Larrabee State Park - Rock Trail

Rock Trail earns its name within the first quarter mile. The route drops steeply from the Cleator Road trailhead through 100-foot sandstone cliffs pockmarked with holes and large caves, past enormous mossy boulders that look like they belong in a much wilder place than a state park. Built by WTA volunteers in partnership with Larrabee State Park and the Chuckanut Conservancy, the trail features well-constructed stairs, switchbacks, and Bogaards Bridge over the creek crossing. A notable cave near the three-quarter-mile mark is worth ducking into.

The views are the other headline. Mount Baker and the Twin Sisters fill the skyline from several vantage points along the ridge. The trail connects to the South Lost Lake Trail, which opens up options for longer outings including loops past Lost Lake and through the broader Chuckanut trail network. The sandstone geology here is genuinely unusual for Western Washington and gives the hike a character you do not find on the typical forested PNW trail.

Access is from the top via Cleator Road, a gravel road off Chuckanut Drive (SR 11). The lot holds about 25 cars and has a privy. Discover Pass required. The trail is hiker-only, no mountain bikes or horses. Despite the relatively short distance, the 366 meters of gain is packed into a steep grade, so it punches above its weight for effort. This is one of the best short hikes in the Bellingham area.