Finally got out today and hiked the Rock Trail. I have been wanting to hike it ever since WTA completed it but I have always pick some other trail. Drove to the top of Cleator Road off Chuckanut Drive just south of Bellingham.
This road is pretty much a dirt road with some rough patches but over all not bad. The parking lot at the top and the end of the road can handle about 25 cars. It does have a privy and a nice view of Bellingham Bay at the parking lot.
The trail starts at the far south end of the parking lot. It won't take long until you hit all the wooden staircases going downhill through lots of boulders, rock cliffs and ferns until you meet up with South Lost Lake Trail. Make a left here because there is no sign for South Lost Lake Trail but that is the trail to the lake. Going right is also South Lost Lake Trail but it takes you away from the lake to the Overland Trail or back around to Double Diamond Trail. As you make your left and start down this trail you will see the lake down below on your right through the trees but there are no good views unless you take a boot trail down to the lake and most are quite steep. I did take one of these trails because it gave me good pictures of the lake without obstructions from the sun.
It will take you about another mile to see the sign for North Lost Lake Trail. Read the signs but you need to make a right here to go out to the Lost Lake. At the north end there are not really any good spots to get pictures of the lake. In the winter the sun is low at the south end of the lake and when standing at the north end it makes for bad glares in your picture taking. If you walk around the east side until the trail ends you will see a tree hanging out over the lake. This is a great place for pictures.
Then head back the way you came. This will get your heart rate going as you climb back up through the Rock Trail to the staircase and back to the trail head. Do not get confused at the three way intersection just above the top of the stairs. The trail to your left is the Double Diamond Trail and will take you downhill away from the parking lot back around to South Lost Trail. The one in the middle takes you back to the parking lot and the upper one takes you to the middle of the parking lot. I will be exploring this again to find the waterfall at the south end of the lake. Checkout the videos of this hike or over 400 other hikes I have done mostly in Washington State on my you tube channel at "lmm3181" or click on the direct links below for this hike.
As always get out and see this beautiful state and enjoy your hiking!
Take Care,
Mike
Comments