Hikeoftheweek.com

Quick Facts

Location: Chuckanut Mountains

Land Agency: Washington Department of Natural Resources

Roundtrip: 6.5 miles

Elevation Gain: 1,900 feet

Special Note: Oyster Dome and Bat Caves can be hazardous in icy and wet conditions.

Contact: Washington DNR, Northwest Region; www.dnr.wa.gov

Access: Trailhead is located just past milepost 10 on SR 11 (Chuckanut Drive) 12 miles south of Bellingham, and 15 miles north of Mount Vernon.

What the shell is the Oyster Dome? It’s a huge wind-swept, glacial-polished, exposed hunk of rock with over 350-feet of sheer cliff in the Chuckanut Mountains. From this prominent landmark, you can see spread out before you: the San Juan Islands, Vancouver Island, the snow-capped Olympic Mountains, the Skagit River Flats and a whole lot of saltwater!

The hike is short, but steep. Your route to the dome begins on the Pacific Northwest Trail; a 1,200 mile route from Olympic National Park to Glacier National Park in Montana. The trail takes off through a uniform second-growth forest. A few giant snags and lone firs stand testament to the cathedral forest that once blanketed the region. The trail is well-constructed and maintained—the work not of any government agencies but of a dedicated group of volunteers. Steadily ascend the verdant slopes of Blanchard Mountain. Rising from Samish Bay, Blanchard is the only place in the Cascades where mountain meets sea.

The trail immediately enters an impressive stand of old-growth forest. Hugging the thickly forested shore of Thunder Arm, an aquatic protrusion of Diablo Lake, pass the Thunder Woods Nature Trail, a recommended diversion. On still mornings and evenings catch glimpses of emerald ridges reflected on the placid turquoise waters of Thunder Arm.

At 1.0 mile reach a small ledge with big views out to the San Juan Islands. A half mile farther, head left on the “Samish Bay Connection” Trail. In another half mile, reach another junction. Bear right passing giant glacial erratics and springboard-notched cedars before coming to a junction with the Talus Trail heading left for the Amphitheatre Bat Caves. You want to continue straight climbing steeply to yet another junction. Then head left on the Rock Trail passing rusty old logging relics, and crossing a small creek.

After one final push, reach the open promontory of the Oyster Dome, the pearl of the Chuckanuts. Be careful and keep children and dogs nearby as you enjoy the views from this glacial-polished and fractured exposed hunk of sheer cliff. Take in an amazing view of the San Juan Islands, Whidbey Island, Vancouver Island, the snow-capped Olympic Mountains, and the Skagit River Flats. You just might catch yourself thinking, “Aw shucks! This Oyster Dome is beautiful!”

Oyster Dome is one of 50 featured hikes in my Winter Hikes of Western Washington Card Deck. Pick up a copy today!