Hike 1/13 Dugualla State Park
Tuesday, January 13, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
5 miles, 500 feet elevation gain.
Meet at Everett Station Park & Ride Lot --
B
Let's head for the rain shadow on Whidbey Island and explore this "secret" state park. Dugualla is an undeveloped state park property just down the road from Deception Pass. There are no facilities in the park, but it does have a fine trail system that provides hikers with two contrasting experiences in one. It starts with wonderful forest hiking in stands of mature trees, and also includes some nice scenic beach walking along Skagit Bay, offering views of Mount Erie, the Skagit River Delta, and (if it's clear) Mount Baker and the Cascades. Remember those binoculars to spot some shore birds too. Note that most of the elevation gain comes when hiking up from the beach back to the trailhead. Also note, we'll be driving to and from the park via Deception Pass at the north end of the island (no ferries).
Expected Conditions:
Trail conditions at the park should generally be good, with the typical winter-time issues possible-- downed tree limbs, wet or muddy areas, some overgrown spots. We'll cover most of the trails in the park, and visit the beach as well. The parking lot at the entrance to the park sits at 400 feet above sea level, and we will hike down to sea level, so there's that 400 foot gain coming back.
Other Considerations:
Wear good traction hiking shoes or boots, the more waterproof, the better. Poles may be helpful at times. Pack food and water in your pack, and if the weather cooperates, we'll take a lunch break out on the trail. If we finish ahead of schedule, we'll make a short stop at the small nature preserve nearby at Dugualla Bay.
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