Rocking Out on Rock Trail

Hah, I didn't even bother posting last week about how I was too busy to post. I was pulling 11 hour days.

Fortunately, I finally did get a little bit of time off to do a short hike. I wanted to take my husband to Rock Trail, which is a newer trail off the end of Cleator Rd in Larrabee State Park. Just north of the park gates, turn east on Hiline Rd. This will turn into the rough rocky Cleator Rd. Follow it past two gates all the way to the end. The trailhead is at the end of the road.

In fact it's so new, the state parks department hasn't even added it to their maps, so here's an old map I charted when I first took the trail a few years ago (just ignore the small loop).

Rock Trail

Washington State Parks and Recreation

Parking permit: Discover Pass ($10 per day or $30 per year)

Distance: ~3.5 miles

Elevation difference: 690'

At the trailhead there are some okay views and picnic spots.

Literature!

Rock Trail is at the south end of the parking lot and is well signed.

You'll initially descend quite quickly at a long stairway.

The trail gets its name from the base of the rocky cliffs that it hugs. If you're into geology, you'll find it interesting as layers are clearly visible in the Chuckanut sandstone formations.

Layered

Rock Trail itself is about a mile long and after the main descent, it mostly meanders up and down along the cliffs until it drops more at the end.

Rocky

What is the husband looking at?

He was finding the embedded rocky layers interesting on this one.

That cave there probably is a good bat cave.

And these rocky shelves fit water bottles and puppies perfectly!

The puppy is less than thrilled

I liked how this little rock looks like it's holding up the big rock, though once you really get down and inspect it I don't think they're actually touching.

Once you run out of Rock Trail you can join Lost Lake Trail and head down to the lake. Take a left at the junction and follow the trail past the lake until you find another junction on your right.

There's a giant root ball near the lake. We posed some shots in front of it.

Trying not to fall!

The lake itself is long, narrow, and surrounded by fairly thick brush. Still, some people decide to fish out here. Rock Trail is going to be the shortest route to get between parking and the lake.

From here you just turn around and climb back up the way you came!