It was a nice weekend, overcast but warm. I felt like I was coming out of hibernation at last and I was up for a climb. I met Lee and her dog, Piper, and we drove down to the southern tip of Whidbey Island to the Dorothy Cleveland Trail. Her friend, Jan Smith, spoke of Dorothy shortly after her death in January 2000, “She had a spirit of adventure. She had a ton of energy.” You would need it for this trail that goes up and up and up for ¾ of a mile. I remember Dorothy Cleveland as a community organizer whose name was always in the paper hosting events for the League of Women Voters, or chairing a meeting of the Soroptimist, or the Langley City Council, or one of the many other organizations she put her energy into. She drove a little red MG Midget with a license plate that read “GoByBus” and helped start Island Transit. She was an elected member of the South Whidbey Port Commission. So this trail, owned by the Port of South Whidbey at Possession Beach Waterfront Park, is a fitting tribute to her legacy. Lee put a leash on Piper and we took the sidewalk below the caretaker’s house, across the road and over the bridge to the kiosk. A poster showed how the trail twists and turns and suggests a few birds you might see, but the 390 foot climb looks pretty flat on paper. Soon I was envious of Piper’s tendency to pull Lee on the leash. I stopped frequently to take pictures and catch my breath. It has been a long winter. Though no rain had fallen for a few days, the trail had some muddy spots. We danced across them and kept climbing. This park and neighboring Possession Point State Park, have steep trails through maple forests. One hefty snag with bark falling off, exposed the twisted, polished, grain of birds-eye maple. It glowed golden against the grey and brown surroundings. As we climbed, we noticed salmonberry blossoms erupting in their brilliant pink. Hummingbirds noticed, too. We kept climbing. The road snaked around below us with an occasional passing car. We could hear a distant train on the far shore of Possession Sound. But mostly we heard tiny kinglets and chickadees, and the distinctive call of ravens and eagles. One sailed silently above the canopy heading for the water. Steps and benches along the trail assisted us to the top where we rested. Even Piper breathed heavily but she still got excited when someone said, "Squirrel!" An old water tower stood in the forest nearby and a charming little fountain teased us, but no. A few houses sat just beyond the summit on the west side of the ridge. We turned back to the east and began our descent on a little loop back to the main trail. We got a few peak-a-boo views of the water and mountains, but that will be closed soon when the trees leaf out. After coming down the trail we walked the waterfront enjoying this fine spring day where sturdy tables and barbeques await summer picnics. A cattail marsh sang with red-winged blackbirds. An eagle sat majestically in a tree looking over the water. I think Dorothy would be pleased that this trail is named for her at this park that brings people out to appreciate our amazing community. I could just imagine her little red sports car zooming up this curvy road to another city council meeting. You go girl! Maribeth Directions: From Highway 525 at Ken’s Korner shopping center (3 miles north of Clinton), take Cultus Bay Road south almost five miles. Cultus Bay Road will turn right but keep going straight on Possession Point Road and continue another 1.5 miles until you see the sign for Possession Beach Waterfront Park. The trail starts near the boat launch with a little bridge and kiosk leading into the woods.
Bus and Bike: There is no bus service to this end of the Island and I would not recommend it for cyclist on these roads with their steep hills, sharp curves and no shoulders. Mobility: The waterfront park has paved sidewalks and steep lawns. The beach area has a wide path of packed gravel to access the picnic tables. There’s a boat launch where they put a dock out in summer. Vehicles can drive close to picnic tables and beach access. The trail itself is narrow, steep, muddy in places and challenging.
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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
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