Moran State Park is located on Orcas Island near Eastsound. Every one enjoys the ferry ride from Anacortes to the island. The views are wonderful from the ferry and we even observed a dog rescue after the dog jumped off the back of the ferry. Plenty to do at Moran. Many hiking trails and even bike and horse trails. Non-motorized boating at Cascade and Mountain lakes. Still haven't hiked all the trails over the past three years.
Ferry passing in opposite directionwith Mt. Baker in the background.
Dog rescue.May 2006
Our first trip to Moran was Memorial Day weekend. We did some canoeing on Cascade Lake and hiked the Cascade Loop and Cascade Falls. The weather was cold and showery but we still had fun. Wendy and Jenelle capsized their canoe and warmed up at the restrooms under the hand dryers until I could get a fire started. Didn't think to take pictures of them in the water.
Our first trip to Moran was Memorial Day weekend. We did some canoeing on Cascade Lake and hiked the Cascade Loop and Cascade Falls. The weather was cold and showery but we still had fun. Wendy and Jenelle capsized their canoe and warmed up at the restrooms under the hand dryers until I could get a fire started. Didn't think to take pictures of them in the water.
Katie and Jenelle on the Cascade Loop trail.
Cascade Falls.
Mt. Constitution summit view.
Cascade Lake swim area.July 2007
Our next trip was during the Fourth of July week. We made our reservations early this year and reserved a lakeside campsite on Cascade Lake so we didn't have to keep taking our canoes on and off the car. The weather was fantastic and we enjoyed canoeing, hiking, and relaxing.
Hiking included the Mountain Lake Loop trail and the Twin Lakes Trial to the summit of Mt. Constitution, the highest peak in the San Juan Islands at 2,409 ft. I struggled to keep of with the girls up to the summit. Wendy didn't hike to the summit, but drove up bringing a much needed lunch. We also hiked Obstruction Pass Trail to the beach at nearby Obstruction Pass State Park.
The city of Eastsound put on a fireworks show that we watched from the city library. The show was grand as the previous year show was cancelled due to weather.
Mountain Lake.
Bald eagle from the Mountain Lake Loop trail.
Beach at Obstruction Pass Park.
Big Twin Lake from the Twin Lakes Trail
en route to the summit of Mt. Constitution.
Twin Lakes from the summit of Mt. Constitution.
Jenelle, myself, and Katie after hiking to the
summit of Mt. Constitution.
Lakeside campsite.
Why I like vacation.
Dear looking for a handout.
Too many people feeding the animals.
Blue tarp camping in Washington.
Jenelle and Ben canoeing.
Ben in front of a big tree.
My children and some of the nieces and nephews at Cascade Falls.
Little fishermen.
My nephews David and Marc.
Summit hikers.
Jessica, Sarah, Katie, Ben, myself,
Marci, Rick, Carlynn, & Melinda.
Our next trip was during the Fourth of July week. We made our reservations early this year and reserved a lakeside campsite on Cascade Lake so we didn't have to keep taking our canoes on and off the car. The weather was fantastic and we enjoyed canoeing, hiking, and relaxing.
Hiking included the Mountain Lake Loop trail and the Twin Lakes Trial to the summit of Mt. Constitution, the highest peak in the San Juan Islands at 2,409 ft. I struggled to keep of with the girls up to the summit. Wendy didn't hike to the summit, but drove up bringing a much needed lunch. We also hiked Obstruction Pass Trail to the beach at nearby Obstruction Pass State Park.
The city of Eastsound put on a fireworks show that we watched from the city library. The show was grand as the previous year show was cancelled due to weather.
Mountain Lake.
Bald eagle from the Mountain Lake Loop trail.
Beach at Obstruction Pass Park.
Big Twin Lake from the Twin Lakes Trailen route to the summit of Mt. Constitution.
Twin Lakes from the summit of Mt. Constitution.
Jenelle, myself, and Katie after hiking to thesummit of Mt. Constitution.
July 2008
After reserving our same lakeside campsite as last year for the Fourth of July week, my mother wanted to join us and invited my brother Randy, my sisters Carlynn and Marci, and their families. We reserved a couple more campsites for our family group. I was a little apprehensive about all the little children joining us, but after the week was over, I confess that I had lots of fun.
We canoed and hiked. Others caught some trout. I added the Cascade Creek Trail from Cascade Falls to Cascade Lake and Sunrise Rock trail in addition to repeating Cascade Loop and the Twin Lakes Trial to the summit of Mt. Constitution from previous years. We again enjoyed the fireworks in Eastsound.
The weather was mostly pleasant but it rained a little bit including a thunderstorm passing directly overhead in the middle of one night with lightning strikes on both sides of the campsite causing the ground to shake.
We have always stopped at Pizza Factory in Anacortes for lunch/dinner on the way home. I think everyone had lots of fun. Moran State Park has become our favorite family camping destination for a vacation. We may take a break this year and go camping at Lake Ozette.
The weather was mostly pleasant but it rained a little bit including a thunderstorm passing directly overhead in the middle of one night with lightning strikes on both sides of the campsite causing the ground to shake.
We have always stopped at Pizza Factory in Anacortes for lunch/dinner on the way home. I think everyone had lots of fun. Moran State Park has become our favorite family camping destination for a vacation. We may take a break this year and go camping at Lake Ozette.
Lakeside campsite.
Why I like vacation.
Dear looking for a handout.Too many people feeding the animals.
Blue tarp camping in Washington.
Jenelle and Ben canoeing.
Ben in front of a big tree.
My children and some of the nieces and nephews at Cascade Falls.
Little fishermen.My nephews David and Marc.
Summit hikers.Jessica, Sarah, Katie, Ben, myself,
Marci, Rick, Carlynn, & Melinda.
