Cypress Island Highpoint

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Elevation: 1,525 feet
Hiking Distance: 3.2 miles one-way
Elevation Gain: 1,525 feet
Kayaking Distance: 5 miles one-way

Just about everything is great about obtaining the highpoint of Cypress Island except for the actual highpoint itself. The kayak or boat ride is challenging, the trailhead is scenic, the trail is interesting, but the summit is covered in trees preventing any views. Most of Cypress Island is public land managed by the Department of Natural Resources as a conservation area.

Access:

Kayak or boat to the Cypress Head Campground on Cypress Island. We left from the free parking at the Guemes Island Ferry Terminal in Anacortes.

Route:

From isthmus at the campground, a trail leaves from behind the bathrooms climbing up onto the island. Follow this trail past some private property and minor roads to a trail split, go left soon arriving at an old airstrip (right is to Reed Lake). The trail is a bit faint in the airstrip but walk the airstrip a few minutes north to another trail split. Go left again, climbing up to Bradberry Lake. Pass the lake as it switchbacks up to a minor pass. Look for an abandoned road left. Take the old road to below the summit, then bushwhack to the summit. There is some old gnarly trees just south of the highest point that are interesting.