Cama Beach

Beautiful water overlook at Cama State Park is on the southwest shore of Camano Island and faces Saratoga Passage.  It's a 433 acre shore front and forested back, with 15 miles of hiking trails.

Just a tinge of fall showing in early October along the trail. Lots of different foliage in this forest, including pacific northwest spotted maples.

In the distance you see the rustic cabins and small general store you can stay at right on the beach.  They surround the wooden boats center, available for rent as well as fun to look at.

Forest also includes lots of these pretty pacific northwest madrones.

Picnic anyone?  Right on the beach, just outside one of the little cabins.

Plenty of sun on this October day.

Despite the sunny, warm weather we know fall is coming.  Here's one of many spotted maple leaves that have already dropped off the tree.

Great informational signs are at strategic rest spots along the trails.

The Wild Nearby

Do you love wilderness, literature, and photography? Then you’ll enjoy the latest book from Braided River, The North Cascades: Finding Beauty and Renewal in the Wild Nearby. The 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act provides us with a reason to look back and ahead.

Join us for the book's launch party at the Mountaineers Program Center on October 10 to celebrate what’s been preserved in the North Cascades and to hear Pulitzer Prize-winning author William Dietrich’s take on where stewardship needs to go next.

Event Details

WHAT: Book launch of The North Cascades: Finding Beauty and Renewal in the Wild Nearby
WHEN: Friday, October 10, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

WHERE: Seattle Mountaineers Program Center, 7700 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA‎ 98115

WHO: Hosted by The Mountaineers and supported by NPCA

TICKETS: You can purchase your tickets here.

OTHER INFO: Free parking is available at The Mountaineers Program Center. Or, take bus 75 which drops you off directly in front of the Program Center. Additional launch parties will be held later in North Cascades National Park, Everett, Twisp, and Bellingham.

Camping at Colonial Creek? Backpacking in the Sawtooths? Out for a stroll in Stehekin? Share your photos with the hashtag #wildnearby and they’ll be displayed at the book launch party.

We hope you will join us,

Sincerely,



David G. Graves
Northwest Program Manager

P.S.: Check out the Northwest Regional Office's most recent field report here (PDF, 371 KB).

A Cherry Hike

Cherry Creek Falls
hike north of Duvall, Washington




What a wonderful trail, and so close to the big cities Bellevue and Seattle, a very convenient romp in the wilderness.  Our first animal sighting was an adorable chipmunk.  It's a 5 mile round trip, nice and easy trail although it does narrow in spots.  It's a great trip for families with kids and also for groups of friends.

Look at the beautiful, sunny day we stumbled into.  Not a cloud in the sky and in fact it was in the 90's, but we did not suffer because this forested trail is mostly shaded, spotted with just a few open sunny spots and some odd humid spots along the way.  We frolicked most comfortably.

Here we go.  We enjoyed nature, and the lively company.

We made sure to stop and notice all the beauty around us.  There were plenty of butterflies along the way, including this one having a little rest.

There were several creeks that crossed the trail.  In September they were all small and no obstacle at all.  At other times of the year they could be more of a challenge.

Thank goodness for the Boy Scouts!  They have made several markers along the trail to be sure you find your way to the waterfall, including this giant rock arrow.  Of course, as you can see there's always one hiker who leaves a vivid trail marker open to interpretation.

The Cherry Creek Waterfall, wow we're already here!  This is the overlook of the beautiful falls.  This was the site of a logging camp back in the early part of the 19th century.  The falls are a 25 foot drop.

At this time of year it's split into a double falls, and there's even a small fall-let just out of the picture to the right.

One of our hikers is cooling her heels in the middle of the calm pool created at the foot of the falls.

And thanks to the Boy Scouts, nicely carved chairs for those who prefer.

Four bumps on a log in a beautiful glen.
 

A moment for reflection

Back on the trail, heading home, fashionable in red, toes point to what looks like a weed, doesn't it?  No, don't let the red cloud your judgement.  This is a northwest plantain.  The leaves can be eaten raw.
best when finely chopped or when cooked with fibers removed. Leaves are very rich in vitamin B1 and riboflavin. The plant contains anti-toxins as well.  The leaves and the seed are medicinal used as an antibacterial, antidote, astringent, antiinflammatory, antiseptic, antitussive, cardiac, demulcent, diuretic, expectorant, haemostatic, laxative, ophthalmic, poultice, refrigerant, and vermifuge. Seeds can be dried and ground into flour/meal.  In the Northwest it grows in a wide range of areas, including disturbed/cultivated soil in plains, foothills, and montane regions.

