The Cranberry Lake area is just a couple blocks from downtown Anacortes, but within 100 yards you're in a different world. The bowl that the lake, ponds and wetlands sit in screens out the traffic noise from nearby roads almost immediately. With the exception of one jet and one prop plane that flew overhead, I never heard anything but birds, no car noise until I was almost back to my own vehicle. I'm not promising you the same thing; some of these trails are motorcycle accessible. Indeed, this is a multi-use park, with hikers, cyclists, horses and bikers allowed on various routes, but on this Tuesday morning wheels and motors were blessedly absent.
There are a few benches along the trail, quiet places for a picnic or birdwatching, and there are definitely birds that need watching here. I saw heron, eagles and owls, along with lots of smaller brown and gray birds. The owls seem quite used to people and will hold still for photos if you approach quietly. Signs warn that joggers and mountain bikers are sometimes swooped on by startled owls, and I can sympathize. I feel the same way when an ATV or a jet ski buzzes by belching smoke.
If you go, you'll need a map, because there seems to be a trail junction about every 1/8th mile, all given cryptic headings like "HW124BM". I got mine for $10 at the charming little Lake Erie Grocery at the foot of Mount Erie on Heart Lake Road (open weekdays at 7AM). It's a packet of 3 maps, because there are three units to the ACFL. Cranberry Lake is where I hiked today, but there are also trails at Heart Lake and to the top of Mount Erie. I cheated and took the road to the top today, but I'll be back to do more hiking here. There are over 50 miles of trails, and at the top of the mountain you'll see Whidbey, Camano and the San Juan's, as well as the eagles who live there. With the adjacent hikes in Washington Park and at Deception Pass, this area is a great year round, all weather easy getaway.
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