Hike Journal Entry
for Beach Trail (Dugualla)
by NWHikes on 2025-06-08
Photo credit: NWHikes
| Date of Hike | Distance Hiked | Elevation Gain | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6/8/2025 | 2.38 miles | 464 feet | Moderate |
Summary
Dugualla State Park contains a few different trails that wind throughout the park. The Beach Trail starts off as an easy hike and for the majority of it’s length, it is. At the nexus of trails at the Big Tree, the trek to the beach gets a bit more difficult as you descend toward the beach. One might ask where the ‘Big Tree’ is. Well, give the size of the other trees along the trail, and the location being at an intersection of four different trails, the Big Tree is truly bigger than others around and is quite obvious the Big Tree. For this trek, tracker noted the round trip as being 2.38 miles. I started out on the North Trail and connected with the Beach Trail at the Big Tree. Various maps give the indication of that there is a small loop at the end of the North Trail. There may be a loop along the way but it does connect to the Beach Trail. The North Trail is a bit more difficult with a up and down sections of the park.
Weather Conditions
Sunny and 71-degrees with 59% humidity
Trail Conditions
Due to the lack of rain in the prior few days, trail conditions were generally dry. Along the descending switchbacks of the North Trail, the dried pine needles underfoot gave a feeling of not having secure footing and a sense of slipping. Along the last bit of the final descent is a section that looks as though many previous hikers have slid down the section. It is hard packed with a dusty covering and no real apparent way to safely make the descent if not in well-enough shape.
Fauna
Mostly birds were heard and seen. Caterpillars were criss-crossing the path in sections of the trail. At one spot, a well camouflaged slug was crossing the path.
Flora
Lots of trees in this forested trek. Buttercups were in bloom as well as some daisy looking flowers. At one spot, it looked like a raspberry was nearing ripeness.
Scenic Views
On this day, my goal was to check out the views along the beach to look across Skagit Bay and beyond.
Hiking Companions
Solo hike.
Hiking Gear
A light pack with water and some lunch. Nothing special beyond that.
Food and Water
Had both. Was looking forward to setting along the beach to eat a little lunch before the return trek.
Lessons Learned
The importance of listening to one’s own body to not put oneself in a situation that could cause harm or a level of exhaustion that would require rescue.