last time we did this trail was several years ago in winter! much different experience without ice and with clear weather. the road up to the rock trail trailhead (though accessible lots of other ways) is a bumpy gravel road that makes you feel like you are in the national forest. that said, our prius made it easily, just paid attention to potholes. pay attention for Baker views on the way up between the trees.
the lot has a toilet and a good amount of parking... and a great view with a sign of what you are looking at... islands the Lummi reservation and canadian mountains.
the rock trail is at the far end of the parking lot. you start off by going down and... keep going down. it's a reverse trail, which is fun to start but then you get to the bottom and realize oh yeah, i gotta go back up. that said, when going down, i imagined it would be a lot worse going back up than it turned out to be. if you don't like stairs, this isn't for you. over a hundred stairs stair you off at the beginning, and more cases are peppered throughout. the trail gets its name from massive sandstone formations halfway down. fun to look at and walk through the massive boulders. can't help but think of what a great and tough job it was for WTA to build this trail several years ago.
the trail is very green throughout and that keeps it cool and shady. in between the trees, you can catch glimpses of Baker and other peaks. you get to the bottom sooner than you think. you can continue on to lost lake or like we did, just turned around and went back up. the bugs down in this area were really annoying if you stopped. lots of flies and other random things that are attracted to the damp around the river and probably our body heat. like i mentioned, the up didn't feel as bad as imagined, though by the time you get back to those 100+ stairs at the end, you are ready to be down with the climb! and you pretty much are so that's nice. a really great short option that gets the heart pumping!
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