Yellow Pages
This trail is in Rockport State Park. To reach the trailhead, walk to the main entrance of the campground and skirt around the barricades.
The campground is currently closed. However, the roads and trails are not. The reason is the state has deemed the area too dangerous to occupy for extended periods because of the trees threatening to crash to the ground.
It’s about a quarter-mile to the trailhead, which is on the right in the campground. Watch for the sign.
Distance: 1.5 miles
Destination: Loop trail
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation gain: Minimal
Getting there: State Route 20 to milepost 96.5, 37 miles east of Sedro-Woolley. Watch for the sign for Rockport State Park.
The Trek: After making your way up the road and to the trailhead, set out on the single-track path.
This trail twists and turns as it ascends at a slight pitch. The roar of Highway 20 can be heard in the distance. As one continues on, that ruckus will slowly fade.
The trail’s namesake, Fern Creek, rambles along to the left in relative obscurity because of the thick understory. Devil’s club is prevalent along with plenty of species of fern.
Skirt around a massive fallen Douglas fir tree. The monster’s stump can be seen to the left of the trail while the trunk and acompanying crown crashed down to the right. The trail skirts around the now cut trunk, then continues along its length.
This tree is large. However, an even bigger fallen specimen will be encountered farther on.
At the end of the massive fallen arbor, the trail turns sharply left before crossing Fern Creek by way of footbridge.
On the other side, one is greeted by a stand of cedar trees. Head uphill and enter a clearing. If the sun is out, it’s a hot spot.
Just past the clearing, the trail is once again swallowed by the forest.
It’s a short distance before a gargantuan tree is met. Though the massive tree fell across the trail, it’s elevated enough for hikers to make their way underneath. But it’s precarious, so don’t eat lunch underneath it.
Cross the remnants of what once was a footbridge and is now nothing more than rotted logs, and begin to descend. Walk under another “widow-maker” (a logging term describing a tree leaning upon another) and continue on.
The trail comes to an end at the campground loop road. Proceed left and take the road back to the rig.
Fern Creek Trail
Vince Richardson
A massive fallen tree acts as a wall along the trail.
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