9 Anacortes Hikes With Epic Views (+ Insider Tips)

Want to opt outside, but aren’t sure where to go? What about Anacortes?  

This small Washington town sits in the banana belt on Fidalgo Island, one of the Washington islands that usually has warmer and drier weather than the surrounding areas.  

What does this mean for you? Hiking in Anacortes any time of year is a whole lot easier!  

Oh, and no Anacortes hiking trail is more than 15 minutes away from downtown, which means after fueling up on breakfast and lunch, you can be hiking through 2,800 acres of lush forest lands with meadows, wetlands, lakes, and spectacular seascape views. 

Enjoy this list of the best Anacortes hikes and Fidalgo Island hikes — we hope it inspires you to get outside!

Best Anacortes Hikes with Epic Views

Do you love going on a hike when a jaw-dropping view is part of the reward? I know I do. Who doesn’t like a short break to take in Mother Nature’s beauty after some serious cardio exercise?

Thanks to my very energetic Australian cattle dog Hazel, we get to do this regularly in the small coastal town of Anacortes, Washington.

The Anacortes hiking trail systems are quite extensive, and there are over 50 miles of multi-use trails in the Anacortes Forest Lands and additional trails in Deception Pass State Park. Both trail systems offer a mix of forestlands, marshes, and coastal seascapes.

If you are visiting Fidalgo Island, use this reference as your insider’s guide to hikes with a view in Anacortes. All you need to do is pack up your hikers day pack with snacks and a water bottle, and bring your camera.

Discover more about the area in the Anacortes travel guide.

Easy Hikes in Anacortes

Rosario Head (0.5 miles)

Rosario Head at Deception Pass State Park.
Rosario Head is part of Deception Pass State Park.
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Located at Deception Pass State Park, Rosario Head has a short 0.5 mile loop trail around a rocky outcrop that forms Rosario Head. The trail only takes 10 to 15 minutes to hike, but you’ll want to linger and enjoy the views, so give yourself at least 20 to 30 minutes.

From the parking lot, you’ll see the main trail, which leads right between two beaches. After you see the story and carving of the Maiden of Deception Pass, follow the trail to the left.

The trail leads you around Rosario Head and features views of Bowman Bay, Admiralty Inlet, Rosario Strait, the San Juan Islands, and on a clear day you can see the Olympic Mountains and Vancouver Island.

Rosario Head on Fidalgo Island.
The view of Bowman Bay from Rosario Head.
The view of of Fidalgo Island from Rosario Head.
The San Juan Islands in the distance.

You’ll find the easy trail back to the Maiden of Deception Pass near the middle of the head. To take a more challenging route, follow the path to the west side.

The trail weaves down the side to Urchin Rocks where you can do some exploring and tide pooling.

Safety tip: There are steep drop-offs at Rosario Head, so please keep an eye on small children and pets.

Travel tip: To visit the park, you’ll need to pay for a $ 10-day pass or purchase the $30 annual Discover Pass. For those that don’t want to pay, this park has space for two cars outside the gate.

Sharpe Park & Montgomery-Duban Headlands (0.75 miles)

Sunset at Sears Head Overlook in Anacortes.
Sares Head is my favorite spot to watch the sunset.

Sares Head is my favorite hike in Anacortes with a sea view because it only takes around 20 minutes to hike the 0.75 mile trail to Sares Head Overlook — and I almost always have it to myself.

Once you get to the overlook, there are large exposed rocks to sit on for a picnic and a bench to take in the view of Puget Sound. If you time this Anacortes hike near sunset, you won’t be disappointed.

The main thing to remember about hiking this trail is to not veer off the Sares Head Trail. Otherwise, you’ll end up along other trails that have only a few peek-a-boo views and a ton of up and downs. If you do want to extend the hike, take the Broom-Tomb Loop Trail (0.56 miles), which begins right before you get to the overlook and ends there.

Travel tip: Click here for a trail map of Sharpe Park.

Little Cranberry Lake (1.5 miles)

For years, Little Cranberry Lake trail was my top choice for hiking in Anacortes.

