Trip Report: Squire Lake

I've been a bit under the weather lately, so the boy and I decided to try a short and easy hike near town. The threat of downpours and landslide risks also influenced our decision, so we headed down to a little park right on the Whatcom/Skagit county line near lake Samish. Squire Lake did not disappoint!

We arrived at the trailhead after lunch, probably around noon. There were cars parked on the road but the parking lot was almost empty, so I'm guessing we missed the morning rush :) We ran into two people on the trail and heard a family at one point, so not secluded but not crowded, either.

Other than some mud, to be expected in January, the trail was in excellent condition. Sawdust and fresh cuts bore witness to recent trail cleanup from the wind storms, so good job county in maintaining the parks!

The boy and I headed out on the squires lake trail loop, then joined up to the beaver pond loop. We got off trail to walk up Squire Rd for a better view of the beaver pond. If you opt to do this, please respect the gate and private property boundaries.

We took the loop back down to the lake trail and followed it. The lichen, moss, and fungus was popping after a rainy week! We ended up on the ridge trail for a bit, before coming back down to the lake trail and heading back to the parking lot.

Pretty much all the elevation gain is in the first leg up from the parking lot, then everything levels off. Maybe a quarter of mile, probably much less. If you can handle a couple of gentle switchbacks, the rest will be cake. The trails are also wide single track and well marked. Not a lot of social trails to throw you off your route.

There are well spaced benches, all with great views, all around the lake trail, so you can rest, contemplate, or have a comfy seat for an impromptu picnic.

Thanks to the bluff climb at the beginning, one ends up feeling relatively secluded. Once you move away from the ridge trail, you can't even hear the road noises from I5 in the distance.

Definitely an easy hour or two hike, well suited to families and young kids if you are looking for a family adventure.

We didn't see any beavers, nor did we really look since the pond and lake were pretty high and overflowing their banks due to it being the wet season. We did see a lot of birds and a couple of smaller rodents, and the frogs had quite the chorus going!

For an easy escape into nature, I give Squire lake a 5/5. Probably better for off-season hikes, as I bet it gets pretty crowded when the sun is out.

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