Four Secret Places to Hike With Your Dog on Whidbey Island in Washington State

The four adventures below are known by few, but will provide hours of enjoyment for you and your canine friend. The only requirement is that you prepare in advance for your canine's safety and well-being, providing food and water and first-aid. Good etiquette would be to take a dog who is voice controlled and well-mannered, one who will respect wildlife, other dogs and people encountered on Whidbey Island trails.

All that is required to take these hikes is to clean up after your dog, make sure you take adequate water and food, and your dog should be people and dog friendly if off lead.

Proper etiquette on trails is encouraged such as, if there is a dog on lead call your dog to you and put them on lead. There is usually a reason a dog is on a leash and it is just proper etiquette to leash your dog if you encounter another dog on leash so you have control. The same is true if you encounter children or horses. Take a few helpful precautions and you are on your way to lots of enjoyment. Please keep Whidbey Island's trails the way you found them, pristine, fun and without incident.

If this sounds like you, head out and make memories of hidden wonders and adventurous discoveries.

Whidbey Islanders refer to the south end and the north end, both quite different from one another. The island is 40 miles in length and 5-miles wide. It is the longest island and hiking adventures abound.

There are a lot of trail hike options, but my favorite short hikes are described below. This is where I take my dogs and some are less populated than others.

GOLDSMITH ROAD ACCESS TO METCALF WOODS TRAILS
The secret to this trail head is the entry point. It is a private road, but a small public access parking lot exists holding about four to five vehicles. If this lot is full please find another entry. There are quite a few to the Metcalf Woods Trails system. The trails off the Goldsmith Road trail head head into the Metcalf Woods Trail system and seamlessly connect to the Putney Woods trail system, which is maintained by the Department of Natural Resources.

LOCATION - Goldsmith Road is just outside of the Village by the Sea, Langley on the south end of Whidbey Island. Head out of town going West, or into town on Bayview Road. Goldsmith will be clearly marked with a road sign just past Katya Road on the right going out of town, and on the left hand side of the road coming into town. If you've gone to Crawford Road, you've gone too far.

TRAIL HEAD: Head down this one car dirt road until you see the parking lot on your right. Park, lock your car and head into the public trail making sure you read all the signs and adhere to the rules. Watch for a trail to your LEFT that heads into the woods. This is the trail you want to access.

Then go straight until you come to a fork. It is best to carry a map on these trails, however a great one hour loop awaits you and your dog. Head either right or left at the fork. To your left will be mostly downhill terrain, to your right is more challenging uphill topography. The Salal Loop South, to your right, takes you down and into a field where you head down a two-track to another fork where you keep to the right. You'll go up stairs at one point, very steep climb. Stay straight and you will return to the fork where you'll head right to go back to your vehicle.

The downhill terrain to your left at the beginning of the walk will eventually head you down some steep steps and loop back around to where you began. Approximately, 45 minutes to one hour walk depending on how fast a walker you happen to be. Please be respectful of the private properties along this route and stick to the pathway. It is a beautiful fern-filled, Douglas fir-filled forest paradise. The dense forest canopy keeps you dry in rain and shaded during hot days.

PIONEER PARK TRAIL
A wonderfully, quiet walk with beautiful ferns, tall Douglas fir and wildlife off Highway 525 north of the Clinton ferry landing. Horses do frequent this trail, as do joggers and residents of Pioneer Park. It is not highly populated
and winds back to a clear, steep, picturesque valley.

LOCATION: This is a simple, easy trail, but a good one hour walk round trip. Going north on Highway 525, the island's only main highway, watch for Pioneer Park Place on your left. It is just across from Crawford Road on your right. Down the hill is the Prayer House, a light green church building. The trail head starts behind the building at the base of the forest. It is easily marked. After you turn left, take another left and park on the grass or gravel. This area is known as Pioneer Park.

TRAIL HEAD: Head in and note to your left a NEW trail. You can start by exploring this or head straight into the forest. About half an hour up you'll hit a deep, clear valley. Keep heading down the steep bank and up the steep incline to the service road to complete the journey. There is a view point up the bank to your right just before you head down the hill, sometimes you'll see deer or other wildlife and the view is breathtaking from this vantage point. Then just simply turn around and head back.

HIDDEN BEACH, GREEN BANK
Green Bank consists of a gas station, deli, small grocer, post office and Green Bank Farms. If you like a quiet beach walk great for low or normal high tide walking, you'll love Hidden Beach, a public beach with little traffic. Hidden Beach is also a residential community.

LOCATION: From Highway 525 heading to Green Bank north from the ferry in Clinton, head to Green Bank farm, turning right onto Wonn, then left onto North Bluff. Follow North Bluff about two miles to Neon Road, which will be on your right. Follow this road all the way down the steep hill. There will be a parking lot on your left.

This is a great run, ball play or Frisbee spot for your dog and the public beach extends about 730 feet north. With this walk be mindful of the private property and no trespassing signs. It is a beautiful walk and great for finding sea glass, sea shells and rocks. It has a steep bluff so dogs have a nice beach run where veering off is nearly impossible. There will be shrimping vessels on the ocean and beautiful views of Camano Island.

While you are at it, on the way back turn into Green Bank Farm. Here you can walk miles of fields and woods and Green Bank Farm has made this area an off lead dog walking paradise. There are bags at the entry and kiosks to help you with your walk. Into the fields pathways have been plowed and to the north the woods have more trails to enjoy. All of these are fenced in with a couple of openings near the roadway, because people park
there and enter the Green Bank Farms fields. A nice pairing to the beach walk. Afterward, enjoy the Greenbank Cafe and many quaint stores throughout the red barn buildings.

SLEEPER ROAD TRAIL, OAK HARBOR
Between Oak Harbor and Deception Pass to the right heading north is Sleeper Road. It is an undeveloped corner of the Deception Pass State Park and a good run for the dog and a short hike on a wooded trail.

LOCATION: The trail head is located at the end of Sleeper road. There are houses in the area, but the trail head will be quite noticeable. Head up Highway 20. The last light out of Oak Harbor is at Ault Field Road and Sleeper
Road is about five miles north. The trail itself is pretty straight and narrow, so hike until you are tired. It is always very quiet when we go and I have yet to run into other dogs.

Four fantastic finds to hike with your dog. Proper etiquette, dog care, and having voice control of your dog is highly encouraged. It is a privilege to walk these secret pathways and you'll make memories for many years to come.