Canoe Pass and Lottie Bay

Walked from Pass Lake along the trail that parallels Highway 20 to Lottie Bay and Deception Pass. There were some kayakers negotiating Canoe Pass underneath the north span in what looked to me to be some pretty rough water. They seemed to be enjoying it, though.

Here's a view of the south span over Deception Pass. 

 Flowers along the trail. 

 This panorama shows both spans of the bridge. 

Lottie Bay was calm compared to the pass. 

Kukutali Preserve and Flagstaff "Island"

This preserve just opened to the public last year (2014). Access is off Snee Oosh Road about five minutes west of La Conner.

The small parking area on Snee Oosh only holds about five cars. Your Discover Pass is needed to park (or pay a one-time $10 fee). Walking access is along Kiket Island Road, a gravel road that is closed to vehicles. Between the Kiket Road and the two forest trails you can do about 2-½ miles of easy hiking. Flagstaff "island" (you can walk to it) on the west end of the preserve is closed to visitors right now to protect the habitat.

Once you get to the west end of the preserve, you can make out Deception Pass Bridge and Mount Erie/Sugarloaf across Similk Bay. I saw a hawk, eagles, geese, and a blue heron while I was there. And of course seagulls. Wasn't quick enough to get photographs of them all, though. Also some orange flowers were blooming everywhere that I didn't identify.

Kiket Island Road with Similk Bay on the right. You can see Mt. Erie and Sugarloaf across the bay. 

There is a large central field at the west end of Kiket Island Road.

These Canada Geese were conducting land/air/sea operations the whole time I was there.

This heron was roosting in a tree near the entrance.

A seagull was the only other photogenic wildlife. 

You can make out Deception Pass Bridge across the bay to the west. 

These orange flowers were blooming at the edges of the field and along the trails. 

There are two trails that run parallel with Kiket Island Road through the woods. You can also clamber down to the beach if you're of a mind to. 

Whistle Lake

Three- or four-mile hike around the lake starting at the Whistle Lake parking lot. Didn't rain on me too much. Trails are still muddy in spots, but easily passable. Nice view of Mt. Erie from across the lake. Some bicyclers and horse riders out today, but didn't pass any fellow hikers at all.

Cornet Bay and Hoypus Point

This is a lesser-visited part of Deception Pass park located to the east of the bridge on the Whidbey Island side. There are miles of forest trails and a good stretch of beach.

The old park road to Hoypus Point is closed to vehicles and narrows to not much more than a trail before it ends.

If you walk to the end, you eventually get to the old ferry launch that they used before the bridge was built in 1935. Some concrete and this old piling is all that remains of Berte Olson's ferry crossing. 

This belted kingfisher was using the piling for a lunch table. 

There were no end of birds hanging out on the beach yesterday. Herons are usually pretty shy so I had to get this shot through some tree limbs. 

Don't know what these geese were so interested in. They kept looking the same way the whole time I was there. 

I had the forest trails to the south of the ferry crossing all to myself. They were muddy in spots but still passable. Hiked for an hour without passing a soul. 

Friday Afternoon at Cranberry Lake

These were taken at Deception Pass State Park. As always, you can click the photographs to enlarge them.

These eagles were on the west side of the lake at the top of the tallest tree in the vicinity. (Near the swimming area.) I've seen them in the same tree before.

In the time it took me to hike to the east side of the lake, I missed the sunset. Still very nice a few minutes after the sun had gone down, though. 

Swans at Mitten Pond

Saturday was a warm, sunny opportunity to hike around the ACFL south of Little Cranberry Lake. It was the most popular weekend I've seen so far this year, with bikers and horse riders evident in addition to the hikers. I must have seen a half-dozen people.

These two swans were paddling around Mitten Pond feeding. Their necks appear long enough to reach plants growing on the bottom, even in the middle of the pond. You would see what looked like a white pillow floating in the water, then suddenly the neck and head would appear with a mouthful of pond salad.