Trail Guide

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Fragrance Lake
(The North Cascades)


First spur view of San Juans
From the parking area you head up a well maintained trail. The elevation is fairly steady from bottom to top. Worry not though, there are plenty of low grade spots to catch your breath. Not long after you start you will encounter a gatemaze which keeps out bikes and stock. Walk through this and cross the road to the next part of the trail. Continue up looking around at the lush vegetation. Many cedars and firs ranging from small to huge. Lots of nursing cedar trees to appreciate natures non disposable character. Maybe 2/3 the way up you will come across a short side trip. This would be a cliff with a view. It is about .2 miles and well worth the trip. If you can, plan your trip such that on the way back from the lake you can take this jaunt and watch the sun set. The view is looking out on the sound with sights of many of the San Juans. When approaching the lake keep your eyes open for varied fungus'. Once at the lake you can circle it with many spots to stop and eat or even take a dip. Lots of people cool off in the nice summer days in fragrance lake. For the anglers it is a stocked lake and more than a few sportsman have had some fun catching and releasing. Remember your licenses though. Also while circling, note the high sandstone rock formations surrounding the small lake. Compare them to some of the rock shapes found down on the beach in neighboring Larabee State Park. Do you see similarities? On the way down please pick up any trash that other not so educated folks may have left. "Every litter bit counts!" Bikes are not allowed on the trail up to the lake. They can however access the lake via another route called Cleator Road. This can be found by backtracking the route to the parking area about 2 or so miles. Watch for signs on the right. It is steep though!
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view of the lake
Driving Directions:
I-5 North to Bellingham Take exit 250 Turn left onto Fairhaven Parkway Drive past AM/PM keep going straight for little over a mile to a light. Turn left at light (mountaineers on your right while at the light) Follow road about 5 miles. You will eventually be on Highway 11 or Chuckanut drive. You will pass Fairhaven Park on your left. When you get to the entrance to Larabee St. Park (first state park in the nation, so I've been told) look left. You should see a small parking area etched out of the hillside, this is the trailhead. Park here (but not past dusk-No Camping from here)
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Statistics
Distance: 4 mi r/t
Time: 2.5h r/t
Elevation Gain in: 920 ft
Elevation Gain out: 0 ft
Trailhead Elevation: 120 ft
Maximum Elevation: 1040 ft
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Trails (Click for reports)
FRAGRANCE LK

Suggested Seasons
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
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Users
Great for kids
Hikers
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Author's Ratings
Usage: Moderate
Difficulty: Moderate
Rating: Pretty good
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Attractions
Lakes
Views
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Maps & Books
USGS Bellingham South
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Many of the above books and
maps are available through our
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Written by
John Coats
Sep 21, 1998

Trailhead Location is Latitude 48:39.3 N by Longitude 122:29.54 W [edit]

Note: positions are PDA (pretty-damn-approximate)
CRGNSA - Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area, CNF - Colville National Forest, GPNF - Gifford-Pinchot National Forest, MBSNF - Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, MRNP - Mount Rainier National Park, MSHNVM - Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument, NCNP - North Cascades National Park, ONF - Olympic National Forest, ONP - Olympic National Park, WNF - Wenatchee National Forest, UNF - Umatilla National Forest