Washington’s highest island summit lets you skip the hike and still get the view

Mount Erie’s summit is closer than you’d think

Fidalgo Island has a secret that most people driving through Anacortes never stop for.

Just south of town, a 1,273-foot peak rises above the flat farm country and the salt water, and a paved road runs all the way to the top. That’s rare.

The views from up there stretch over islands, mountains and ocean in every direction, and you don’t need a trail map or hiking boots to get there. But if you want to walk, that option’s waiting too.

The glacier that shaped this mountain thousands of years ago

Mount Erie didn’t get its shape by accident. During the last ice age, glaciers moved across this landscape and left their mark.

The mountain has a gently sloping north side and a sheer cliff face to the south, and that lopsided shape has a name: geologists call it a roche moutonnée, or sheepback. The name Erie came later.

A U.S. naval expedition mapped it in 1841 and named it after the Battle of Lake Erie. Climbers didn’t discover the cliffs until the 1960s.

Three mountain ranges visible from one spot

On a clear morning, the summit delivers a view that covers a lot of ground. To the west, the San Juan Islands spread across the water.

The Cascade Mountains rise to the east. Turn southwest and the Olympic Mountains fill the horizon.

On the clearest days, Mount Baker and Mount Rainier both appear, floating above the lower ridges like they’re painted on. Sunrise and sunset draw crowds for good reason.

The light at those hours hits every range at once.

Multiple viewpoints, each facing a different direction

The summit doesn’t give you just one angle. Several viewing spots sit near the top, each aimed at a different part of the landscape.

One viewpoint has a sign that names the landmarks spread out below, so you know what you’re looking at. Benches let you sit and stay a while.

Restrooms and trash bins are up here too, which matters when you’ve driven a narrow road to get to the top. On sunny weekends, the small parking area fills fast, so arrive early.

Lakes below and a peregrine falcon above

Look down from the summit and you’ll spot three lakes tucked into the forest: Lake Campbell, Lake Erie and Heart Lake.

Lake Campbell holds a small island called Little Goodin Island inside it, which means you’re looking at an island within a lake within an island. The lakes add a deep blue-green color to the view below.

Peregrine falcons have also nested on Mount Erie’s cliffs, and when nesting is confirmed, certain climbing areas close for the season to protect them.

Drive up or hike through the forest, your call

The paved summit road means almost anyone can reach the top, regardless of fitness level. But the mountain also has trails that climb through the woods if you’d rather earn the view.

The most popular hiking route links Mount Erie with nearby Sugarloaf in a loop that climbs steadily and gives your legs a real workout.

Both the road and the trails converge near the summit, so if you’re on foot, keep an eye out for cars coming up the last stretch.

Hundreds of climbing routes on hard diorite cliffs

Climbers don’t call it Mount Erie. They call it The Rock, and they’ve been coming here from across the Pacific Northwest for decades.

The cliffs hold hundreds of established routes, and the stone is diorite, a hard, rough-textured rock that gives your hands something to grip.

If you’re standing at one of the summit viewpoints and you look over the edge, you can often spot climbers working their way up the walls below.

It’s worth a few minutes to watch before you head back down.

Over 50 miles of trails through 2,800 acres of forest

Mount Erie sits inside the Anacortes Community Forest Lands, and the mountain is just one small part of it.

The forest covers more than 2,800 acres and holds over 50 miles of trails for walking, running and mountain biking. No parking pass is needed to use any of it.

The woods are home to deer, beavers, owls, ducks and eagles.

You can put together a full day here without covering the same ground twice, depending on how far your legs want to carry you.

Whistle Lake’s cold water and cliff-lined shore

Southeast of town, Whistle Lake sits deep inside the forest lands. A walk of just over a mile from the trailhead puts you at the water.

On hot summer days, it’s a local favorite for swimming.

Parts of the shoreline rise into tall cliffs, and you’ll likely see people jumping from them into the lake below. Those drops carry real risk, so if you’re not a practiced cliff jumper, stay on the shore.

Trails circle the entire lake through dense, quiet forest.

Heart Lake’s three-mile loop through cedar and hemlock

Heart Lake sits close to the base of Mount Erie, and its trail loop runs just under three miles through old cedar and hemlock forest.

It’s a calm, shaded walk that feels completely different from the open rocky summit above.

The broader forest also includes wetlands, meadows and rocky lookouts that connect to other trails, so you can extend the day in almost any direction.

Trail maps are sold at Anacortes City Hall and the Visitor Information Center if you want to plan ahead.

Washington Park’s harbor loop on the island’s western tip

Washington Park sits at the far western edge of Fidalgo Island, and a 2.25-mile paved loop winds through the trees there.

Harbor porpoises sometimes surface off Juniper Point, which gives you something to look for as you walk the shoreline section. The park has beach access, restrooms and a playground, so it works well for families.

It pairs easily with a Mount Erie trip, since both sit on the same island and the drive between them takes about 15 minutes.

The coffee stop where climbers have gathered for decades

At the base of the mountain, near the junction of Heart Lake and Rosario roads, sits Lake Erie Coffee and Mercantile at 13260 Rosario Road.

The same family ran it for about 40 years before the current ownership took over, and climbers have been stopping here before and after days on the cliffs for as long as most people can remember.

It’s the kind of small, rooted place that tells you something real about a community, and the coffee is worth the stop on the way down.

Drive to Mount Erie Summit in Anacortes, Washington

To reach the summit, take Exit 230 from Interstate 5 at Burlington and head west on State Route 20 toward Anacortes. Turn onto Campbell Lake Road, then Heart Lake Road, and follow the signs up the summit drive.

The summit trail is open daily 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The community forest lands require no parking pass.

Plan your visit between May and September for the best chance at clear skies, bring layers and water, and get there early on weekends before the lot fills.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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