Every once in a while, it's nice to have a change of scenery. Instead of heading to the North Shore or Squamish, why not Bellingham, Washington?
The Pine and Cedar Lakes Trail is one of the pleasant hikes found on Chuckanut Mountain, not far from the city known more for cross-border shopping and a pizza buffet. (Oyster Dome is another recommended hike.)
Located partly in Larrabee State Park (and in the traditional territory of the Lummi Nation), the trail starts at a parking area off Old Samish Road. Getting there from Vancouver involves crossing the Canada-U.S. border; following the Interstate 5 to Exit 246, south of Bellingham, in Whatcom County; and turning right onto Old Samish.
Pine Lake. Photo: Stephen Hui.
On a recent day-trip, we hiked to partially frozen Pine Lake before doubling back to visit Cedar Lake. From there, we went up to a viewpoint looking out at majestic Mount Baker (Koma Kulshan) and Twin Sisters Mountain.
On the way back, we opted for a side trip on the Hemlock Trail in order to visit Raptor Ridge. A lovely viewpoint provided ample reward.
Raptor Ridge viewpoint. Photo: Stephen Hui.
It took three hours to reach the viewpoint above Cedar Lake. The round trip lasted five hours. According to a GPS app, our hike covered 12 kilometres and involved an elevation gain of 470 metres.