The main trail follows a 1.5-mile loop around Little Cranberry Lake with various offshoots that lead hikers on different routes to Little Beaver Pond, Big Beaver Pond, and Mitten Pond, and into neighborhoods like Rock Ridge, which offers outstanding sunset views of the San Juan Islands.

For the most part, the trail is easy going, but it can get muddy and rugged.

The most popular access points are at Cranberry Lake Road, which has a small parking lot and viewing area of the lake, and a large roadside parking lot on A Ave.

Ship Harbor Interpretive Preserve Trail (1 mile)

SHIP trail in Anacortes, Washington

Ship Harbor Interpretive Preserve trail is my favorite place for bird-watching, shoreline views, and watching the ferries pass by — plus it’s the easiest Anacortes hike to walk.

It hugs 2000 ft. of sandy beach shoreline, has interpretive platforms and benches, as well as, a boardwalk that leads visitors through the perimeter of 25 acres of freshwater wetlands. It’s a half mile each way down the boardwalk, so it’s 1 mile in total.

To get to this Anacortes hike (it’s not really a proper hike!) ravel west on Hwy. 20 until the ferry dock comes into view. Turn right onto Ship Harbor Boulevard, take the next left and wind down to a cul-de-sac next to Guemes Channel.

Moderate Hikes in Anacortes

Bowman Bay & Lighthouse Point (2.6 miles)

The pier at Bowman Bay.
A walk on the fishing pier at sunset.

One of the best hikes in Anacortes is the Lighthouse Point trail at Bowman Bay in Deception Pass State Park.

The trail is 2.6 miles round trip and takes around 1.5 hours (with stops). Bowman Bay is a popular part of the park, and on the weekend, you’ll often see families here for a picnic. There is ample space in the parking lot and a nearby grassy field with a playground, a long stretch of beach, and a fishing pier.

For the trail, the hardest part is the uphill climb near the beginning that leads you up and along a cliffside and then back down to a strip of land that has a sandy beach. The beach is an excellent place to take a breather. You can walk along the sand on the west side and dream of living near the sea or scout for eagles, waterfowl, and herons on the opposite beach.

A sandy beach at Bowman Bay.
During a really low tide, you can walk right to the beach.

From there, the trail leads you up around Lighthouse Point. When you come to a choice of left or right, head left.

That will take you to an area with views of the bridge and a small beach with south facing views. Continue to follow the trail up to a rocky, treeless area with more vistas of Deception Pass Bridge.

If you brought a snack, enjoy it here with the view of Deception Pass Bridge from afar, and you’ll understand why this is one of the most rewarding hikes in Anacortes!

View of Deception Pass Bridge from Lighthouse Point.

The main highlight is the fantastic views of the bridge and North Whidbey Island. Plus, you’ll get to see boats cruise by as they make their way into Admiralty Inlet. On a clear day, you’ll see the Olympic Mountains and Vancouver Island.

From there the trail loops around the point. There are offshoots along the trail with unmarked paths making it tricky to navigate the first time. Keep in mind, if given an option of left or right, go right.

One of my favorite parts about this hike is the stretch sandy beach. Sometimes I hike out here to play with the dog on the beach and enjoy a romantic sunset.

Bowman Bay sunset in Anacortes.
At certain times of the year, when the tide is very low, you can easily walk from the pebble beach to the sandy beach.

Click here for a map of Deception Pass trails. Click here to learn more about Deception Pass Park. Travel tip: To visit the park, you’ll need to pay for a $ 10-day pass or purchase the $30 annual Discover Pass.

Whistle Lake (2.4 miles)

View of HWY 20 coming into Anacortes, Washington.
View of SR 20 from a trail at Whistle Lake.

Whistle Lake has an extensive trail system. It has one of my favorite Anacortes hikes with a view as well!

From the viewpoint, you can see SR 20 coming into Anacortes and in the distance the Cascade Mountains.

The view might not be as exciting as some of the others, but in the morning and afternoon, it can be beautiful.

Whistle Lake in Anacortes, Washington.
Mt. Erie as seen from Whistle Lake.

On the return, the trail follows along the edge of scenic Whistle Lake with Mt. Erie as the backdrop. Overall, the trail has a good mix of easy areas with a couple of uphill climbs.

