Chuckanut Trail

Chuckanut Trail is the premier long hike in Larrabee State Park, climbing through the stunning sandstone and conifer landscape of Chuckanut Mountain to viewpoints overlooking Samish Bay and the Chuckanut Islands scattered across the water below. The trail ascends through diverse Pacific Northwest forest featuring Douglas fir, western red cedar, bigleaf maple, and Pacific madrone, whose distinctive smooth orange-red bark peels away to reveal polished inner wood. The Chuckanut Formation sandstone underlying the mountain creates fascinating geological features including layered outcrops, erosion caves, and rocky viewpoints perched above the bay. From the upper viewpoints, the panorama encompasses Samish Bay, the Chuckanut Islands, and on clear days extends to the San Juan Islands and Vancouver Island beyond. The trail connects Larrabee State Park with the broader Chuckanut Mountain trail network, providing access to additional routes for ambitious hikers. Bald eagles and osprey are regularly observed hunting over the bay from the elevated viewpoints. Madrone berries attract American robins and varied thrushes in autumn. The trail is hikeable year-round but is most spectacular in autumn when the bigleaf maples turn brilliant gold and the clear weather provides maximum visibility across the bay and islands. The lower sections pass through second-growth forest recovering from historical logging, while upper areas retain mature old-growth character.