I started at the trailhead for the Fragrance Lake Road which doesn't provide a lot of stimulus as a trail but there are some nice cedars and a few large Douglas firs along the way. At about 1.4 miles there is an impressive waterfall coming over solid rock slabs. At the junction of the South Lost Lake Trail I went right for about fifty yards and came to decision time as stared at the bottom of the Double Diamond-continue with the South Lost Lake Trail or go up the DD- I went up. When you begin you are on the bike trail and then hikers go off to the left on their own trail free of bikes and then higher up you hit the bike trail again. I kept an eye out for movement across the switchbacks above me and listened for biker's screams of enjoyment (I think that was the noise they were making). All of them were courteous and let me know if there were others behind them.

At the junction I took the Rock Trail. I had thought about having lunch at the Cyrus Gates Overlook but a biker told me that Cleator Road was open again so I skipped looking at a bunch of vehicles and the busyness that entailed and descended the Escher like stairs to the cliff base.

The Rock Trail is still as impressive as ever: the massiveness, colorful stains of minerals, moss, lichen and textures. I spent some time there and then descended to the South Lost Lake Trail and then the Fragrance Lake Road again back to the trailhead.

Yesterday, I set out to find Oyster Creek Falls, which I did, but the last bit was really rough so this report is just about the beginning sections. 

My goal was to start from Cyrus Gates, but found the gate locked. I must have just arrived too early because it was open when I returned. The road has some snow and ice on it but it looked like people were making it okay.

I hit Rock Trail by 6:50, which was clean and no obstacles. North Lost Lake Trail was super muddy, and South Lost Lake Trail was in better shape. The hike from the gate added 1.8 miles to my total trip, and probably 40 minutes. I think that in the future, if I am going to aim for an early start, pre gate opening, I will start from Arroyo Park and North Lost Lake Trail all the way across. 

I didn't see anyone else out there until I returned up Rock Trail, and passed several groups of hikers, with more at the top. All-in-all my trip was 10.5 miles, 4 hours, 15 minutes, and about 1800 ft gain. That Rock Trail return up hill, after 8 miles of hard hiking with elevation gain, was no joke. (Not to mention the horrendous bushwhacking thrown in 😒).

Have fun exploring.

Good first hike up to Lost Lake with some surprise sunshine and great views of Puget Sound and some waterfalls. Took the Rock Trail on the way back to mix it up with a loop and definitely adds some elevation. Did not get too close to the actual lake itself as trail became very swampy/muddy, and with trees down did not see a good place to rest and enjoy the lake. Maybe with more daylight and better weather would have explored around the lake a little more. Few other people on the trail, easy to distance. Heard an owl off of Fragrance Lake Road, no other major wildlife sightings on the trail, but bald eagles and swans in the nearby fields on the drive in!

Starting at the North Chuckanut Mountain Trailhead I took the Lost Lake Trail then the length of the Ridge Trail, past Cyrus Gates Overlook at the south end of the park and back by way of the South Lost Lakes Trail and Huckleberry Trail.

Trail conditions:

There was a small amount of snow at the trailhead, up to a couple of inches of snow along the exposed roads and at middle elevations, but along the ridge and higher elevations it was pretty much snow free. The ridge trail was definitely the easiest in terms snow and mud, while the south part of the Lost Lake Trail the worst and pretty quite muddy/snowy for stretches. There were huge piles of icicles that had fallen along the rock trail, really impressive! Trails were great except for snow/mud sections.

There were only a couple of other hikers and two equestrians the whole day, most of the time I had the trail completely to myself.

Directions to TH: Google directions to North Chuckanut Mountain Trailhead was accurate.  All maintained paved roads to the TH parking lot.

Parking  Lot:  Arrived at parking lot @ 0744a. Parking lot was med size. Probably can fit about 10 cars.  There were already a few cars there when we arrived.  At around 1506 it was almost full, but some free space left.

Trail: We did a loop. We hiked the following route/trails: Interurban-Hemlock-North Lost Lake-Lower Ridge Trail-Middle Ridge-Upper Ridge-Cyrus Gate Overlook-Rock Trail-South Lost Lake-North Lost lake going back to the parking lot.  Most of the trails were pretty muddy.  Trails were wide in some sections and narrow in others.  There were some few downed trees that were blocking the trails, but were not too difficult to go around it.  Trails were easy to follow with signs and maps that are posted along trail intersections so you won’t get lost.

Experience:  It was a good hike.  Once you reach the beginning of the top of the ridge, there are good views of Bellingham, but most of the hike on the ridge you’re  hiking through the trees.  Though it was pretty as the sun shining through the trees and a little bit of the fog rolling through gave it a more beautiful experience. At the Cyrus Gate Overlook, was a bit downer as we couldn’t see any views due to the fog in the area.  The Rock Trail we enjoyed.  This trail section was pretty.  The hike along the rock wall was enjoyable.  Though we were relieved that we were going down this trail and not up it.  It's a pretty steep and narrow trail down with lots of stairs.  Overall the hike was fun.