We were exploring Deception Pass State Park and stumbled onto this county park and hopped out to…read morecheck it out. We didn't hike too far, but enjoyed a nice walk down the path and back. I left me phone charging in the car after too many pictures earlier- so no pictures from this run- just memories of brisk, forest air & lush, dense fauna. The meadow at the entrance of the park would be fun for a picnic!

A hidden gem in Anacortes! This hike is right near Deception Pass State Park, but still part of the…read moreSkagit county park system. The parking lot is not huge but good sized and has a pit toilet. Day use only and dogs are permitted on a leash. This trail has a lot of different trails on it. You can get a map at the kiosk but I recommend downloading the Avenza Maps app and getting the map for this trail. It has markers on the trails but I still would have got lost without the app. It works offline and shows exactly where you are on the map. If you just want to see some spectacular views, then take the easy route down the Sares head trail to the Sares head overlook. The views are just breathtaking. I did some other trails in the park but some were really tough and climbing over rocks and branches and going up some hills. And at one point it was a very sketchy spot that dropped off right by the water. Next time I will make sure I look up the difficulty of the trail before attempting all of it. But it is definitely worth it just for that main viewpoint. Be sure to check it out if you are in the area.

Underwhelming views, tbh, but I like that there is a hiking spot and an elevated platform to have a…read moremini picnic. Only one table, but at least there is something. Enough parking for visitors, but I came on the lesser busy type of days, which was the weekday on an overcast day. I like that you can see Mount Vernon landscape a bit, but idk...Washington state def has more to offer than just what this place has. I also bought lemonade, blackberry jam, and cookies from a stand run by neighborhood kids, which was cute. They are very enthusiastic and where you make a right turn to go into the road that leads into this hiking trail. That is if they still set up at the same spot, haha! In Southern California, insane view, but Washington state got sooooo much more. Promise!

Great thinking experience! Very near to my parents' place at big Lake we could run there if we…read morewanted to, but we did take the car for this.

Easy stop for people and dogs. Nice trail. Great little, nearly hidden, spot before you reach the…read moreferry area.

About 6 parking spots 2 picnic tables…read moreStairs/trail down to Guemes Channel Trail Great views!

Super cool! Writing this as a manual wheelchair user who can limp a few steps with assistance. The…read moremain plaza is incredibly well-maintained and paved. The bathroom was accessible and clean. From there, the trail itself is mostly gravel with some uphill portions. Getting up to the main set of buildings was a workout for me, propelling, and another person pushing me. There are two paths, one gravel and the other semi-paved with concrete ridges. I would not recommend getting up there without help in a wheelchair, but it was certainly possible, and worth it in my opinion. The buildings are super cool. The area is surrounded by nature and mountains. We turned back after getting tired, but will absolutely come back better prepared to see some more stuff.

I went here with a group of people from a social group I am in and really enjoyed it a lot! It's…read morethe grounds where the defunct Nortgern State Hospital was. We went by soke run down buildings, one that was more of a food preparation area and they once grew fruit trees there for the facility. The fruit trees can still be seen and at the time we were here were bearing fruit! We also went to some old barns where livestock was once kept for the hospital. Those buildings were very impressive and a bit creepy. To add to that someone in our group went over some of the experiments that went on here as well as possible mishaps that they pulled up online. That definitely added to the creepy vibe. But still it was a very pleasant stroll as we also was in a nice field and encountered a babbling brook. It was a great outing with great company! I'd love to explore the grounds even more as I have a feeling some of the buildings I didn't get to see.

Pine and Cedar Lakes Trail is a solid kick in the pants with 1500 ft of elevation gain in 1.5…read moremiles. I spent two days camping at Pine Lake and saw one other person. Another bonus is that the hills mask the hum if I-5. There are plenty of boot tracks to explore along the North Shore. A very peaceful place with solitude in spades!

Great hike. I made it a loop and ended up at Falls Drive and walked along the main road back to the…read moretrailhead. I went alone and didn't encounter a single person in the 4-5 hours it took for me to do the loop. Not all maps show the trail that leads off so you can make the loop. You go to the south from an off shoot in between cedar and Pine lake. The trails at this point are very overgrown. There is more opportunities to go on trails but I stuck on the service roads for the most part. Lots of good lookout points over Lake Samish. The original hike to get to Pine and Cedar lake is very steep. Once you get past that point it is more rolling hills or flat. I highly recommend turning left and heading toward the overlook NW of Cedar lake. Great views of the San Juan's and on the other side you can see Baker. For the Lakes there is camping opportunities available (primitive). Also there are no toilets available. Swimming in the lakes might be possible but they look as if the water is stagnant and there is much muck. I'm only knocking it down because of the hill. The overgrown section isn't part of this trail but is a fun way to go if you want more mileage and to make a loop of it. Just be aware you will be walking back along the road and there is little to no shoulder at times so walk towards the oncoming traffic to step out of the way when they approach.

This is a great trail for walking, running or biking. The area around the trail is pristine, it has…read morea very unique barn at the beginning of the trail. I highly recommend using this trail for the previously mentioned outdoor activities.

I can't believe that I'm just discovering this beautiful park on Lake Samish on the far end of…read moreSouth Bellingham. Whatever you want on a hot day you can find at this beautiful family park-swimming, boating, hiking, play ground and picnic area. There is a lodge available to rent, changing rooms and bathrooms, several levels and hiking trails. Plenty of tables in sun and shade. Paddle boat, canoe, row boat and kayak rentals. You can easily spend the whole day here!

Great playground structure on anacortes. There was something fun for everyone. The swings and play…read morestructure was all new and top of the line. It is a pretty big playground and w a lot to do. The only shame was that big kids were at this playground throwing the wood shavings and throwing bottles at each other, not good for the little kids playing nearby. Many of the families left. This might have been an one off but it wasn't pleasant having them throw things from across the playground. There is plenty of grass area to run and play sports. The parking lot was a good size as well.

We were visiting from out of town and stopped by to play, and boy am I glad we picked this one! We…read morehave kids ages one to six and they had a blast. At one point my 6 year old poked his head out of one of the portholes in the pirate ship and yelled "THIS PARK IS AWESOME!" (this coming from the kid who rarely enjoys things if its not on a screen ). Splash pad was closed because it was November, but that look pretty cool too. There's also a sign with pictures of the park construction, which was done by the community - my thanks go out to those folks who gave our family a fun afternoon on our trip!