Walk in the PNW Woods
Entering the forest on the Oyster Dome trail, near Bellingham, Washington. A short hike that gets you into some nice woods, as well as an open area with a view.
Here at WildSnow, we try to do something every day to stay in shape. Our theory is that at least 30 minutes a day will keep us balanced. This is especially true as we begin to re-group from our extended and busy ski season, and enjoy a few months of summer activities. While visiting the Pacific Northwest, the lush forests lure us to hike. One evening we walked to Oyster Dome above Bellingham, Washington.
Oyster Dome is a large rock cliff on Blanchard Mountain. Rising from Samish Bay, Blanchard Mountain is the point on the Cascades where mountain meets sea. We drove to the parking place off of Barrel Springs Road, Discover Pass required. From the trailhead, it’s roughly 2 miles to Oyster Dome via a lovely trail switch backing through dense, second growth forest carpeted with ferns and moss.
Forest green
Atop Oyster Dome, overlooking the San Juan Islands. On a clear day you can see the Olympic Mountains.
As we walked back toward the car, the setting sun set the forest on fire.
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8 Responses to “Walk in the PNW Woods”
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The hike from Chuckanut Drive by Larabee State Park is a good workout too. Thanks for the beautiful pics!
Ah, über Dawson’s training secrets revealed!
nice hike! Visitors to PNW might want to pick up “Best Old-Growth Forest Hikes: Washington and Oregon Cascades” by John & Diane Cissel (2003 Mountaineer Books). PNW boast incredibly beautiful and complex old-growth forests and interested people would find it well-worth their time to pick out a hike or two to augment their climbing and skiing (or bicycling or whatever).
Yes, and be it known, the Oyster Dome hike is not old-growth forest. You still trip over some of the logging cables…. but it’s actually looking pretty good (though not a bunch of 800-year-old giants…)
Thanks for the excellent recommendation, Andy. I had thought that old growth forests would be hard to find or inaccessible. Visitoldgrowth.com lists Canyon Lake Community Forest, a Whatcom county park, as a place where you can see 800-1000 year old trees. Wow! We’ll have to go there before we head home.
Haiku time:
Red sunset over island sea
Natures soft porn
Fifty shades of green
Nice hat Lou. I frequently wear a similar one that everyone thinks is fugly, but hey it works.
The Olympic rain forests are worth visiting too. Amazingly beautiful