Clayton Beach: Trail offers short walk to spectacular view of islands

E-Mail

Text Size:

tool goes here

On a warm day, this short sandy beach in Larrabee State Park is a popular destination for those looking to soak up the rays and soak in some of the most spectacular sunsets around.

A short walk through lush woods opens up to stunning bay views as well as the San Juans, making this hike worth walking over and over.

Difficulty: Easy. It’s not going to make you break a sweat but you should be comfortable scrambling over roots and one big, slab of a rock that is slippery when wet.

Elevation gain: Nearly 200 feet

Round trip: A little over a mile

Hiking time: 28 minutes

Users: Hikers, bicyclists

Best time to hike: Yearround

Family friendly: Yes, if everyone is comfortable with a muddy scramble over roots and the slab of rock. There also are railroad tracks to cross.

Dogs: Dogs must be on a leash.

Amenities: Restroom at the Clayton Beach parking lot.

Maps: Washington State Department of Natural Resources map at www.dnr.wa.gov. Click on “Recreation,” then “Trail Map/Brochure Series.” Select “Chuckanut Mountain.”

Driving directions: Drive south on Chuckanut Drive to the parking lot for the Clayton Beach Trailhead. Look for the lot on your left. It’s 9½ miles from downtown Bellingham, or about 15 minutes.

Getting there: From the parking lot cross Chuckanut Drive to reach the trailhead on your left. Walk down metal stairs and swing left to walk over a metal-bottomed bridge. Stay on this trail, even when it looks like there’s a small stream running down part of it. It’s a little more than a half-mile to the beach.

Watch out for the rock slab near the railroad tracks, which you’ll cross to pick up the trail on the other side. Just before you get to the beach, you’ll have to pick your way gingerly down some exposed tree roots.