Hike of the Week: Fragrance Lake
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| Admire a pretty cascade on your return from Fragrance Lake |
Fragrance Lake
Sweet destination for a winter hike
by Craig Romano
photo by Craig Romano
produced by Michael Fagin
January 19, 2007
Quick Facts
Location: Chuckanut Mountains, Larrabee State Park
Land Agency: Washington State Parks
Roundtrip: 5.5 miles
Elevation gain: 1,000 feet
Access: Take exit 231 off of I-5 and Follow SR 11 (Chuckanut Drive) north for just shy of 15 miles. Trailhead is located on right side of road just after campground entrance to Larrabee State Park.
Notes: Dogs must be leashed
Little Fragrance Lake makes for a fine destination any time of year, but winter sees fewer crowds on this very popular hike. On well-built trail through big timber, the way to Fragrance Lake includes a scenic lookout of Samish Bay. Loop back on a gentle old fire road and admire a crashing cascade.
Wasting no time getting down to business, the trail starts climbing via a series of short steep switchbacks. Soon cross the Interurban Trail and begin climbing again, this time through a dark dank forest of mature cedar and Doug-fir. Just shy of a mile, reach a well-marked junction. The side trail left leads .2 mile to a madrona-framed ledge granting views westward over Samish Bay to the San Juan Islands.
Soak up the scenery-then resume your journey to Fragrance Lake, once again climbing. One mile farther, pass through a bike barricade arriving at another junction. The trail left heads to the lake. The trail right leads to an old road.
Head left first reaching the small lake in about .1 mile where you can circumnavigate it on a .7 mile loop. Take a break at a pair of shoreline benches. Admire big cedars along the eastern shore, and be impressed by sandstone ledges along the western shore.
For your return follow the old road for a gentle descent pausing briefly about half way to watch a pretty little cascade tumble from beneath the evergreens. The road ends in 2.2 miles at the Clayton Beach Parking Lot. Return to your vehicle by following the Interurban Trail a half mile north back to the Fragrance Lake Trail.
