Excellent trail and perfect for a hot day

This trail was exactly what I like; starts going down really nice, fairly new wooden stairs onto some switchbacks that lead down to Lost Lake. Right before you come up to Lost Lake there is a bit of some swampy area that can be pretty tricky to pass if you don't have the right shoes. Deep and sticky mud with lots of sticks and rocks with slippery moss. The view at the lake is magnificent and you can follow a trail to the left that goes up to a waterfall and chill area.

We tried to drive to the Rock Trail TH today and were met by the ranger shortly after turning up the gravel road. There has been a landslide and the road is closed at the gate until further notice. We hiked the Fragrance Lake trail instead.

We started from the Cyrus Gates Overlook parking area and hiked the Rock Trail 1.2 miles to the trail to Lost Lake. The beautifully constructed Rock Trail is in excellent condition. Skunk cabbage are starting to bloom near Bogaards Bridge. There are some muddy areas on the Lost Lake Trail, but they can be avoided. Skunk cabbage are beginning to bloom in the wet areas along this trail. too. The muddiest section is after turning off the main trail to reach the "lunch rock" along the lake. As we were nearing Lost Lake we met a LARGE group of hikers from Anacortes returning to the TH.

A few muddy spots but over all a great winter hike trail.