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Quick Facts

Location: Whidbey Island

Land Agency: Washington State Parks

Roundtrip: 2.7 miles

Elevation Gain: 200 feet

Contact: South Whidbey State Park (360) 331-4559; www.parks.wa.gov

Notes: Dogs must be leashed

Access: From the Clinton Ferry Terminal on Whidbey Island follow SR 525 north for 9.4 miles turning left onto Bush Point Road. After 2.2 miles road becomes Smugglers Cove Road. Continue for another 2.7 miles to South Whidbey State Park.

This state park has a lovely beach and inviting campground, but its best attribute is its 250-year old forest of massive cedars and Douglas-firs. One of the finest tracts of old-growth remaining on the Puget Sound shoreline, it was nearly logged in the 1970s. Locate the trailhead on the north side of Smugglers Cove Road and immediately come to a junction at a big Sitka Spruce. The trail left, the Wilbert Trail (named after the couple responsible for saving this forest) is your return. Head right on the Ridge Loop Trail. The way climbs, winding east under a lush canopy and through thickets of kinnikinnick and big boughs of ferns.

At .5 mile the trail swings west to utilize an old DNR road. With elevation gain now complete, enjoy nice easy walking. At 1.3 miles leave the old road for trail and begin a short descent into a dark draw of massive fir and spruce. After crossing a wet flat intersect the Wilbert Trail at 1.8 miles. But before returning left, amble right for a short distance to the “Giant Cedar,” a lone behemoth five centuries old.

Now return right on the Wilbert Trail passing the Ridge Loop junction and continuing through beautiful groves of ancient cedar and spruce. After a small climb, come to what possibly may be the biggest tree on Whidbey Island. Pretty impressive, uh? The trailhead is just a short distance away whenever you are ready to stop admiring such a grand tree.

South Whidbey Island State Park is one of the 125 hikes featured in my Day Hiking Central Cascades Book.