I’ve noted the route in the map section below. The Whistle Lake map is downloadable, and I highly recommend putting it on your phone or bringing along a printed version.

Numbers mark the trails and it can be easy to get confused, especially if it is your first time on the trails.

Washington Park (2.2 miles)

View from Washington Park in Anacortes.

The Washington Park loop trail is probably the most popular hiking trail in Anacortes. The loop is a paved road that weaves through the park and in the early morning and after dusk is pedestrian-only.

Washington Park trail is my go-to trail in Anacortes! Several routes lead through 220 acres of forest to breathtaking views of the Olympic Mountains and the San Juan Islands.

At Juniper Point, on the southwestern tip, I’ve often seen harbor porpoises surfing in Burrows Bay Channel. Be aware the inland trails can be steep and rooty.  

Looking for dolphins at Juniper Point
Keep an eye out for harbor porpoises surfing in Burrows Pass at Juniper Point.

I rarely ever walk the paved loop, as I prefer to hike the trails. The trails are noted by number not route, which can get confusing if you don’t have a map (download a map here). My go-to hike follows 521 to 520 to 508 to 510 to 513, and I take 516 back to the parking lot. It takes 45 minutes to an hour. To download a copy of my route on this popular Anacortes hike, click here.

For a paved, yet steep walk, take the 2.25-mile loop that curves through the park. Green Point, a grassy area on the northwestern tip, is easily accessed from the paved road and a good place to watch boat activity or climb on the shoreline rocks near West Beach.

Viewpoint areas in the park include Burrows Channel Viewpoint, Green Point and Juniper Point, which is on the trail I regularly take. The stop at Juniper Point has a bench to sit and watch the boats cruising in Rosario Strait. The islands in the distance the San Juan Islands.

To get here, follow Hwy. 20 past the ferry, continue down Sunset Ave. to the large parking lot at the end. There is also beach access, restrooms, and a playground.

To park, follow the road for a bit. Once you pass a house on the left, there will be a slight bend in the road with a long gravel area for parking. There is no parking or park fee.

Note: Anacortes Forest Land trails are numbered, and maps can be purchased at the City of Anacortes and the Visitor’s Information Center, or printed off here.

Difficult Hikes in Anacortes

Sugarloaf Mountain (2.5 miles)

The parking lot for Sugarloaf Mountain and Mt. Erie almost always have cars parked in them.

That in itself attests to the popularity of these Anacortes hikes — but don’t let yourself think they’re not tough just because a lot of people are tackling them! Note that there is no parking or park fee.

Sugarloaf Mountain has an elevation gain of 890 feet, and almost all of the trail is an uphill climb. I assure you, once you get to the top, you’ll forget all about your burning calves. Do not forget your water on this hike!

Mt. Erie (5 miles)

In the above video, the hill with the radio towers on the top is Mt. Erie. At 1,273 feet, it is the highest point on Fidalgo Island and therefore the toughest hike on Fidalgo Island. It also has a road that leads to the peak with a handful of viewing areas.

The hike is 5 miles round trip, which could be two to four hours, depending on how fast you hike and how many stops you make.

Having been to the top by car, I assure you the views are amazing and include the Cascade Mountains, Skagit Valley, Whidbey Island, San Juan Island, Olympic Mountains, and Vancouver Island.

Sunset at Mt. Erie in Anacortes, Washington.

I have to admit, the uphill climb has deterred me from climbing Mt. Erie. But, my hiking goal this year is to make the ascent. I’ll post more photos when I do.

Until then, check out this post by fellow hikers. And again — be sure to bring water.

Travel tip: Be sure to download the Whistle Lake map to your phone or a printed version as numbers mark the trails.

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32 thoughts on “9 Anacortes Hikes With Epic Views (+ Insider Tips)”

  1. What a beautiful region to be able to go for so many walks and hikes around! It reminds me a little of Christchurch in NZ where we are currently based and seem like a great place to get out into nature. I love the combination of mountains, lakes and coastal walks!