Creeping Bellflower along the trail is a pretty splash of color.  This was originally introduced to the Northwest from Eurasia.  It's now naturalized across the northern two-thirds of the United States and the lower half of Canada

Here we stopped for a brief orange/red flower conference.  These are actually spotted touch-me-not impatiens.  These plants can grow up to 5 feet tall.  This species can be found across the eastern United States, across Canada, and in the Pacific Northwest. The tube-shaped flowers are 3/4 to 1 1/4 inches long and attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.

And this trail is delightfully not just for hikers.  This happy rider and his horse named Blue were also enjoying the day, just like us!

More Anacortes Kayaking

3 harbor seals showing off for lunch as we paddle out of the marina



kayak selfie



Here's the view at kayak level



3 on the sea



Oldest WA lighthouse on the westernmost tip of Burrows Island, facing onto Rosario Strait. This light began working for the first time in 1906.  It started out with lighthouse keepers, but these days it is all automated but still shines bright.

The lighthouse buildings on Burrows Island

Just a beautiful day on the water with friends

A flock of kayaks

A kayak's eye view of the beautiful San Juans

Anacortes Kayaking, WA Dreaming

Here you see the tip of Burrows Island, just off from Anacortes, WA.  That was our kayaking destination.  There were 7 of us on a 3 hour guided tour - if you know Gilligan's Island then you might understand my beginner's momentary hesitation.

This island covers more than 400 acres and stands just off Fidalgo Island, facing Rosario Strait.  In 1905, prompted by the loss of several vessels, a new lighthouse was built.  It is the oldest in WA; it was first lit in April, 1906.  Employing keepers for decades, it is still a working, but now automated, lighthouse.  That was our destination after launching from the Anacortes marina.  It was a grand day and an exciting nature adventure.  Normally we hike, but today our legs rested and our arms worked.




Here's another look at the island from Washington Park, which is right in Anacortes.  Washington Park Link



Just at the end of the marina we sighted 3 harbor seals.  They were eating yummy salmon being thrown off the end of a fishing boat.  They swam confident and intent on their lunch feast.

As we continued paddling along the length of Burrows Island, our guide Tucker had in mind the best point for us to make the dash across from the Anacortes side of the channel to the Island so we would have to dodge the fewest fishing boats and speed boats underway.  At first nosing the front of the kayak into the oncoming wake seemed challenging, but soon we were enjoying the little waves.

This fishing boat has the distinction of the Olympic mountains as its backdrop.



We did not have to dodge any of the San Juan ferries.  I'll leave that to you who are more advanced kayakers.  But they did make a pretty scene in the distance as they ferried on between San Juan islands.

On our fun paddle to the lighthouse we saw lots of birds including a juvenile bald eagle.  We know that one was less than 4 years old because his signature white headfeathers weren't there yet.  We also saw 2 adult bald eagles high in the fir trees, but fortunately they sat on branches stripped of needles so we could see them.

We also saw jellyfish, and a school of very silvery fish, and a starfish.  And the lighthouse looked very cool from the water.

 

We also saw this Black Oystercatcher.  These amazing birds can dive 290 feet deep to feast on oysters

 

 

 

 



We worked up a healthy appetite, so we picnicked on the rock beach at nearby Washington Park.  I was glad I didn't have to dive 290 feet down for my lunch, I just took the stairway down from the trail.



You can see what a beautiful, Northwest day it was to be on the water.  In the distance you see part of the San Juans.



Beauty in every direction.



Enjoying nature.  When do we go kayaking again, we're ready!



And a good time was had by all!



Anacortes, we'll be back.

Centennial Picnic

The Centennial Trail in Snohomish County, WA was made as part of a national initiative "Rails to Trails", making a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines.  You'll just love this scarcely used trail that is comfortable for hiking, biking, and horse riding.  And it's ideal for picnicking by the river side!  All this beauty and tranquility just 30 miles northeast of Seattle.



The beautiful Snohomish river meanders along part of the Centennial Trail.  This is a portion near the Pilchuk trailhead.  Berry bushes are nearby along the river and along the trail.  They're almost ready for picking, and you'll have easy access to fill your buckets and baskets.

Look just past the picnic basket into the river.  We were pleasantly interrupted by local rafters floating along the peaceful river.

The trail stretches 29 miles from Snohomish to Nakashima Farm, north of Arlington, WA. My favorite is to ride bikes from Snohomish to Lake Cassidy for a picnic and dangle toes in the water before riding back.  The views include forests, lots of farms and ranches with agricultural land, and parallel to pretty little small towns.  To see more information about this treasure, see this link - http://centennialtrail.com/

So many exciting sites just around the bend on the Centennial Trail for you to discover.