Pine and Cedar Lakes Loop

Dogs Leashed

Features Commonly Backpacked · Fall Colors · Lake · Spring · Swimming · Views

Pine and Cedar trail is very steep in some spots and is even considered to be one of the steepest climbs in town, depending on who you ask, but all your huffing and puffing will surely be worth while. The trail starts off very rocky and rugged, and slowly transitions into more hard-packed dirt. It remains still two people wide, which makes it nice for traveling with others and/or in groups. Then after about a mile of slogging through a beautiful oldgrowth forest rarely trafficked by other humans--mostly just owls, birds, and other small animals of prey--you'll eventually meet a manmade wooden bridge over a stream. After this, it's only about 3/4 mile to the top and becomes significantly less steep.

There is a porta-potty in the parking lot.

Starting from the Pine and Cedar Lake parking lot, the trail starts off wide, rocky, and very steep as you pass by a couple streams on your left side. Keep following the trail until you hit the first split at about 1 mile. It is marked, and both ways rejoin at the exact same spot. The right fork option is steeper, shorter, and more succinct, and the left option is slightly longer and more gradual. From there it is only another 0.75 miles to the top of the trail where you'll be greeted with a T. The top is marked, and if you go left you'll keep following signs for Pine and Cedar Lakes. Right will take you down Hemlock Trail and back towards N. Chuckanut Trail. From there, take the next left, climb up and then descend down to Cedar Lake. After that you'll keep working your way down the trail toward Pine Lake, then go to the lookout, and work your way back the way you came.

I frequently see owls in the wee hours of the morning here.