    • Nic, New Zealand is one of my dream destinations. Washington is such a beautiful US state. I feel lucky to live so close to the water.

  2. You live in an absolutely gorgeous region! I would get 10 dogs and go running with the pack all day long! πŸ™‚ I especially like the short video of the surroundings on top of Sugarloaf Mountain. This all uphill hike would hurt me, πŸ™‚ , but it is surely worth it!

  3. I have only visited Washington once and I could have moved there it was so beautiful. I have added these hikes to our next trip out west. Just stunning and so peaceful.

    • Stephanie, Washington is a beautiful state and the landscape so diverse. Glad you found some hikes on the list to do on your next trip here. πŸ™‚

  4. I love hikes with views! I honestly wouldn’t hike much if the reward didn’t end in a glorious view πŸ™‚ The views at Bowman Bay – Lighthouse Point looks so pretty and even better that the hike is easy to moderate, which is great for novice hikers like myself.

    • Candy, That is one of my favorite hikes as it has such dramatic views. I hope you find yourself here on your travels and get to hike it. πŸ™‚

  5. Wow, you do a lot of hikes but I imagine you have to allow your dog to work off all his energy! I love this area of the country. I have family on Whidbey Island. But I think my favorite hike on your list would be Sharpe Park and Montgomery-Duban Headlands. That sunset is so beautiful!

    • Heather, Hazel is such a high energy dog that getting out and hiking is a must. I love Whidbey Island and Ebey’s Landing is one of my favorite hikes! I like to take it from Sunnyside Cemetery as you can see two blockhouses. πŸ™‚

  6. Yes, I absolutely love a breathtaking reward at the end of a difficult hike! We spent some time near here when we visited Olympic NP and the San Juan Islands but didn’t get a chance to explore Anacortes too much. I cannot wait to get back and hike some of these!

    • Angela, Those are both great places to hike in Washington, and Moran State Park on Orcas Island is one of my favorite parks! Next time, stay in Anacortes for a few days to explore. πŸ™‚

  7. Thank you for such a detailed post! I’m notorious for getting lost on hikes ( or not finding the trail head) so you’ve made it easy for the directionally challenged like me. Anacortes looks like a beautiful and rewarding place to hike.

  8. I know you are the master of finding good hiking spots but I’m so glad that Hazel got a nice shout out, too. πŸ˜‰ She is such a great co-contributor to the blog. Your shot of Bowman Bay from Rosario Head is my favorite. That looks like a great place to just go get some awesome photographs, too. πŸ˜‰ I so hope to visit your town someday.

  9. I love the variety of distance and difficulty available n such close proximity. The viewpoints from many of them are spectacular! Would love to attempt the Sugarloaf trek for sure, the elevation gain is always a challenge, but those are usually the hikes with the biggest payoffs!

    • Amy, I had put off that hike for a really long time and when I got to the top I was totally amazed by the view. Totally worth the muscle burn. πŸ™‚

  10. I am always amazed by how elaborate the hiking trails system in the US is, and Washington looks like one of the states with the most beautiful nature. My friend lives in Seattle, and I hope to visit him one day and experience a couple of days of hiking in such beautiful landscapes. Having a 20 minutes hike so close to home sounds like a dream!

    • Anja, Yes, visit your friend! You’ll love Seattle and the nearby hikes. I’m sure he’s found some great one near the city too!

  11. These hikes in Anacortes, Washington sound and looks just lovely and not to over the top. I could definitely see my self doing the Whistle Lake 2.4 miles / easy to moderate one and stopping by the lake for a spot of lunch and a cup of tea. Though I would give the Mt. Erie / 5 miles especially for those views.

  12. Lovely photos! Deception Pass and Whistle Lake look right up my allley, and I love that sunset shot from the pier. I definitely need to get up to the PNW for some hikes sooner rather than later.

  13. I have not yet been to Anacortes, but the hikes and views look sublime, inspiring, motivating, peaceful, majestic … I could doling out the adjectives … no? πŸ˜‰ There is nothing quite like a wonderful coastal village with miles upon miles of open space to hike in — California coastline, Oregon coastline, and it appears where you live on the Washington coastline. I must come visit.

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