It takes a village to save a mountain, or a beach, or a forest, and a host of volunteers to create a trail for everyone to use. In this case it took the Skagit Land Trust, the San Juan Preservation Trust, many generous donors and the Washington Trails Association with hundreds of volunteers to protect this mountain and build a 1.2 mile long trail to the summit. Though I was not involved I very much appreciate their efforts and generosity and want to thank them for their good work! This trail has been around for a decade but not many know about it. In fact, not many know about Guemes Island. This week I had the privilege of introducing my friend Kelly to Guemes Mountain and Guemes Island. It was all new to her. She had proposed a popular hike in the North Cascades but I talked her into this less crowded trail that’s closer to home. It was a hot day and I was looking for a shady hike with a view at the top. Guemes Mountain is just that. We started with breakfast in old town Anacortes and then went to catch the cutest little ferry from the corner of 6th Street and I Avenue. After parking under a nearby shade tree we walked down to the dock. A round trip ticket cost $5 and the crossing took 5 minutes. On the way I chatted with my old Anacortes neighbor, Kit who was heading to his art studio on the island. I remembered when I took my parents who were visiting from North Carolina on this ferry to have lunch at the General Store. We met George on the boat and he gave us a tour of the Island in his VW bus. I love small islands and small towns and small ferries. When we landed Kelly and I turned right and walked South Shore Drive 2 miles to the trailhead. It’s a flat road passing farmhouses with stunning views across the water. Only a few cars passed us and we had a relaxing conversation on the way. The last time I was here, my friends and I biked from the ferry to the trailhead where we could lock up our wheels at a bike rack before starting our hike. At the trailhead we found a charming interpretive panel with a map that said the elevation gain was about 600 feet. Just right for a hot day. Nearby was a post where several ski poles had been left for use as walking sticks. As soon as we entered the forest Kelly marveled at the lush ferns covering the hillside. I was happy for the tall forest canopy and shady trees. We zigzagged upslope listening to the calls of Swainson’s thrush, towhees and chickadees. Nearing the top we found a west facing overlook with an interpretive sign and a bench, a good place for a water break before moving on. Passing under a fragrant archway of ocean spray we reached the summit. It was bald and sunny with spectacular views and we spun around trying to figure out which island was which. There was Samish Island, Vendovi, Sinclair, Lummi, Cypress, Fidalgo and Mount Baker in the distance. Once we were oriented, we took the loop trail and settled in the shade where a soft breeze provided a perfect lunch spot. A sparrow hopped up expectantly. A few other hikers came and went but we mostly had it to ourselves. On our return trip we had enough time to get a cold drink at the General Store before catching the ferry back to town. If you've never been to Guemes, give it a try. For a map and details click here. For the Guemes Ferry Schedule click here. Maribeth Directions: From Highway 20 at the Sharpes Corner roundabout go northwest toward Anacortes and drive 5.3 miles. Turn right on R Ave which turns into Q Ave. Turn left on 6th Street and drive 8 blocks to the ferry. There’s free parking just east of the ferry.
Transit: If you’re coming from Whidbey Island, you can take fare free Island Transit Route 411W from Harbor Station in Oak Harbor to the March’s Point Park and Ride. Then catch the Skagit Transit Route 410 to the Guemes Island Ferry in Anacortes. If you’re coming from Mount Vernon you can catch the 40X bus from Skagit Station to March’s Point and switch to the 410 bus. Bring small bills for the Skagit Transit bus. *Two or three bikes fit on a bus bike rack. *Federal law requires masks on public transit including buses and ferries. Mobility: This trail is on a gentle slope, a well maintained trail but climbs steeply near the top. The summit has some rocky, uneven and sloping sections. Comments are closed.
|
Authors
Maribeth Crandell has been a hiking guide in the Pacific NW for over 20 years. She's lived on Whidbey and Fidalgo Island for decades. As a frequent bus rider she easily makes connections between trails and transit. Archives by date
March 2024
Categories
All
|