Every once in a while, it's nice to have a change of scenery. Instead of heading to the or , why not , Washington?
The is one of the pleasant hikes found on , not far from the city known more for cross-border shopping and a pizza buffet. ( is another recommended hike.)
Located partly in (and in the traditional territory of the Lummi Nation), the trail starts at a parking area off Old Samish Road. Getting there from Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»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 app, our hike covered 12 kilometres and involved an elevation gain of 470 metres.
