Oyster Dome Trailhead
Pacific Northwest Trail, Bow, Washington, United States
About the Oyster Dome Trailhead
The Oyster Dome Trailhead is a popular park and tourist attraction located on the Pacific Northwest Trail in Bow, Washington, United States. Situated on the western slope of Blanchard Mountain, Oyster Dome offers stunning views of the San Juans, Skagit River flats, Olympic Mountains, and Samish Bay from its rocky promontory. The area was once dominated by oyster fishing and logging industries, but now provides a peaceful retreat in the second-growth forest of Blanchard Mountain.
Access to Oyster Dome is best from the Samish Overlook parking area on Blanchard Mountain, where visitors can embark on a challenging hike through the forest. The trail climbs steeply through alder, Western redcedar, and Douglas fir trees, passing by logging artifacts and giant stumps that serve as reminders of the area's history. The final ascent to Oyster Dome offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, including the Skagit River flats, Anacortes, Lummi Island, Orcas Island, and more.
Visitors are advised to follow the Department of Natural Resources' guidelines and access Oyster Dome from the official trailhead at the Samish Overlook parking area. A Discover Pass is required for parking, and facilities such as vault toilets, picnic tables, and benches are available at the trailhead. The Washington Trails Association has worked on trail maintenance and improvements in the area, ensuring a safe and enjoyable hiking experience for all visitors.
Whether you're a seasoned hiker or a nature enthusiast looking for a scenic adventure, the Oyster Dome Trailhead offers a unique opportunity to explore the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and witness the breathtaking views from one of the region's most iconic landmarks.
Photos of Oyster Dome Trailhead
Pacific NW Trail, Bow, WA 98232, United States
Opening hours of Oyster Dome Trailhead
Monday:
06:00 - 21:00
Tuesday:
06:00 - 21:00
Wednesday:
06:00 - 21:00
Thursday:
06:00 - 21:00
Friday:
06:00 - 21:00
Saturday:
06:00 - 21:00
Sunday:
06:00 - 21:00
Reviews of Oyster Dome Trailhead
"If you don’t want the dirt road and you want a more challenging route, the alternative trailhead starts right off Chuckanut drive."
"What a view, not quite 360 degrees, but 300° atleast. Drive or hike, and watch the sky-sailers or the sunset... drive in gate at bottom closes one hour after sunset..."
"Pleasant hike in the forest! The trail is about 6.5k long and fairly easy. It’s great for family hike, trail running, and excursion with dogs. Great view of ocean and group of islands at the end. The drive to the trailhead is not paved but drivable for most cars. Just need to be careful towards the end when the road narrows. About 25 parking spots and washroom at the trail head."
"We did the Oyster Dome loop clockwise and it was beautiful. It is a mostly wooded hike with large 2nd growth forest trees. We saw very few people until we got to the Oyster Dome overlook. Note that the full loop is 8+ miles and 2000 feet of elevation gain."
"The view is stunning and the hike was a great workout! Quite a bit of incline. Be prepared! Bring plenty of water. A friend of a friend told us to park in the Blanchard mountain Trail Upper Parking lot, which ended up being about 5 miles to reach the dome. Aaaaaand 5 miles back ha. I LOVED it, but we did not bring enough water and one of my friends was really struggling on the way back. It looks like there are trail entrances much closer than the place we started. There were moments I thought we were immersed in the real life inspiration for Jurassic Park!! The beginning of the trail had HUGE giant ferns and just incredible large lush greenery and cool trees. Take a picture of the map at the trail head because the path curves, has switchbacks, and splits off several times into other trails. There is signage along the trail, but I’m still glad I had the map to refer to. CONS: the bugs were pretty intense. Horseflies, mosquitoes etc. A couple horseflies pretty relentlessly stalked my friend … we all wished we had put on bug spray. If you are looking for a great workout with the payoff of a gorgeous view at the end, I highly recommend!"
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