Hike of the Week: Heart Lake
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| A Heart Lake hiker reflects upon the beauty of the surroundings |
Heart Lake
A perfect hike for St. Valentine’s Day
by Craig Romano
photo by Craig Romano
produced by Michael Fagin
Quick Facts
Location: Fidalgo Island
Land Agency: Anacortes Parks Department
Roundtrip: 3.0 miles
Elevation gain: 150 feet
Contact: City of Anacortes Parks and Recreation (360) 293-1918; www.cityofanacortes.org/parks.asp
Green Trails Map: Deception Pass/Anacortes Community Forest Lands No. 41S
Notes: Dogs must be leashed
Access: From Burlington (exit 230 on I-5) head west on SR 20 for about 12 miles to the junction with SR 20 Spur. Continue left on SR 20 and after 1.8 miles turn right onto Campbell Lake Road. Follow for 1.5 miles bearing right onto Heart Lake Road. Continue 2.0 miles to trailhead at boat launch on left.
One of five bodies of water within the 2,800-acre Anacortes Community Forest Lands (ACFL), Heart is the largest at just over 60 acres. Heart-shaped and sitting in the heart of Fidalgo Island, this lake makes for a perfect destination on St. Valentine’s Day. Hikers in love, longing for love, or lovelorn, all will love the wild nature of this hike located just minutes from bustling Anacortes.
However, the heart-shaped lake’s grandest feature isn’t its size or its wild setting, it’s its surrounding old-growth forest; one of the finest stands remaining in the Puget Lowlands. Here within a little over a mile from the Puget shore, Douglas-firs and western red cedars hundreds of years old and growing upwards of a hundred fifty-feet tall can be found.
Hike around Heart Lake loving every step of the way. From the boat launch on its northeastern shore head north on Trail no. 210 immediately passing several large Douglas-firs soon reaching the first of many junctions. There are over 50 miles of trails within the ACFL. A good map is necessary to help navigate its maze of paths.
Turn left to follow an old woods road crossing Heart’s outlet creek and enjoying good views across the lake of 1,044-foot Sugarloaf. At .5 mile turn left continuing on Trail no. 210 towards the lake’s marshy southwestern cove. After another half mile, turn left through magnificent groves of giant cedars and firs. Stop, and reflect on how amazing it is that this ancient grove has survived this long.
At 1.8 miles reach Trail no. 212. Turn left here and reach the Heart Lake Road shortly afterwards. Cross the road to the Sugarloaf trailhead picking up Trail no. 215. Follow it to Trail no. 320 to Trail no. 21 to Trail no. 313. Then head .4 mile back to trailhead to close the loop. Lovely hike, uh?
Heart Lake is one 50 featured hikes in my upcoming Winter Hikes Card Deck.
Click here for the link to Craig's other works
