Lost Lake Trail

Lost Lake Trail loops through a magnificent stand of old-growth Douglas fir in Larrabee State Park, offering a relatively gentle hike through ancient forest to a small, secluded lake that embodies the quiet magic of the Pacific Northwest woodland environment. The trail winds beneath towering Douglas firs several hundred years old, their massive trunks draped in thick moss and their canopies filtering the light into shifting green patterns on the forest floor. Western red cedars add their distinctive shredded bark and spreading root buttresses to the forest composition, while bigleaf maples contribute seasonal color changes that transform the understory in autumn. The forest floor is carpeted with a diverse assemblage of ferns, mosses, and shade-loving wildflowers including trillium, fairy bells, and youth-on-age. Lost Lake itself is a small, intimate body of water surrounded closely by the old-growth forest, its dark surface reflecting the surrounding trees and creating a tranquil atmosphere that rewards patient visitors who sit quietly at the shore. Wood ducks and common mergansers use the lake, and great blue herons are regularly seen standing motionless in the shallows. The loop trail is well-maintained and provides a satisfying forest immersion experience suitable for families, casual hikers, and anyone seeking a peaceful nature walk close to Bellingham. The old-growth character makes this trail exceptional for its proximity to an urban area.