lead you back if you parked halfway up the road.