Pictorial Hike to Eagle Bluff on Cypress Island

What is the hike to Eagle Bluff on Cypress Island like from Pelican Beach?     

  The hike from Pelican Beach to Eagle Bluff on Cypress Island is a steady uphill trail through forest and rocky terrain, leading to sweeping views over surrounding waterways. The round trip takes about 2 to 2½ hours and I consider it an easy to moderate walk, with a treeless 360 degree view at the top and scenic overlooks along the way. This is one of the many San Juan Islands hikes you can only reach by boat.  I give it five stars

      Some readers of this blog will never get to hike to the top of Eagle Bluff on Cypress Island so I snapped a whole bunch of pics while I walked along.

I'll try to keep the text to a minimum

 We took the dinghy to shore at Pelican Beach, which is a Department of Natural Resources Site (DNR)  see Pelican Beach 

>> Read about Pelican Beach on Cypress right here

The boardwalk quickly gives way to forested trail

Many, many pictures yet to see

welcome back


Hint: try double clicking a picture to see if it gets full screen or something else!
(you may lose the picture captions, but sometimes it's worth it)

 Firewood scavenging gives the trail a manicured park-like look for a short distance
Pelican Beach offers free camping sites and anchor buoys

a short way up the trail are some helpful DNR displays
 and where I suspect many people turn around and head back to the boat

steadily but easily we head uphill

come on,  I'm waiting

open areas grow well

solid rock makes poor soil

up and up

there's very little erosion on trail, even though it rains a lot here

blow downs are common

evidence of fire abound

not the top, but worth a look see

expansive views draw you off the trail

still going up

The final push, maybe!

On our last hike/visit, this stair had finally succumbed to the elements and was missing two steps.  DNR or volunteers will certainly make it right.

a little beauty along the way

not much dirt on this trail

All in all, an easy and enjoyable walk.

 Overcast weather makes poor pictures, but we appreciated not being in scorching sunshine.

In the background is Peavine Pass on left and Obstruction Pass on right

no eagles in sight today, Smugglers Cove below

of course, a survey marker!

stepping off the edge anywhere up on top would be fatal

heading back down presents some challenges

great views are everywhere you look

I don't remember this switchback

or this erosion

 if you stop and watch you may see a local resident

cut one down and another grows back

heading for the boat and lunch

Pictures from the water of Eagle Bluff on Cypress Island

The round trip hike from Pelican Beach is about 2 1/2 hrs, and remember the trail is closed until after July 15th

You may also enjoy this picture trip around Matia
Land and Sea around Matia Island

Click below to see satellite view of pelican beach