Hiking: Washington Park, North Beach, & Sares Head (all in a smoky haze)

Lots of busy-ness in retirement, have not had a chance to update the blog recently. Here are a few hikes toward the end of summer after getting back from Alaska, when the skies were hazy due to distant wildfires in Canada and Eastern Washington. We have enjoyed getting back on terra firma and local trails since our return from Alaska...

Washington Park Hike - 8-16-18

Washington Park is adjacent Skyline Marina and additional public beach access, and is another favorite hiking destination.

Mt. Erie and Sugarloaf are the two distinct mountains within the Anacortes Forest Lands (ACFL) which feature many more miles of hiking. Our home on the shores of Campbell Lake is at the Southern base of Mt. Erie (to the right in the picture above). The distance to drive from Mt. Erie to Washington Park means passing the ACFL forest lands and three lakes, and represents the FURTHEST drive we have to access any of the Fidalgo Island area hiking areas.

Peggy and Moxie on the perimeter trail of Washington Park with Burrows Island in the distance.

This park also features a paved road/path that provides access with Nicole's wheelchair as well).

Observing boats coming and going from nearby Skyline Marina is one of the rewards of hiking Washington Park's perimeter trails.

Meandering red-clay trails are a characteristic feature of Washington Park bluff trails.

Peggy follows Moxie on one of many paths that lead toward the water's edge, and views west to the San Juan Islands.

Don't like the hazy skies? Point your gaze to something closer for vibrant colors!

Classic views from the red-clay trails that often straddle very close to the bluff's edge. Looking back at the Skyline neighborhood of Anacortes.

North Beach-West Beach/Deception Pass State Park - 8/21/19
The hazy skies from distant wildfires (Eastern Washington and British Columbia) worsened and provided a truly "eerie" effect on this beach hike along North Beach to West Beach in Deception Pass State Park...

Moxie didn't mind the haze at all.

North Beach (and West Beach) are among Moxie's favorite hikes as she loves to swim in the cool waters of Deception Pass, chase seagulls, and fetch sticks.

Deception Island "guards" the entrance to Deception Pass and can experience very strong currents during tidal changes. I've paddled kayaks with both my daughters, Sarah and Emily (and Moxie), to the island; and have also paddled a SUP Board out and around the island while staying on anchor in Bowman Bay aboard Seaquel.

At high tide, it can be a challenge to round a couple of rocky points along North Beach, in which case a shoreline trail provides passage.

A few sections have boardwalk so that swampy areas can be transited year-round.

This trail sign is located between the Deception Pass Bridge and West Beach. The one-way distance from the bridge, along North Beach, to the Northern point of West Beach, is a shade under one mile. Proceeding south along West Beach to the park's boundary just north of Whidbey Naval Air Station is another mile of beach hiking, providing a total round-trip of 4 miles of beach hiking.

Deception Pass is the most popular park and campground in Washington State. West Beach is one of the most popular highlights, and it is typical to find young and old alike enjoying these accessible beaches adjacent a day-use parking lot.

Also typical is if one hikes just a short ways down the beach, complete solitude can be easily found.

The mid-afternoon sun is nearly obliterated by the hazy skies.

On the way back along North Beach, the gray skies begin to turn pink as the sun sets lower in the sky.

Boats and cars alike resort to using headlights/running lights in the low light of the late afternoon.

Porpoise Point-Sares Head 8/23/18
The haze in the air lingers, but now getting a little bit better so we thought we would check out the top-of-the-world views from Sares Head...